Connective tissue disorders according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Connective tissue disorders factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp
Symptoms: Nausea Headaches Dizziness and five other symptoms
Recommended formula: Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang
Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels
Symptoms: Fever Shaking chills Reduced mobility and three other symptoms
Recommended formula: Xuan Bi Tang
In Chinese Medicine, connective tissue disorders can be associated with two so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here connective tissue disorders can be caused by two different patterns.
To understand whether someone's connective tissue disorders might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from connective tissue disorders alone. For instance when connective tissue disorders is caused by the pattern Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp, patients also experience symptoms such as swollen and painful joints that are warm to the touch and worsen at night, reduced range of motion in the affected joints, chills without sweating and weight loss. Similarly, patients with Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with thick white coating.
We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with connective tissue disorders so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below two formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with connective tissue disorders, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The two "patterns of disharmony" associated with connective tissue disorders
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the key herb for Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang, a formula used for Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp
Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Recommended herbal formula: Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang
Symptoms: Nausea Headaches Dizziness Weight loss Shortness of breath Chills without sweating Reduced range of motion in the affected joints Swollen and painful joints that are warm to the touch and worsen at night
Connective tissue disorders might be due to Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as swollen and painful joints that are warm to the touch and worsen at night, reduced range of motion in the affected joints, chills without sweating and weight loss. Similarly, patients with Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with thick white coating.
Read more about Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp here
Stephania Roots (Fang Ji) is the key herb for Xuan Bi Tang, a formula used for Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels
Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Recommended herbal formula: Xuan Bi Tang
Symptoms: Fever Shaking chills Reduced mobility Scanty and dark urine Heat and pain in the joints Lusterless and yellow complexion
Connective tissue disorders might be due to Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as heat and pain in the joints, reduced mobility, fever and shaking chills.
Read more about Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels here
The two herbal formulas that might help with connective tissue disorders
Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and inflammations. Unblocks the flow of Yang Qi and promotes movement (in areas with painful obstruction). Clears Wind and Damp. Relieves pain.
Why might Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang help with connective tissue disorders?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp, a pattern sometimes associated with connective tissue disorders. If it looks like you might suffer from Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Xuan Bi Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears and resolves Damp-Heat. Unblocks the meridians. Disbands painful obstruction.
Why might Xuan Bi Tang help with connective tissue disorders?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels, a pattern sometimes associated with connective tissue disorders. If it looks like you might suffer from Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
