Bi Zheng
AliasArthritis
Traditional Chinese Medicine Definition
In traditional Chinese medicine, Bi Zheng (Arthritis) refers to a type of limb and meridian disease, also known as "arthritis." As recorded in "Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine": "Bi Zheng is characterized by the invasion of pathogenic factors such as wind, cold, dampness, and heat into the meridians, leading to obstructed circulation of Qi and blood, resulting in joint pain, aching, heaviness, numbness, swelling, and limited range of motion."
In clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine, the core pathogenesis of Bi Zheng is the invasion of pathogenic factors into the meridians, causing obstructed circulation of Qi and blood. Common triggers include sudden changes in weather, damp living environments, and overexertion. During diagnosis, attention should be paid to distinguishing between cold, heat, deficiency, and excess, such as in wind-cold-damp Bi Zheng, characterized by joint pain and aching that worsens in cold weather and improves with warmth; in damp-heat Bi Zheng, the main symptoms are red, swollen, burning joint pain that eases with cold; and in phlegm-stasis Bi Zheng, the joint pain is fixed, swollen, and deformed, with limited range of motion. The overall approach to treatment suggests that in clinical practice, the treatment of Bi Zheng should be tailored to the specific pattern, such as dispelling wind and cold, clearing heat and unblocking the meridians, resolving phlegm and removing blood stasis, to restore the smooth circulation of Qi and blood. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that by adjusting the internal and external environment of the body and balancing yin and yang, the goal of treating Bi Zheng can be achieved.
Common Syndrome Types and Key Points of Differentiation
Wind-Cold-Damp Arthritis
Main Manifestations: Joint pain is sore and aching, exacerbated by cold, and alleviated by warmth
Management Approach: Expel wind and dispel cold, remove dampness and unblock the meridians
Wind-Damp-Hot Arthritis
Main Manifestations: Joint redness, swelling, burning pain, relief with cold
Management Approach: Clear heat and unblock the meridians, expel wind and remove dampness
Phlegm and blood stasis syndrome
Main Manifestations: Joint pain is sharp and fixed, with swelling and deformation, and difficulty in flexion and extension
Management Approach: Resolve phlegm and remove blood stasis, search for wind and unblock the meridians
The above syndrome information is based on traditional Chinese medicine textbooks and clinical standards. Specific differentiation should be completed by a practicing traditional Chinese medicine physician in person.
Physician's Clinical Insights
Physicians' Insights: Patients with Bi Zheng often experience joint pain that is closely related to changes in weather, emphasizing the importance of differential diagnosis and treatment.
— Li Mingjiu Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
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This page is for the popular science of traditional Chinese medicine knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. Specific diagnosis should be completed by a licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in person.
This article has been reviewed by licensed TCM physicians at Hangzhou Kezhentang TCM Clinic. It is for TCM popular science reference only and does not involve specific treatment plan recommendations.
References: Internal Medicine of TCM (13th Five-Year Plan Textbook), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Effectiveness Standards for TCM Diseases and Syndromes (ZY/T001.1-94), Classification and Codes of TCM Diseases and Syndromes (GB/T 15657-2021)