What Chinese herbs can be taken for rheumatoid arthritis?
Disease description:
Recently, my mother has been experiencing persistent low-grade fever, and she says her knee joints are very painful and swollen. I'm worried that she might have rheumatoid arthritis. She prefers traditional Chinese medicine for treatment. Could you please tell me what kinds of Chinese herbal medicine are suitable for rheumatoid arthritis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
For rheumatoid arthritis, commonly used Chinese herbs in TCM treatment can be divided into several categories:
1. Wind-Damp Obstruction Syndrome: Qianghuo Shengshi Decoction may be taken.
2. Cold-Damp Obstruction Syndrome: Aconite Decoction and Fangji Huangqi Decoction may be taken.
3. Damp-Heat Obstruction Syndrome: Simiao Powder and Xuanbi Decoction may be taken.
4. Phlegm-Blood Stasis Obstruction Syndrome: Shuanghe Decoction may be taken.
5. Liver-Kidney Deficiency Syndrome: Duhuo Jisheng Decoction may be selected.
6. Qi-Blood Deficiency Syndrome: Bazhen Decoction and Juanbi Decoction should be used.
7. Herbal Poultice Therapy: Warm-natured herbs such as cinnamon and aconite, and blood-activating herbs such as safflower and artemisia may be selected for local poulticing on affected joints.
8. Herbal Wash: Herbs with functions of removing dampness, activating blood circulation, and relieving pain, such as Qianghuo and Clematis root, may be used to wash the affected area with the prepared herbal liquid.
These treatments should be used under the guidance of a qualified physician and adjusted according to the individual patient's condition and constitution.
