"What are the herbal remedies for treating rheumatoid arthritis through fumigation therapy?"

Prescription for Fumigation Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The prescription for fumigation therapy in rheumatoid arthritis incorporates traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Chuanwu, Caowu, Qinjiao, and Fangfeng, yet it is imperative to administer under the guidance of a professional physician. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, arises when the immune system mistakenly identifies and attacks healthy joint tissues, triggering a series of inflammatory responses in cartilage, synovium, ligaments, and other tissues.

1. Chuanwu

Pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature, Chuanwu acts on the Heart and Spleen meridians. It possesses the abilities to dispel wind and dampness, as well as warm meridians and alleviate pain. Chuanwu is applicable in treating rheumatic pains, including numbness and spasm in extremities caused by wind-cold-dampness bi syndrome, chest pain from heart obstruction due to cold, and joint pain, swelling, and other symptoms stemming from cold-dampness bi syndrome.

2. Caowu

Pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature, Caowu also targets the Heart and Spleen meridians. It is known for dispelling wind and dampness, dispelling cold and alleviating pain, and warming meridians to promote circulation. It can be used to treat joint pain, muscular spasms, hemiplegia caused by yin-cold-dampness bi syndrome, as well as cold hernia with palpable nodules, abdominal pain due to cold, and other cold-dampness related pains.

3. Qinjiao

Pungent and bitter in taste, neutral in nature, Qinjiao functions in the Stomach, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians. It serves to dispel wind-dampness, unblock meridians to alleviate pain, dispel deficient heat, and clear damp-heat. It is indicated for rheumatic syndromes, such as numbness and muscular spasms in extremities caused by wind-cold-dampness bi syndrome.

4. Fangfeng

Pungent and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, Fangfeng belongs to the Bladder, Liver, and Spleen meridians. It has the functions of dispelling wind to relieve exterior symptoms, defeating dampness to alleviate pain, and stopping convulsions. It is effective in treating colds caused by exogenous wind-cold, symptoms like headache, body aches, and neck rigidity, as well as rheumatic pains associated with rheumatic arthritis.

Apart from the above herbal prescriptions, fumigation therapy for rheumatoid arthritis encompasses other formulas, such as Danggui Niantong Decoction. It is recommended that patients with rheumatoid arthritis consult the Traditional Chinese Medicine Rheumatology and Immunology Department at a hospital for diagnosis through methods like observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation. Patients should refrain from self-medication to prevent adverse health consequences arising from improper drug usage.