10 Oriental Medicines Around the House That Are Good for Musculoskeletal Diseases

(Dan Tri) - In modern life, musculoskeletal diseases are increasingly common. Few people know that around us there are many good oriental medicines such as betel leaves, gac seeds, papaya trees, kapok tree bark...

Traditional medicine practitioner Hoang Van Toan, Vice President of the Scientific Council of the Institute for Cultural Development and Community Health Care, said that the musculoskeletal system plays a very important role in creating the framework for the human body.

The condition of impaired function and damage to joints, ligaments, muscles, etc., reducing mobility and even leaving many sequelae, is called musculoskeletal disease.

Common musculoskeletal diseases include osteoarthritis, arthritis, spinal disc herniation, sciatica, and osteoporosis. These diseases are increasing and becoming more common.

Traditional medicine practitioner Hoang Van Toan, Vice Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute for Cultural Development and Community Health Care (standing) examines a patient (Photo: GK).

“Talking about musculoskeletal diseases means talking about extremely complicated diseases both in terms of disease type and treatment. Currently, there are many different treatment methods such as surgery, thread implantation, pain relief injections, physical therapy, acupuncture, orthopedic manipulation, topical medicine, etc.

In Oriental medicine, there are also many familiar plants that are especially good for patients with musculoskeletal diseases. However, depending on the individual's constitution and the disease, it is necessary to consult with specialists to be effective," said Dr. Toan.

Below are some familiar oriental medicines around the house that are good for musculoskeletal diseases according to Dr. Toan:

Betel leaves

Piper lolot often grows wild and is concentrated in the northern provinces; it often has a strong, slightly spicy taste and is warm. All parts of the plant are used to treat diseases.

In Oriental medicine, all parts of the betel leaf plant are used to treat diseases (Photo: GK).

Piper lolot is used in medicine to treat bone and joint pain such as cold limbs (boiled with a little salt to soak feet), and areas of nerve compression such as the buttocks and shoulder blades that are cold and painful (boiled with a little salt to apply or cover).

Betel tree

The betel nut tree is a climbing plant, evergreen, 2-6m long and very perennial. Applying the betel nut root has anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-swelling and anti-convulsant effects.

Lime vine

In Oriental medicine, the active ingredients in the shoots, stems and leaves help reduce bone and joint pain in back pain, arthritis..., especially helping to release stiff tendons and muscles.

Papaya tree

Papaya is also a medicinal herb in Oriental medicine (Photo: Healthline).

In Oriental medicine, green papaya when applied as a medicine has anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and cooling effects on painful areas quickly.

Gac seeds

Gac tree is a perennial climbing plant, the length of the tree can be up to 15m. The tree is divided into male and female trees separately. Gac seeds are effective in treating boils, swelling of muscles and tendons.

Apple tree

The jujube tree has the scientific name Justicia gendarussa L., belongs to the Acanthaceae family and is also known by other names such as Thuoc Trac, Tan Cuu...

This plant is often used as medicine, ornamental plant or hedge, distributed in many Asian countries such as India, China, Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam. The medicinal plant Thanh Tao is harvested all year round but the best time is around July and August. Most parts of the plant such as roots, stems and leaves can be used as medicine.

Thanh tao is used to treat many different diseases such as night sweats, numb hands and feet, open wounds, sprains, dislocations...

Hibiscus

Hibiscus is grown throughout Asia. In Vietnam, hibiscus is grown as an ornamental plant in home gardens, parks or planted densely as hedges. This is a light-loving, moisture-loving plant with strong regeneration ability, and can be propagated by cuttings or rootstocks.

This plant has the effect of dissolving internal boils.

Bamboo shoots

Bamboo is also known as bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots, etc. Bamboo shoots are young shoots of bamboo that grow from the ground no more than two weeks old and are harvested for food and medicine in various cultures.

Bamboo shoots have anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling effects.

Kapok tree

Rice is a healthy green plant, able to adapt quickly to the environment and grow well. Rice bark is effective in treating sprained ligaments, tendons, and bone healing...

Hairy banyan tree

The scientific name of the hairy banyan tree is Ficus drupacea Thunb, belonging to the Moraceae family. This tree has a bland taste, cool properties, and has diuretic and diaphoretic effects. Applying medicine from the hairy banyan tree is effective in treating bone fractures, bone loss...

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/10-vi-thuoc-dong-y-quanh-nha-tot-cho-benh-co-xuong-khop-20250818105734502.htm