Discussion on Formulas for Rheumatoid Arthritis, January 6, 1985

Discussion on Formulas for Rheumatoid Arthritis, January 6, 1985

In the spring of the Year of Renxu, Dr. Zhou Wanzhang from the Chen Guanying Commune Hospital brought a formula said to be miraculous for treating rheumatoid arthritis. The composition is as follows: Achyranthes root, pangolin scales, Dipsacus asper, Gentiana macrophylla, Stephania tetrandra, Clematis armandii, Notopterygium incisum, Angelica pubescens, Tinospora sinensis, and Piper betle. All are ground together, soaked in 500 mL of white liquor for 24 hours, strained, and the liquid is taken twice daily, 20 mL each time.

Upon comparison, this formula is very similar to my father’s Qinjiao Tang for treating this condition. Qinjiao Tang consists of Gentiana macrophylla, Stephania tetrandra, Clematis armandii, Notopterygium incisum, Angelica pubescens, Tinospora sinensis, Mulberry branch, and Piper betle. Compared with this formula, the only additions are Achyranthes root, Dipsacus asper, and pangolin scales. However, my father’s formula is decocted in water, while this one uses alcohol soaking. According to Professor Ren Yingqiu’s experience published in the 10th issue of the “Chinese Medicine Journal” in 1980, treating joint pain involves using 12 g of raw Aconite, 6 g of northern Asarum, 9 g of Atractylodes, 9 g of Angelica pubescens, 9 g of Achyranthes root, 12 g of Angelica sinensis, 30 g of pangolin scales, 30 g of Qian nian jian, 30 g of Dipsacus asper, and 3 g each of frankincense and myrrh. Decoct in water and take orally. These three formulas are largely similar, indicating that skilled practitioners worldwide use essentially the same methods to treat arthralgia.