Rheumatoid arthritis: the wisdom of “dispelling wind and dampness” at the table

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are often troubled by joint pain and stiffness. In addition to drug treatment and external adjustment, the regulation of daily diet is also particularly important.

Traditional Chinese medicine dietotherapy, based on the concept of “medicine and food are of the same origin”, combines the ingredients of dispelling wind dampness and unblocking meridians with medicinal herbs into three meals a day, which not only meets the taste buds, but also helps joint health, especially as a way of long-term auxiliary conditioning.

Two classic dietotherapy formulas are more reassuring for symptomatic conditioning.

Traditional Chinese medicine dietotherapy should give consideration to “removing pathogenic factors” and “strengthening health”. According to the common syndrome types of rheumatoid arthritis, such as “wind cold dampness blockage” and “dampness heat blockage”, the following two dietotherapy formulas that are easy to do at home are recommended:

1、Red adzuki bean, Coix and tuckahoe Decoction —clearing heat and dampness, alleviating joint redness and swelling.

Ingredients: adzuki bean 30g, coix seed 30g, Poria cocos 15g, tangerine peel 3G, lean meat 50g

How to do it: after blanching the lean meat, put it into a casserole together with other ingredients, add enough water, boil it over high heat, turn it to low heat for 1 hour, and then add salt to taste it.

Principle: adzuki bean and coix seed can clear away heat and dampness, Poria cocos can invigorate the spleen and remove dampness, and tangerine peel can regulate qi and appetizer. It is suitable for people with rheumatoid arthritis of damp heat type, redness and swelling of joints, burning pain, dry mouth and yellow and greasy tongue coating. It can be eaten in summer or wet season to help expel moisture from the body.

2. stewed chicken soup with mulberry twigs – Tongli joint, suitable for stiff joints

Ingredients: mulberry twig 20g, half old hen (or 100g lean meat), 3 red dates, 3 ginger slices

How to do it: blanch the old hen with water to remove the blood foam, put it in a casserole with mulberry twigs, red dates and ginger, add clean water without any ingredients, boil it over high heat and turn it to low heat for 1.5 hours, then add salt to taste.

Principle: Ramulus Mori is a commonly used herbal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, which can dispel rheumatism and benefit joints. It can be used with chicken to replenish qi and blood, and red dates to strengthen the spleen and stomach. It is suitable for people with stiff joints, inconvenient activities and insufficient Qi and blood at the late stage of rheumatoid arthritis. It can be eaten 1-2 times a week to help improve joint flexibility.

The core principles of dietotherapy: safety, long-term, syndrome differentiation. Medicine and food are of the same origin, mild and no burden: most of the selected food materials are grains, fruits and vegetables, and meat that can be seen in daily life. The medicinal materials used with them are mild in nature, and it is not easy to bring additional burden to the body after long-term consumption, especially for middle-aged and elderly patients.

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