Rheumatoid arthritis is an incurable and painful autoimmune disease. What many may not know about it is that in addition to causing joint pain and deformation, the disease may also lead to damage to other critical organs such as the heart and the lungs. Dr. Yuen Oi-lin, a registered traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner in Hong Kong, explains through her experience how TCM treats rheumatoid arthritis by using Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture to replenish the body’s energy and restore the immune system to its balance.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a result of the immune system attacking the joints, causing pain, swelling, and deformation. Typically, it affects both the left and right sides of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause “morning stiffness,” meaning that upon waking in the morning, the joints are particularly stiff and only get better later in the day.
