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Rheumatoid Arthritis

1. Overview and Causes
2. Symptoms
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
  a. Deficiency of Liver and Kidney
  b. Deficiency of Qi and Blood
  c. Deficiency of Spleen and Stomach
  d. Obstuction of Humid Heat in Collaterals
5. Healing by Other Therapies
  a. Qigong and other
  b. Medicated diet
  c. Life style
6. Psychological Adaptation


1. Overview and Causes

Rheumatoid arthritis is common disease caused by complex factors. It mainly affects the joints, wrist, elbow, toe, knee, articulatio sacro iliaca, etc. The manifestations are pain, numbness, stiffness and dysfunction of the joints. It happens mostly at the age of 20 - 50 and common in female than in male. In Traditional Chinese medicine, this disease is under the category of " Bi (numbness) syndrome"

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2. Symptoms

The joints are pain, numbness, stiffness and dysfunction.

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3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation

The clinical study of recent ten years, the Chinese Herb is very good result to heal this disease. The practical example about 3900 records, the improvement are 90% to 98%. Selected 555 examples with 1 to 11 years, the percentage of improvement is 85.77%. (p.357 from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine)

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4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM

This ailment, according to TCM, has different syndromes. The treatment for these syndromes using herbal medicine and acupuncture is shown below.

Syndrome (a)
Deficiency of Liver and Kidney

Back pain with weak knees, chills, aversion to cold, dizziness and numb limbs, tinnitus or deafness, disphoria, irritability, slender weak pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Improve the Liver and Kidney.

Prescription/Formula: (from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine).
Herba Epimedii, Radix Acyranthis Bidentatae, Radix Dipsaci, Rhizoma Polygonati, Cornu Cervi Degelatinatum, Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae, Agkistrodon Acutus, at 15g each; Caulis Spatholobi, Semen Coicis, at 30 g each, Radix Aconiti Praeparata, Tripterygium Wilfordii, at 10 g each; Herba Asari 6g.


  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Sun Liqin et al used warm needling for the affection.(p.280, Clinical Essentials of Traditional Medicine in Contemporary China) Use warm needling to improve the immunofunction of the organism, inflammatory, swelling and release pain.

Prescription/Formula: (from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine).
1. Hua To paravertebral points: Neck, Back, Waist (from 1st cervical vertebra to 5th lumbar vertebra, toal left and right 48 points.
2. Four limbs points: Bzxie(ExUE 9), Yangchi(TE 4), Waiguan(TE 5), Hegu(LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Jianyu(LI 15), Jianzhen(SI 9), Qiuxu(GB 40), Sanyingjiao(SP6), Yanglingquan(GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), bilateral Xiyan (ExLE 5, Weizhong (BL 40), Huantiao (GB 30), Xuehai (SP 10).



  

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Syndrome (b)
Deficiency of Qi and Blood

Pale face, weakness, short breath with laze speaking, sweating, dizziness, light tongue proper or with teeth marks on it, taut slender or slender weak pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Therapeutic principle: Nourish Blood and Qi.

Prescription/Formula: (from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine).
Radix Astragakli seu Hedysari 45g; Rhizoma Polygonati, Colla Cornu Cervi Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, Cortex Eucommiae, Agkistrodon Acutuns, at 15g each; Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Caulis Spatholovi, Semen Coicis, at 30g each; Herba Asari, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, at 6 g each.


  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
 Therapeutic principle: Sun Liqin et al used warm needling for the affection.(p.280, Clinical Essentials of Traditional Medicine in Contemporary China) Use warm needling to improve the immunofunction of the organism, inflammatory, swelling and release pain.

Prescription/Formula: (from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine).
1. Hua To paravertebral points: Neck, Back, Waist (from 1st cervical vertebra to 5th lumbar vertebra, toal left and right 48 points.
2. Four limbs points: Bzxie(ExUE 9), Yangchi(TE 4), Waiguan(TE 5), Hegu(LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Jianyu(LI 15), Jianzhen(SI 9), Qiuxu(GB 40), Sanyingjiao(SP6), Yanglingquan(GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), bilateral Xiyan (ExLE 5, Weizhong (BL 40), Huantiao (GB 30), Xuehai (SP 10).


