Inflammatory Myopathy
Inflammatory myopathies are a heterogeneous group of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases characterized primarily by involvement of the proximal muscles of the limbs, with symmetric muscle weakness as a prominent feature. Other organs are often affected at the same time. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are the most common forms.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Fever; muscle and joint pain and weakness; carbuncles, sores, and skin lesions; dry stools and dark urine; a red or crimson tongue with a thick yellow coating; a rapid pulse
In everyday terms:
- You may have a fever, with a raised body temperature and an uncomfortable feeling of heat.
- Your muscles and joints may ache and feel sore, with a sense of weakness and reduced strength.
- Carbuncle-like sores or lesions may appear on the skin, with redness, swelling, and pain, sometimes resembling an inflamed or pus-filled skin lesion.
- Stools may be dry and hard to pass, and urine may appear yellow or reddish.
- The tongue may look very red or deep crimson when you stick it out.
- The tongue coating may be yellow and relatively thick.
- The pulse may feel fast when checked.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Cool the blood, resolve toxins, invigorate blood, and relieve pain
In everyday terms:
- Cool the blood → In TCM, this means reducing heat in the “blood aspect,” with the aim of easing manifestations such as a tendency to bleed, red rashes, restlessness, thirst, and a red tongue.
- Resolve toxins → In TCM, this means clearing “toxic pathogens” associated with inflammation and easing redness, swelling, heat, pain, and pus in sores, as well as any unpleasant odor, to support healing.
- Invigorate blood → Promote the flow of blood and address stagnation, with the aim of reducing swelling, stiffness, and fixed, stabbing pain.
- Relieve pain → Directly ease pain and improve restricted movement and discomfort.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Fever; muscle pain, heaviness, and weakness; abdominal distension and poor appetite; sticky, soft stools that are difficult to pass comfortably; dark urine; a red tongue with a yellow, greasy coating; a slippery, rapid pulse
In everyday terms:
- You may have a fever and feel uncomfortably hot.
- Your muscles may ache and feel sore, making movement uncomfortable.
- Your body may feel heavy and weak, and you may lack strength for walking or everyday tasks.
- Your abdomen may feel full and distended, and you may have a poor appetite.
- Your stools may be sticky, soft, or poorly formed, and you may not feel fully relieved after a bowel movement.
- Your urine may look yellow or reddish and darker than usual.
- Your tongue may look red when you stick it out.
- The tongue coating may look yellow, thick, and greasy.
- The pulse may feel slippery and relatively fast when checked.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat, eliminate dampness, harmonize the nutritive aspect, and unblock the channels and collaterals
In everyday terms:
- Clear heat → In TCM, this means reducing internal “heat” or “excess heat” manifestations, with the aim of easing redness, swelling, burning sensations, sore throat, thirst, and irritability.
- Eliminate dampness → In TCM, this means dispelling dampness from the body or affected areas, with the aim of easing heaviness, sticky sensations, swelling, oozing, and joint heaviness.
- Harmonize the nutritive aspect → In TCM, this refers to regulating the “nutritive aspect” (the circulation of nourishment and fluids and blood in the body), with the aim of easing rashes, pain, itching, and symptoms that worsen at night, and helping the skin and mucous membranes feel more settled.
- Unblock the channels and collaterals → In TCM, this means promoting the flow of qi and blood through the channels, with the aim of easing numbness, stiffness, pulling pain, and restricted movement.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Weight loss; pain in the muscles and joints; flaccidity and weakness; restlessness and frequent dreams; low-grade fever and night sweats; scant, yellow urine; dry stools; a red tongue with a yellow coating; a fine, rapid pulse
In everyday terms:
- You may lose weight and appear thinner.
- Your muscles and joints may ache, and your limbs may feel weak and limp, making movement difficult.
- You may feel restless and have frequent dreams, with unsettled sleep.
- You may have recurring low-grade fever and sweat during sleep; the sweating gradually stops after you wake.
