Sjögren’s Syndrome
Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects the exocrine glands. Clinically, damage to the salivary and lacrimal glands and reduced function lead to dry mouth and dry eyes. In addition, other exocrine glands and organs outside the glands may be affected, resulting in multisystem involvement, including the lungs, kidneys, digestive system, and blood.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Sjögren’s syndrome falls within the category of “dryness impediment” (zao bi). It is often attributed to dryness pathogens (external or internal) damaging qi, blood, and body fluids, leading to depletion of yin fluids, qi and blood deficiency, inadequate nourishment of the orifices, sinews and vessels, and obstruction by blood stasis. Symptoms may include dryness of the mouth and eyes and pain in the limbs and joints; in severe cases, organ damage may occur.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Dry eyes, dry mouth, brittle or loose teeth, dry skin, dull joint pain, dry cough with scant sputum. Red tongue with scant fluids, a smooth, peeled surface with no coating or with cracks; deep, fine or fine, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Your eyes may feel dry and uncomfortable when blinking.
- Your mouth may feel very dry, making speaking or swallowing uncomfortable.
- Your teeth may look dry and brittle, and may even become loose or fall out.
- Your skin may feel dry and rough, with little moisture.
- You may have a dull ache in your joints and discomfort when moving.
- You may have a dry cough with little sputum, and your throat may feel dry when coughing.
- Your tongue may look red and dry, with little moisture on its surface.
- The tongue surface may look smooth, with little or no coating, or have visible cracks.
- When taking the pulse, it may be easier to feel with deeper pressure and may be fine, or fine and somewhat rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish yin, generate fluids, and moisten dryness.
In plain language:
- Nourish yin fluids → Replenish the body’s yin fluids and nourishing substances, with the aim of easing dry mouth and throat, irritability, night sweats, and related feelings.
- Generate fluids → Support the production and secretion of body fluids, with the aim of easing thirst, dry mouth, and a dry tongue.
- Moisten dryness → Increase moisture throughout the body and in affected areas, with the aim of easing dry skin, constipation, and dry cough with scant sputum.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Dry eyes, dry mouth, dryness of the orifices, dry skin, aching joints, fatigue and lack of strength, dry cough and shortness of breath, epigastric fullness. Pale tongue, teeth marks along the edges or cracks on the tongue, scant or absent coating; deep, fine, weak pulse.
In plain language:
- Your eyes may feel dry and uncomfortable when blinking.
- Your mouth may feel dry, making speaking or swallowing uncomfortable.
- Your eyes, mouth, nose, and other areas may feel dry and generally lack moisture.
- Your skin may feel dry and lack moisture.
- Your joints may ache, with discomfort during movement or exertion.
- You may feel tired and easily fatigued, with little energy for tasks.
- You may have a dry cough and become short of breath easily, feeling that you cannot get enough air when speaking or moving.
- Your upper abdomen may feel heavy and distended, as if pressure is building.
- Your tongue may look pale rather than a fresh, bright red.
- You may see teeth marks along the edges of your tongue or small cracks on its surface.
- Your tongue coating may be scant or almost absent.
- When taking the pulse, it may be easier to feel with deeper pressure and may feel fine and weak.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi, nourish yin, generate fluids, and moisten dryness.
In plain language:
- Tonify qi → Support energy and bodily function, with the aim of easing shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue.
- Nourish yin → Replenish the body’s yin fluids, with the aim of easing dry mouth and throat, tidal fever, and night sweats.
- Generate fluids → Support the production and secretion of body fluids, with the aim of easing thirst, dry mouth, and a dry tongue.
- Moisten dryness → Increase moisture throughout the body and in affected areas, with the aim of easing dry skin, constipation, and dry cough with scant sputum.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Dry eyes, red eyes with abundant discharge, dry mouth and throat, sore throat, red, swollen, hot, painful joints, tidal fever and night sweats, heat in the palms, soles, and chest with irritability. Red tongue, yellow, greasy coating; wiry, fine, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Your eyes may feel dry and uncomfortable when blinking or looking at things.
- The whites of your eyes may look red, and there may be more discharge or crust at the corners.
- Your mouth may feel dry, making speaking or swallowing uncomfortable.
- Your throat may feel dry, especially when breathing or speaking.
- Your throat may be sore, with more discomfort when speaking or swallowing.
- Your joints may be red, swollen, warm, and painful, and may feel hot to the touch.
- You may have episodes of feeling hot along with night sweats, followed by discomfort after sweating.
