Arthritis, which means "joint inflammation," is a general term for nearly 100 different diseases that are associated with the inflammation of connective tissues, especially in the joints. Arthritis may also refer to the non-inflammatory degeneration of such tissues. The condition, which affects about 15 percent of all Americans, may also be called "rheumatism" or "rheumatic disease."

For some patients, the inflammation is the result of an immune reaction. It may be a defense by the body against invading microorganisms, but in many cases the cause of the immune reaction against the body's own tissue is not known. The body is apparently reacting against itself rather than against some invading microorganism. The body's own defenses are used to react with healthy connective tissue and synovial membranes, causing the inflammation.

Herbal medicine helps the whole body to work together in order to halt the inflammation and alleviate the pain and discomfort. Many Chinese medical prescriptions used to treat arthritis work as the result of synergistic interactions of the herbs. Liver function, circulation, and the gastro-intestinal system all are affected in the process.

Many Herbs Ease Inflammation

Many Chinese medical herbs have been found to act as anti-inflammatory agents, though the research on this has been published almost exclusively in Japanese or Chinese, so it is not well-known in other parts of the world.

One traditional remedy is scutellaria baicalensis, which is related to skullcap. This apparently works to halt allergic reactions as the result of the flavonoids it contains. Another traditional treatment is a root and stem decoction made of fang-chi (called "boi" in Japanese), sinomenium acutum, which is used for neuralgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Fang-chi has been found to contain sinomenine, a plant alkaloid that releases histamine that is in turn responsible for dilation of blood vessels, improved lymph flow, the contraction of smooth muscles, and greater intestinal efficiency.

Another Chinese herbal medicine that has been receiving a lot of attention recently is shosaikoto, which by itself has been shown to have mild anti-inflammatory action. Lab tests have indicated that when it is used in conjunction with the steroid prednisolone, it has been found to increase the steroid's anti-inflammatory effect.