Osteomyelitis in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different osteomyelitis patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Osteomyelitis is a serious condition characterized by the infection and inflammation of bone tissue. It can occur when a bacterial or fungal infection invades a bone, often following an injury, surgery, or a bloodstream infection.
Symptoms include severe pain in the infected area, fever, and general discomfort. Sub-symptoms of this disease can vary based on the bone affected, with common forms being mandibular osteomyelitis (affecting the jawbone) and chronic osteomyelitis, which signifies a long-standing infection.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), osteomyelitis is seen through a lens that differs markedly from Western medicine. TCM interprets it not just as an infection, but as an imbalance of the body's fundamental elements.
It is believed that the condition arises due to a disharmony within the body's Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang. TCM stresses the importance of identifying the specific pattern of disharmony causing the symptoms, as the treatment in TCM is highly individualized and depends on the underlying pattern.
TCM Patterns for Osteomyelitis
Each pattern represents a distinct underlying imbalance that can cause osteomyelitis
Blood Stagnation with Heat
Diagnostic signs
Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Recommended herbal formulas
Herbal Formulas for Osteomyelitis
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address osteomyelitis