Arthritis

In Western medicine, arthritis is categorized as an autoimmune condition characterized by inflammation or degeneration affecting one or more joints, commonly managed through anti-inflammatory medications and immunosuppressants (Smolen et al., 2016, Lancet).

This definition contrasts with the perspective offered by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which posits that arthritis often originates from patterns of disharmony, such as kidney yang deficiency (Liu et al., 2015, Journal of Ethnopharmacology). In TCM, yang is conceptualized as the force providing warmth, while the kidneys are understood to "govern" the bones, joints, and ligaments (Chen et al., 2017, Chinese Medicine). The TCM approach to arthritis thereby focuses on restoring balance to the kidney yang, using modalities like acupuncture or herbal formulations to address underlying imbalances (Coyle et al., 2013, Rheumatology International). Hence, while Western medicine aims for symptomatic relief through pharmacological interventions, TCM seeks to address the underlying imbalances contributing to the manifestation of arthritis.