- Your palms, soles, and chest may feel hot, and you may feel restless or irritable.
- Your tongue may appear red.
- Your tongue coating may be yellow, thick, and greasy, making the tongue surface look coated.
- Your pulse may feel taut like a pulled string and fine, with a somewhat faster rate.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish yin, moisten dryness, clear heat, and drain dampness.
In plain language:
- Nourish yin → Replenish the body’s yin fluids and nutrients, with the aim of easing dry mouth and throat, tidal fever, night sweats, and irritability.
- Moisten dryness → Increase tissue moisture, with the aim of easing dry skin, constipation, dry cough with scant sputum, and dryness of the eyes, mouth, and nose.
- Clear heat → Reduce internal heat patterns, with the aim of easing redness, swelling, burning sensations, sore throat, and thirst.
- Drain dampness → Promote the elimination of dampness (through urination, sweating, and other routes), with the aim of easing heaviness, a sticky or greasy sensation, swelling, and difficulty urinating.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Dry eyes, red eyes, dry mouth and throat, sore throat, swollen and painful gums, swelling of the cheek or jaw (fa yi) or enlarged cervical lymph nodes (luo li). Red, dry tongue or tongue with cracks, scant coating or yellow, dry coating; wiry, fine, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Your eyes may feel dry and uncomfortable when blinking or looking at things.
- Your eyes may look red or bloodshot.
- Your mouth may feel dry, making speaking or swallowing uncomfortable.
- Your throat may feel dry, especially when breathing or speaking.
- Your throat may be sore, with greater discomfort when swallowing or speaking.
- Your gums may be swollen and painful, especially when brushing your teeth or chewing.
- Your cheek or jaw may swell (fa yi), or lumps may appear along the side of your neck (luo li).
- Your tongue may appear red.
- Your tongue may look dry or have small cracks.
- Your tongue coating may be scant or yellow and dry.
- Your pulse may feel taut like a pulled string and fine, with a somewhat faster rate.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and resolve toxins, moisten dryness, and protect yin.
In plain language:
- Clear heat → Reduce signs of internal heat, with the aim of easing redness, swelling, burning sensations, sore throat, and thirst.
- Resolve toxins → Clear inflammatory “toxic pathogens” in TCM terms, with the aim of easing sores, swelling, pain, pus, and unpleasant odors.
- Moisten dryness → Increase moisture from body fluids, with the aim of easing dry skin, constipation, and dry cough with scant sputum.
- Protect yin → Protect and nourish yin fluids, helping avoid damage to body fluids from excessive heat-clearing and easing dry mouth and throat, night sweats, and tidal fever.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Dry eyes and mouth, brittle teeth with pieces falling out, joint pain at fixed locations, alternating blanching and purplish discoloration of the extremities. Dark-red tongue with purple spots or patches, bluish-purple veins under the tongue, thin yellow, dry coating or no coating; deep, fine, choppy pulse.
In plain language:
- Your eyes may feel dry and uncomfortable when blinking or looking at things.
- Your mouth may feel dry, making speaking or swallowing uncomfortable.
- Your teeth may look dry and brittle, and pieces may break off or fall out.
- You may have joint pain that causes noticeable discomfort during daily activities.
- The pain may stay in one place rather than moving, and remain in the same area when pressed.
- The color of your fingers or toes may alternate between pale and purplish.
- Your tongue may look dark red.
- You may see purple patches or small purple spots on the tongue.
- The veins under your tongue may look bluish-purple and darker in color.
- Your tongue coating may be thin, yellow, and dry, or almost absent.
- When taking the pulse, it may be easier to feel with deeper pressure and may feel fine and uneven or sluggish.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Invigorate blood, unblock the channels, nourish yin, and moisten dryness.
In plain language:
- Invigorate blood → Promote blood circulation, with the aim of easing pain, stiffness, and blood stasis.
- Unblock the channels → Help restore the flow through the channels and collaterals, with the aim of easing numbness and limited movement.
- Nourish yin → Replenish yin fluids in the body, with the aim of easing dry mouth and throat, tidal fever, and night sweats.
- Moisten dryness → Increase tissue moisture, with the aim of easing dry skin, constipation, and dry cough with scant sputum.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
- Chinese Medical Association. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Rheumatic Diseases [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2007.
- Liu Wei. Rheumatology and Immunology: An Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Approach [M]. Wuhan: Huazhong University of Science and Technology Press, 2009.
- Gao Xuemin, Li Qingye. Practical Chinese Patent Medicines [M]. Beijing: China Science and Technology Press, 1991.