- Your urine may be yellow and reduced in volume.
- Your stools may be dry and hard to pass.
- Your tongue may look red when you stick it out.
- The tongue coating may look yellow.
- The pulse may feel fine and relatively fast when checked.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat, nourish yin, and unblock the channels and collaterals
In everyday terms:
- Clear heat → In TCM, this means reducing internal “heat” or “excess heat” manifestations, with the aim of easing redness, swelling, burning sensations, sore throat, thirst, and irritability.
- Nourish yin → In TCM, this means replenishing yin fluids and fluids and blood, with the aim of moistening dryness and easing dry mouth and throat, hot flashes, and night sweats, while supporting stamina and sleep.
- Unblock the channels and collaterals → In TCM, this means promoting the flow of qi and blood through the channels, with the aim of easing numbness, aching or pulling pain, and restricted movement.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Long-standing condition with slow progression; fatigue; muscle aches and weakness; in severe cases, gradual loss of muscle; dry skin; palpitations and shortness of breath; poor appetite and reluctance to speak; dizziness and spontaneous sweating; insomnia and forgetfulness; a pale, swollen tongue with a white coating; a fine, weak pulse
In everyday terms:
- The condition has been present for a long time.
- Symptoms develop slowly, with little noticeable change.
- You may feel mentally and physically tired and low in energy.
- Your muscles may ache and feel weak, making movement difficult.
- In severe cases, your muscles may gradually become thinner or appear atrophied.
- Your skin may become dry and feel less supple.
- You may feel your heart pounding and become short of breath easily.
- You may eat little, have a poor appetite, and feel less inclined to speak.
- You may feel dizzy and sweat without an obvious cause.
- You may sleep poorly or have insomnia, and your memory may worsen.
- Your tongue may look pale and somewhat enlarged when you stick it out.
- The tongue coating may be white.
- The pulse may feel fine and weak, with a less forceful beat.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi and blood
In everyday terms:
- Tonify qi → In TCM, this means supporting stamina and organ function, with the aim of easing shortness of breath, fatigue, and reluctance to speak.
- Nourish blood → In TCM, this means nourishing the blood aspect, with the aim of easing symptoms such as a poor complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and numbness in the limbs.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Long-standing condition; muscle aches and weakness; numbness in the limbs; dry skin; aversion to cold or shortness of breath; lower back soreness and weak legs; a pale tongue with a white coating; a deep, fine pulse
In everyday terms:
- The condition has been present for a long time.
- Your muscles may ache and feel weak, making movement difficult.
- Your limbs may feel numb, with a somewhat reduced response to touch.
- Your skin may become dry and feel less supple.
- You may feel cold easily or become short of breath, with uncomfortable breathing.
- Your lower back may ache, and your legs may feel weak.
- Your tongue may look pale when you stick it out.
- The tongue coating may be white.
- The pulse may be easier to feel with deeper pressure and may feel fine.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish yin and support yang
In everyday terms:
- Nourish yin → In TCM, this means replenishing yin fluids and fluids and blood, with the aim of easing dry mouth and throat, hot flashes, night sweats, and feelings of irritability and heat.
- Support yang → In TCM, this means supporting yang qi, understood as the body’s “driving force and warmth,” with the aim of easing aversion to cold, cold limbs, fatigue, and soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Rheumatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis[J]. Chinese Journal of Rheumatology, 2010, 14(12): 828-831.
- China Association of Chinese Medicine. Muscle Bi (ZYYXH/T354—2012)[J]. Rheumatism and Arthritis, 2012, 1(4): 77-79.
- China Association of Chinese Medicine. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Polymyositis[J]. Chinese Medicine Modern Distance Education of China, 2011, 9(11): 152-153.
- (U.S.) Kelley and Firestein. Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology[M]. 8th ed. Translated by Li Zhanguo and Tang Fulin. Beijing: Peking University Medical Press, 2011.
- Chen Dexing. Chinese Patent Medicine[M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2009.