  

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Syndrome (c)
Dificiency of spleen and stomach

Pale face, lack of strength, tiredness, distension pain of abdomen, poor appetite, loose stools or indgested grain in stool, light tongue proper with map-like fur, shedding fur, scant fur or no fur, taut slender pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Nourish spleen and stomach

Prescription/Formula: (from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine).
Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae, Poria, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Herba Epimedii, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, Rhizoma Corydalis, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, at 15 g each; Semen Coicis, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, at 30 g each; Fructus Lycii 12 g, Radix Glycyrrhizae 6 g.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Sun Liqin et al used warm needling for the affection.(p.280, Clinical Essentials of Traditional Medicine in Contemporary China) Use warm needling to improve the immunofunction of the organism, inflammatory, swelling and release pain.


Prescription/Formula: (from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine).
1. Hua To paravertebral points: Neck, Back, Waist (from 1st cervical vertebra to 5th lumbar vertebra, toal left and right 48 points.
2. Four limbs points: Bzxie(ExUE 9), Yangchi(TE 4), Waiguan(TE 5), Hegu(LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Jianyu(LI 15), Jianzhen(SI 9), Qiuxu(GB 40), Sanyingjiao(SP6), Yanglingquan(GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), bilateral Xiyan (ExLE 5, Weizhong (BL 40), Huantiao (GB 30), Xuehai (SP 10).


  

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Syndrome (d)
Obstruction of humid het in collaterals

Hot pain, red, swelling of the joints, not function well, feeling heaviness of the limbs, red tongue proper with yellow or white greasy fur, taut rapid or slipper rapid pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: release humid and heat

Prescription/Formula: (from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine).
Cortex Phellodendri, Rhizoma Atractylodis, Ramulus Mor, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, Agkistrodom Actus, Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae, Talcum, at 15 g each; Semen Coicis, Caulis Piperis Futokadsurae, at 30 g each; Tripterygium Wilfordii 20 g.

"The above formula are used in 118 cases, 16 cases get relieved, 58 cases are good result, 39 get improvement, total effective rate 95.64%" (p.272 Clinical Essentials of Traditional Medicine in Contemporary China)

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Sun Liqin et al used warm needling for the affection.(p.280, Clinical Essentials of Traditional Medicine in Contemporary China) Use warm needling to improve the immunofunction of the organism, inflammatory, swelling and release pain.

Prescription/Formula: (from the book of Higher Level Traditional Chinese Medicine, Internal Medicine).
1. Hua To paravertebral points: Neck, Back, Waist (from 1st cervical vertebra to 5th lumbar vertebra, toal left and right 48 points.
2. Four limbs points: Bzxie(ExUE 9), Yangchi(TE 4), Waiguan(TE 5), Hegu(LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Jianyu(LI 15), Jianzhen(SI 9), Qiuxu(GB 40), Sanyingjiao(SP6), Yanglingquan(GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), bilateral Xiyan (ExLE 5, Weizhong (BL 40), Huantiao (GB 30), Xuehai (SP 10).


  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, click here.

Generally, Qigong can relieve pain as it improves the circulation of qi and blood. Results won't be visable right away, however it takes less time for Qigong to heal pain than other ailments.

The following types of Qigong may help:

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(b) Medicated diet
1) In the acute period, the patient should take light and fluid food, such as rice gruel; in the convalescence, the patient can take food of warm properties, such as chicken, duck, fish, pork bone and mutton bone.
2) Beef Bone Marrow Powder 500g (or Pork Bone Marrow Powder), Walnut Seed (Hutaoren) 500g, Black Sesame (Heizhima) 500g.
Fry them and then grind them into powder, add sugar to it and stir. Take 9g each time, twice a day. Used in the convalescence.

(c) Life style
1. Don't live in the damp place.
2. The room should remain dry.
3. The body should keep warm.
4. Do some appropriate exercise when feeling better.
5. Remain a cheerful mood.

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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.