Clinical Considerations

General comments

– Rheumatic disease is the generic term for degenerative (arthrosis) and inflammatory diseases (e. g., rheumatoid arthritis) of the supporting and connective tissues. The exact etiology is rarely identifiable.

– In rheumatoid arthritis, elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1β can be detected in synovial fluid. These substances maintain joint inflammation and promote the production of enzymes that destroy the cartilage. Inflammatory processes also occur in arthrosis, but are induced by mechanical irritations due to malposition.

– It is impossible to predict the course of the disease over time. In many cases, improvement or worsening cannot be reliably attributed to any definite therapeutic measure.

– Curative treatment of rheumatic diseases is not possible. Most treatment strategies still do not achieve very satisfactory long-term results, especially in rheumatic inflammatory diseases.

General and herbal treatment measures

– The goal of traditional rheumatism treatments is to stimulate metabolic and excretory (hepatic and renal) processes.

– Recent studies have shown that herbal remedies can alleviate pain and inhibit the endogenous production of tissue hormones (prostaglandins and leukotrienes) involved in the development of rheumatoid inflammation.

– Essential oils for rheumatic complaints (e. g., peppermint, camphor, eucalyptus, rosemary) are applied topically. After transdermal absorption, viscerocutaneous reflexes convey the effects of the oils to the internal organs. Arnica flower is an effective antiphlogistic remedy.

– Cayenne fruit contains capsaicin, a substance that works by local irritation, causing skin reddening and warming. This helps to alleviate muscle tension and postherpetic neuralgia. Powdered mustard seed and ginger root have a similar mechanism of action.

– Inactive arthrosis is treated using grass flower pillows. These are pillows filled with dried flowers of hay, commercially available in Germany. In North America, the closest approximation to this is Avena flower. In North America, baths with ginger tea added to the bathwater and, as topical treatment, ginger compresses are used instead. Also, adding essential oils (conifer oil) to the bathwater is a possible treatment.

Clinical value of herbal medicine

– Herbal remedies are suitable for adjunctive treatment of rheumatoid diseases.

– Nonsteroidal antirheumatic pharmaceutical drugs tend to cause a number of side effects, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. Adjunctive treatment with the recommended herbs makes it possible to reduce the dose frequency and level of nonsteroidal antirheumatics.

– Similar to the herbal remedies used for primary treatment, oral phytomedicines take several weeks to become fully effective.

– Further intensive research is required to adequately document the efficacy of so-called antidyscratics (e. g., dandelion root, stinging nettle leaf, birch leaf) in rheumatic diseases and to analyze their active principles.

External Remedies That Work by Stimulating Skin Receptors

Local Irritants