Tidbit #1: Many of today’s medical breakthroughs are the result of the study of herbal medicine and when some of the ingredients were proven to be too hard to come by, scientists began working in the laboratory to develop synthetic versions of the plant’s phytocemicals hoping to duplicate the results. Many of today’s medicines are successful in offering hope to the ill or injured, but many synthetic compounds also have side effects not usually seen in those used in herbal medicine.

Arthritis and Chinese Herbal Medicine: Relief from the Gardens of Asia

Millions of Americans suffer daily pain and stiffness in their joints from arthritis. Over-the-counter remedies abound, but few Americans may know about the many herbal remedies the Chinese have used to centuries to relieve the pain of arthritis.

The Philosophy of Arthritis and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese herbal medicine views disease as an imbalance between major forces in our body—organ systems, heat versus cold, and the blockage of the flow of blood, and Qi (pronounced “chee”), the life force. Chinese herbal medicine views arthritis as restriction of the flow of blood and Qi due to an over-abundance of cold.

· Arthritis and Chinese Herbal Medicine—Common remedies and how to find them

Tidbit #2: Throughout history, ancient civilizations in Egypt, India and China used herbal medicine for all illnesses as well as for taking care of their injured warriors. Over the years they perfected their practices but unfortunately, most of the botanicals that were compounded were not written down and subsequent generations had to rely on the memories of their elders to carry on the practice of herbal medicine in those cultures.

Arthritis and Chinese herbal medicine remedies are available in extremely complex formulations. The most common formulations are Si Miao Wan, Guan Jie Yan Win, and Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan. Most of these formulations are available as teas, extracts or tablets, which you can purchase online, from supply stores for traditional Chinese medicine, or from Asian grocery stores. Arthritis and Chinese herbal medicine formulations usually include some or all of the following herbs: Yi yi ren (Coix lachrymal jobi/Seeds of Jobs Ears seed), Fang ji (Stephania tetrandra root) , Cang zhu (Atractylodes lancea rhizome),Hai tong pi (Erythrina variegata/coral bean bark),Gui zhi (Cinnamomum cassia/cinnamon twig), Xiang jia pi (Periploca sepium root-bark), Huai niu xi (Achyranthes bidentata root),Qin jiao (Gentiana macrophylla/bitter root) ,Wu zhu yu (Evodia rutaecarpa fruit) ,Huang qin (Scutellaria baicalensis/skullcap root) , Du huo (Angelica pubescens root) , Sheng jiang (Zingiber officinale rhizome/ginger root) , Sang ji sheng (Taxillus chinensis twig/Mulberry twig, Shu di huang (Rehmannia glutinosa roo)t, Dang shen Codonopsis pilosula root), Fu ling (Poria cocos fungus), Du zhong (Eucommia ulmoides bark), Bai shao (Paeonia lactiflora root), Fang feng (Ledebouriella divaricata root), Gentiana macrophylla root, Chuan xiong (Ligusticum wallichii rhizome/lovage root), and Gan cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis root/licorice root).

You should learn both the Chinese, and where available, the English and the scientific names of the Chinese Medicine remedies for arthritis. This way, you will be able to communicate both with merchants and your health care provider. Of course, your first consultation about your arthritis should be with your health care provider. He or she can insure that any arthritis and Chinese medicine treatments you take are safe and effective and do not interact with any other medications you may be taking. We wish you well on your healing journey.