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Causes of Arthritis from Chinese Medical Perspective

By Yang, Jwing-Ming

The author of this article, Mr. Jwing-Ming Yang, has done a wonderful job of translating traditional Oriental concepts into words and ideas that are better understood by us in the Western world. For more information on how arthritis is described in the terms that practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine use, please see the article on "Bi" Syndromes among the Clinical Point Selections.

"Bi" means pain, and many of the "Bi" syndromes overlap with the Western differentiation of arthritis.


1. Weakness of the Internal Organs:


2. Defective Genes:

Only recently it was reported that some forms of arthritis are caused by defective genes, which are inherited from one's parents. According to Chinese medicine, the genes are considered the essence of your being. This essence is responsible for the production of hormones, from which Qi is generated. When this Qi is led to the brain, the spirit is raised. When all of these conversion processes are functioning normally, the immune system is strong and sickness is less likely. One of the main goals of Qigong is learning how to convert the essence into Qi efficiently and lead it to the brain.

3. Weak Joints:


4. Injury:


5. Aging:


6. Qi Deficiency:


Qi deficiency can have other causes, such as the weather. For example, your body's Qi is more deficient in the winter, and there fore, arthritis can be more serious then.

Qi deficiency can also be caused by working for prolonged periods in a damp area, or by exposing your joints to the cold.

7. Tension:



2-5. Other Possible Means of Preventing or Curing Arthritis

In addition to the ones already discussed, there are a number of other methods of preventing or curing arthritis. Although many of them are still awaiting scientific confirmation, they may be worth your consideration. However, you must understand that everybody has his or her own unique characteristics, and his or her own unique inheritance. In addition to the habits and lifestyle that each person has developed, everyone's mental and physical structure is different. For example, some people are affected by allergies while others are not. What this means is that you cannot necessarily use the same method to treat different people, even when they have the same disease. Even modern Western medicine has found that the same treatment will not work equally well on all patients. Therefore, do not automatically brush off some of the treatment methods we will discuss. After all, Western medicine is only in its infancy, and it may come to understand and accept these alternative remedies.

1. Diet:

People who are experienced in Qigong have always considered food to be a significant influence on the condition of the Qi in the body. For this reason, diet is one of the main concerns of Chinese medicine. There is a saying: "You are what you eat." It is well known that improper diet is one of the main causes of gouty arthritis. The Chinese have found many different herbs that can ease the pain and reduce the swelling of arthritis. It has recently been discovered that protein, calories, and fats can reduce the inflammation of arthritis. Certain fish oils may interfere with the process of inflammation and therefore reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.(*5, *6).

2. Change of Residence:

Since the Qi in your environment can affect the Qi in your body, arthritis sufferers should give serious consideration to this method. If the climate where you live is too damp or too cold, it may be affect ing your arthritis. It has recently been discovered that the Qi in our bodies can be significantly affected by the electromagnetic fields generated by modern technology, and therefore cause some forms of cancer. For example, people who live near high tension power lines tend to get cancer more often than those who do not. Perhaps similar environmental effects on arthritis will be found.

3. Change of Lifestyle:


4. Clothing:

What you wear also affects the Qi in your body. In the winter you must stay warm, and especially protect your joints. Joints that are left unprotected can loose Qi very quickly.

It has been discovered that many man-made fibers can adversely affect the Qi distribution and circulation in the body. For example, polyester is known to cause Qi stagnation, and to prevent the body's Qi from exchanging with the environmental Qi. You may have noticed that clothing made of polyester can accumulate a considerable charge of static electricity in the winter. This builds up an electromagnetic field and affects the Qi circulation in your body. There are many other ways of improving the condition of your arthritis. For example, it is reported that sexual activity can stimulate the adrenal glands to produce more corticosteroid, a hormone that reduces joint inflammation and pain. It is believed that sexual activity may also trigger the release of endorphins, a naturally occurring painkilling substance.(*7) You can see from our brief discussion that, if we want to under stand arthritis completely, we must remain humble and continue our study and research. Only then will we be able to reach the goal of a complete cure.


  1. "Medicine for the Layman - Arthritis," Clinical Center Office of Clinical Reports & Inquiries, Building 10B, Room 1C255, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892.
  2. "The Complete Medical Guide," Benjamin F. Miller, M.D., Simon and Schuster, New York, 1978.
  3. "Arthritis, Rheumatic Diseases, and Related Disorders," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health.
  4. "An Overview of Arthritis and Related Disorders," Caring, January 1989.
  5. "Arthritis and Diet," Arthritis Foundation, 1314 Spring Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309.
  6. "Can Diet Relieve Arthritis," University of California, Berkeley, Wellness Letter, Volume 6, Issue 8.
  7. "Arthritis and Your Love Life," 8, Men's Health, 1989.

From the book entitled "Arthritis - The Chinese Way of Healing & Prevention", YMAA Publication Center, Jamaica Plain. 

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