Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease involving degeneration, fissuring, ulceration, and loss of articular cartilage, arising from multiple factors. Its cause is not fully understood; its development is associated with factors such as age, obesity, inflammation, trauma, and genetics. Pathological features include degeneration and destruction of articular cartilage, sclerosis or cystic changes in the subchondral bone, bony growth at the joint margins, synovial hyperplasia, joint capsule contracture, ligament laxity or contracture, and muscle atrophy and weakness.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
| Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Aching, heavy pain in the limbs and joints; localized aversion to cold; no redness or warmth to the touch; pain eases with warmth; loose stools; thin, slippery tongue coating; wiry, tight pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The limbs and joints ache and feel heavy.
- The painful area feels sensitive to cold, and cold weather can make the discomfort more noticeable.
- The skin over the affected area is not red and does not appear noticeably flushed.
- The area does not feel warm to the touch and may feel normal or cool.
- Warmth or keeping the area warm may ease the pain somewhat.
- Stools are loose and soft, and may be poorly formed.
- The tongue coating is thin and somewhat moist or slippery, with a glossy appearance.
- On pulse examination, the pulse feels taut like a drawn string and is tight.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Dispel cold, eliminate dampness, warm the channels, and free the collaterals.
In Plain Language:
- Dispel cold → In TCM terms, disperse cold in the body or affected area to ease cold-related pain, stiffness, and discomfort that worsens with cold and improves with warmth.
- Eliminate dampness → In TCM terms, address dampness and support fluid metabolism to ease heaviness, a sticky sensation, swelling, and a feeling of heaviness in the joints.
- Warm the channels → Warm the channels and address cold congealing, with the aim of supporting the smooth flow of qi and blood and easing tightness, stiffness, and cold-related pain.
- Free the collaterals → Promote the flow through the collaterals and microcirculation to address blockage and ease numbness, stabbing pain, and restricted movement.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the limbs and joints; pain worsens with warmth; fever; scant, dark urine; constipation; red tongue; yellow, greasy coating; slippery, rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The limbs and joints become red, swollen, warm, and painful; the affected area feels hot to the touch.
- Warmth noticeably worsens the pain; the warmer it is, the more severe the pain may feel.
- Fever may occur, with a raised temperature and a feeling of being uncomfortably hot.
- Urine may be scant and yellow or reddish, appearing darker than usual.
- Stools may be hard and dry, with difficulty passing them.
- The tongue appears red when extended.
- The tongue coating is yellow and greasy, with a coated or unclean appearance.
- On pulse examination, the pulse feels smooth and is somewhat rapid.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear heat, eliminate dampness, free the collaterals, and relieve pain.
In Plain Language:
- Clear heat → In TCM terms, address internal heat to ease redness, swelling, burning sensations, thirst, sore throat, and restlessness.
- Eliminate dampness → In TCM terms, address dampness in the body or affected area to ease heaviness, stickiness, swelling, discharge, and a feeling of heaviness in the joints.
- Free the collaterals → Promote the flow through the channels and microcirculation, with the aim of easing numbness, stiffness, and restricted movement.
- Relieve pain → Ease pain, aching, distending pain, stabbing pain, and pulling discomfort.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Stabbing pain in the limbs and joints, fixed in location and worse at night; a purple or dusky tongue or petechiae; a white, greasy or yellow, greasy coating; thin, choppy pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The limbs and joints may have a sharp, needle-like pain.
- The pain stays in one place rather than moving; it remains in the same area when pressed or during movement.
- The pain may worsen at night and be more noticeable after dark.
- The tongue may look purplish or dusky, or have visible purple spots.
- The tongue coating may be white and greasy or yellow and greasy.
- On pulse examination, the pulse feels thin and not smooth, with a choppy quality.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Invigorate blood, dispel stasis, transform phlegm, and free the collaterals.
In Plain Language:
- Invigorate blood → Promote blood flow to address pain, stiffness, and numbness.
- Dispel stasis → Address stagnant blood to ease stabbing, fixed pain and swelling.
- Transform phlegm → In TCM terms, address phlegm and turbid accumulations to ease chest oppression, excessive phlegm, and feelings of heaviness and stickiness.
- Free the collaterals → Promote the flow through the channels and microcirculation to ease numbness, pulling pain, and restricted movement.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Aching pain in the limbs and joints; weakness and numbness in the limbs; poor appetite; loose stools; thin, slippery tongue coating; wiry, tight pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The limbs and joints may ache and feel uncomfortable with movement or pressure.
- The limbs may feel weak and numb, with somewhat reduced sensation to touch.
- Appetite may be poor, with little desire to eat.
- Stools may be loose and poorly formed, with more frequent bowel movements that may feel unsatisfactory.
- The tongue coating is thin and somewhat moist or slippery, giving the tongue a glossy, smooth appearance.
- On pulse examination, the pulse feels taut like a drawn string and tight, rather than soft.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Tonify qi and nourish blood, relax the sinews, and free the collaterals.
In Plain Language:
- Tonify qi → In TCM terms, support vitality and organ function to address shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue.
- Nourish blood → In TCM terms, nourish the blood to address a dull complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and numbness in the limbs.
- Relax the sinews → Relax muscles and sinews to ease tightness, spasms, and pulling sensations, and improve range of motion.
- Free the collaterals → Promote the flow through the collaterals and microcirculation to ease numbness, pain, and restricted movement.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Pain in the limbs and joints with difficulty bending and extending; aching, weak lower back and knees; aversion to cold and cold limbs or heat in the palms and soles with internal restlessness; pale-red tongue with a white coating and a deep, thin pulse, or a red tongue with little coating and a thin, rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The limbs and joints may hurt, with stiffness or difficulty bending and straightening them.
- The lower back and knees may feel sore and weak, with reduced strength when walking or exerting effort.
- You may feel cold and have cold hands and feet, or feel warmth in the palms and soles along with internal restlessness.
- The tongue may appear pale with a reddish tint, rather than bright red.
- The tongue coating is white, and is not thick or greasy.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may be deep and thin; alternatively, the tongue may be red with little coating, accompanied by a thin, somewhat rapid pulse.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Tonify and nourish the liver and kidneys, and strengthen the sinews and bones.
In Plain Language:
- Tonify and nourish the liver and kidneys → In TCM terms, nourish the essence, blood, yin, and yang of the liver and kidneys to address aching, weak lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and fatigue, and support vitality and recovery.
- Strengthen the sinews and bones → Support the strength and resilience of the sinews and bones to address weakness and soreness, a feeling of joint instability, and difficulties with flexible, stable movement.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
- Chinese Society of Rheumatology, Chinese Medical Association. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoarthritis[J]. Chinese Journal of Rheumatology, 2010, 14(6): 416–419.
- Li Zhanguo and Tang Fulin, trans. Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology[M]. 8th ed. Beijing: Peking University Medical Press, 2011: 1619–1657.
- Wang Chengde, Shen Pi’an, and Hu Yin’qi. Practical Chinese Medicine Rheumatology[M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2009: 750–770.
- Li Zhaofu, Di Pengtao, Liu Weichao, et al. Professor Wu Shengyuan’s Experience in Differentiating and Treating Osteoarthritis[J]. Rheumatism and Arthritis, 2012, 1(2): 76–78.
- Wu Shengyuan and Peng Jiangyun. Chinese Medicine Bi Disease Studies[M]. Kunming: Yunnan Science and Technology Press, 2013: 403–413.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China[M]. 2015 ed. Beijing: China Medical Science Press, 2015: 423–1749.