Rheumatism in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different rheumatism patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Rheumatism is a term that encompasses a spectrum of conditions characterized by chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissues. A non-specific term, rheumatism spans various disorders, typically involving inflammation, stiffness, and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system. Sub-symptoms can range from localized joint and waist pain to systemic conditions like rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. The term is less used in contemporary medical practice but is historically linked to what are now differentiated as specific rheumatic diseases.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) conceptualizes rheumatism not as a single disease, but as a cluster of symptoms resulting from the imbalance of Qi and Blood, influenced by pathogenic factors such as Wind, Damp, Cold, and Heat.
In TCM, the symptoms of rheumatism are external manifestations of an internal disharmony. Treatment is holistic, focusing on identifying and correcting the specific pattern of disharmony within the patient's body to alleviate symptoms and restore balance.
Herbal Formulas for Rheumatism
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address rheumatism