Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Traditional Chinese External Treatment for Rheumatism
Chapter 2: Acupuncture Treatment for Rheumatism
Chapter 3: The Close Relationship Between Rheumatism and Genetic Factors
Editor's Note: Rheumatism is a pain that always tightly binds you, making it difficult to escape its entanglement. Do you know what methods traditional Chinese medicine uses to treat rheumatism? How effective is acupuncture in treating rheumatism? Let's find out together!
Traditional Chinese External Treatment for Rheumatism
Traditional Chinese external treatment methods have a long history of effectively treating rheumatism. The development of modern technology has promoted the development of external treatment methods. When diagnosing and treating patients, it is necessary to select appropriate methods based on the patient's condition, physique, geographical location, economic status, and lifestyle habits.
1. Fomentation Therapy
Fomentation therapy, also known as external application therapy, is a method of treating diseases by directly applying prepared medications to specific parts of the body. The materials used for fomentation are solid or semi-solid preparations made by different methods. They can be classified into ointments and plasters based on their properties and preparation methods. Ointments are prepared by mixing suitable bases such as plant oils, honey, vinegar, and egg white with the required powdered medicines to form a paste for application. For example, tung oil mixed with gypsum powder can be applied externally to treat joint redness, swelling, and pain. Plasters, such as the traditional black plaster, are made through the process of ingredient preparation, refining, and adding medicinal substances, such as the traditional dog skin plaster. There are many traditional and modern fomentation therapies for treating rheumatism, such as using "Huiyang Yulongqing" to treat skin rheumatism mentioned in "Orthopedic Authenticity," using "Ershu Ointment" to treat joint pain mentioned in "The Great Complete Works of Surgery," using "Quanxie Ruxiang San" from "Puji Fang" to treat various types of rheumatism, using "Jiuzhi Gao" from "Medical Records of the Crowd" to treat He Xi Feng, using "Bizheng Gao" from "Treatment of Rheumatism" to treat wind-cold-damp rheumatism, and using "Qiangbai Gao" from "Chinese Plaster Medicine" to treat rheumatic heat, etc.
2. External Rubbing Therapy
External rubbing, also known as topical application or rubbing, is a method of treating diseases by directly applying liquid or semi-liquid medicinal preparations to the affected area, sometimes combined with rubbing techniques. The "Suwen: Blood and Qi Formation and Characteristics" states: "If the meridians are blocked and the disease arises from lack of kindness, treat it with massage and medicated lotion." External rubbing medications have functions such as dispelling wind and dampness, relieving pain, and reducing swelling. When used with rubbing, it not only provides a massage effect but also increases the permeability of the medication. It is a commonly used external treatment method for rheumatism. Water-based, oil-based, and alcohol-based preparations are commonly used. There are many traditional and modern external rubbing therapies for treating rheumatism, such as using "Lihuan Dan" from "Wanbing Huichun" to treat joint pain caused by dampness, using swelling and pain lotion from "Lou Duofeng's Discussion on Treating Rheumatism" to treat joint swelling and pain, using "Hongling Wine" from "Biwang Tonglun" to treat skin rheumatism, etc.
3. Fumigation and Washing Therapy
Fumigation and washing therapy involves using hot medicinal decoctions to steam, fumigate, and wash the affected areas (first steaming with medicinal vapor, then rinsing or even soaking in the medicinal liquid while warm). It utilizes the effects of both the medicinal and thermal properties to act on the muscle tissue through the skin, promoting the opening of pores, harmonizing meridians, and facilitating the smooth flow of qi and blood, thus achieving the goal of treating rheumatism. Zhao Xuemin, a master of folk remedies in the Qing Dynasty, dedicated a chapter to fumigation and washing therapy in his book "Chuanya Waibian," providing detailed descriptions of its methods. Fumigation and washing therapy mainly uses sand pots, basins, and other containers for treating hand and foot pain. For elbow and knee pain, a tall and slender wooden barrel is more suitable. There are many traditional and modern fumigation and washing therapies for treating rheumatism, such as using "Fuzi Tang" from "Taiping Shenghui Fang" to treat finger spasms, using "Wuzhi Tang" from "Jifen Puji Fang" to treat joint pain, using "Sanjie Tang" from "Shengji Zonglu" to treat pain and impaired movement in the limbs, using "Ecao Erpi Tang" from "Lou Duofeng's Essence of Treating Rheumatic Diseases" to treat joint swelling and limited flexion and extension, etc.
