Arthritis and the Obstruction Patterns of TCM by Dr. Mark Wiley
Did you know that arthritis is the believed to be oldest discovered ailment? Scientists have found this disease in the joints of some dinosaurs and even mummies!
It's no wonder that The Arthritis Foundation estimates that some 59 million Americans will have arthritis by the year 2020. That's nearly 20% of the population!
Arthritis Defined
As a term, arthritis means "joint inflammation." While there are several hundred forms of arthritis, the most common are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis, the most common form, is a degenerative condition that is caused when the joint cartilage begins to break down from either prolonged wear-and-tear, traumatic injury or infection, thus leading to a bony enlargement.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease of the autoimmune system that causes inflammation of the synovial membrane (joint lining) and destruction and deformity of bone, cartilage, ligament, and muscle tissue.
Regardless of type, common arthritic symptoms include pain in the joints, redness and swelling of the joints, and loss of joint function. The pain of osteoarthritis gradually worsens with use over the course of the day, whereas the pain of rheumatoid arthritis tends to be worse on waking and improves as the day progresses.
Arthritis and Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views things in terms of a "pattern" of imbalance in the body that causes disease. It then differentiates the pattern based on the most prevalent sign and symptom. In this way a pattern can be identified, observed over time and (hopefully) corrected, thus alleviating the disease and/or removing its symptoms.
In TCM the various types of arthritis are grouped under the "pattern" of blockage or obstruction. The condition occurs when external wind, cold, dampness and/or heat enter the body and lodges in the meridian channels and network vessels. This leads to impairment of Qi and blood circulation, which causes such signs and symptoms as: achy pain, impaired joint movement, numbness, tingling and/or heaviness of the limbs.
There are two main Obstruction Patterns in TCM. They are Wind-Cold-Damp and Wind-Damp-Heat
The Wind-Cold-Damp pattern is caused by wind, cold and/or dampness invading the body when immunity (wei qi) is low. It blocks the channels and forces an excess of wind, cold and/or dampness to congregate around the joints, thereby restricting movement and causing pain.
Wind-Cold-Damp obstruction pattern is further differentiated as either being Moving Obstruction, Painful Obstruction and Fixed Obstruction.
Moving (Wind) Obstruction finds the pain in the joints to move or wander from location--like the movement of wind. Symptoms include impaired movement of the joints that changes location, aversion to wind, fever and chills, a tongue with yellow fur coat and a rapid pulse.
Painful (Cold) Obstruction finds severs pain in one location. Symptoms include impaired movement of specific joints, pain is worse when exposed to cold and is alleviated when exposed to warmth, the tongue has a thin white fur and the pulse is generally considered tight an wiry.
Fixed (Damp) Obstruction finds the pain to be fixed or in its location. Symptoms include numbness and swelling of the skin, heaviness of the limbs, the conditions worsens when the weather is cool, cold or damp, the tongue coating is greasy and the pulse is moderate.
The Wind-Damp-Heat pattern is caused when wind, dampness and/or heat lodges in the body. This can easily happen when the immunity is low during the long hot/humid/damp summer days.
Symptoms include heat blocking the channels causing hot skin, swelling and red color of painful areas that increases with contact. Since it is a heat condition, there is often dehydration causing dry mouth, dark concentrated urine, constipation, a tongue with greasy yellow fur and a rapid pulse.
How to Prevent and Alleviate Arthritis
Since TCM differentiates between the syndromes of obstruction, it does not treat them in the same way. Various acupuncture points would be needled and herbal medicines would be used to do any number of the following: eliminate wind and/or dampness, dissipate cold, warm the channels, free the network vessels, resolve heat toxin and stop pain.
If you live in an area where there are acupuncturists or Chinese herbalists, I recommend consulting them for treatment. However, there are five simple things that you can do yourself to help prevent or alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
1. Be mindful of wear-and-tear on the joints through repetitive stresses or strained activities, such as running, lifting, machine work, dancing, martial arts, etc. Try to take a break or change position (or activity) often to decrease changes of breakdown. And be sure to warm up the muscles and joints properly before engaging in such activities.
2. Inactivity can also lead to joint problems, since lack of exercise or movement in general can weaken the joint-supporting musculature and decrease mobility. A joint, like a muscle, that is not used enough will atrophy, becoming weak, stiff, dysfunctional and prone to injury. So get up and move around, clean the house or exercise as often as possible. Movement in the key here.
3. Studies have shown that obese individuals are at risk for developing arthritis because of the constant load placed on them. This is especially the case with such joints as the knees and hips. Changing your diet and exercise habits will help prevent this from happening!
4. If you have Wind-Cold-Damp obstruction pattern "arthritis", you can wear gloves and dress warmly in winter, avoid cold beverages, intake warm food and beverages and use heat as therapy on painful days.
5. If you have Wind-Damp-Heat obstruction pattern "arthritis", you can refrain from too many spicy foods and diuretic beverages such as coffee, tea, alcohol and those high in sugar. On painful days you can use ice as therapy.