Objective: To observe the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine in treating rheumatoid Arthritis.

Methods: treatment was selected depending the types by Syndrome Differentiation of TCM: (l) For Wind-Cold-Damp Blocking type, the self-formulated recipe, Wenjing Zhuhan Decoction (Decoction for Warming Meridians and Dispelling Cold) was used, which consists of Radix Aconitum, Herba Ephedra, Herba Asari cum Radice, Semen Coicis, Radix et Rhizoma Clematis, Radix Angelica Pubescens, Radix Glycyrrhiza etc. For those transferred to Heat due to long time Stagnation, Rhizoma Polygonum Cuspidatum, Rhizoma Anemarrhna, Radix Stephania be and Caulis Lonicerae would be added;

(2) For Damp-Heat Stagnation type, the self-formulated recipe, Qingre Tongbi Decoction (Decoction of Clearing Heat and Opening Block) was given, which consists of Gypsum Fibrosum, Rhizoma Anemarrhen, Semen Coicis, Flos Loniceae Radix Stephania Tetrandra, Caulis Lonicerae, Rhizoma Polygonum Cuspidatum, Radix Paeonia Rubra, Radix Glycyrrhiza. etc;

(3) For stasis-phlegm Blocking Collaterals type, modified Taohong Yin (Semen Persica and Flos Carthamus Decoction) was used, which consists of Semen Persica, Flos Carthamus, Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae, Resin Commiphora Myrrha, Radix Astragalus, Ramulus Cinnamomum, Radix et Rhizoma Clematis, Rhizoma Pinellia, Rhizoma Arisaema, Eupolyphaga et Polyphage, Squama Manis, Scorpio and Radix Glycyrrhiza;

(4) For Liver-Kidney Deficiency with evil pathogens Blocking type, modified Yanghe Decoction (regulating Yang decoction) was used, which consists of Colla Cornus Cervi, Radix Rehmannia, Radix Angelica Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae lactiflora Alba, Radix Astragalus, Ramulus Cinnarnomum, Fructus Psoralea, Herba Cistanchis, Herba Epimedium, Cortex Eucommia Squama Manis and Radix Glycyrrhiza.

Result: Among the 48 cases in the study 27 belonged to Wind-Cold-Damp Blocking type, l2 to Damp-Heat Stagnation type, 4 to stasis- Phlegm Blocking Collaterals type and 5 to Liver-Kidney Deficiency type. After 2 therapeutic course of treatment, l7 of them were of short-term controlled, 35.4%, l6 of markedly effective (33.3%), ll of effective (23%) and 4 ineffective (8.3%), the total effective rate 9l .7%.

Conclusion: To treat rheumatoid Arthritis by TCM typing has its special superiority and prosecuting development.

By Liang Bing