This crude drug is the root of Arclisiagigantifolia Stapf. (family: Myrsinaceae).

This species is distributed in Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan in China.

The root is gathered in the autumn. After dug out, it is cleaned. It is used when fresh or after sliced and dried in the sun.

1.Gouty arthritis: Internal medicine: Zoumatai (Rhizoma Ardisiae Gigantifoliae) 20g, yiren (YoYuimin), yanchuanxiong (Szechuan Lovage Rhizome), lingxian (Radix Clematidis), huci(Damnacanthus indicus), xuduan (Radix Dipsaci), hongniuxi (Radix AchyranthisBidentatae), bajiaohuanglian (Illicium verum, Coptis), sizhitong 15grespectively. Method: decoction the above medicines, 2 days an agent, decoction2 times, 1 time a day. 7 agents as a course of treatment. External used:Zoumatai and Siyefeng 30g respectively,yanchuanxiong, lingxian, Liangmianzhen (radix zanthoxyli), bajiao huanglian,hongniuxi, Sizhitong, Jianfengxiao 20g respectively. All of those drugs werepoured into a basin when Stayed warm after boilingfor 15min, taking feet into the basin for 30min, 2 times a day, keep immersingheated every time, continuous for 1 week. Treat 35 patients. results: recovery94%, joint swelling was disappeared, can walknormally, the blood uric acid was in normal, the othertwo cases were improved,account for 6%，blood pressure was drop, affected part would pain sometimes, the effective rate was100%^[1].

2. Rheumatoid arthritis: Zoumataigroup (zoumatai decoction, 30g a day, Oral a dose of decoction for two parts).Leigongtengduogan (tripterygium wilfordii Hook) group (Leigongtengduogan tablet), every time 20mg, 3 times aday, oral. Other drug used: Two groups of patients were taken a nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drug: diclofenac sodium, 75mg,once a day. Results: 22 patients of the zoumatai group improved, 11 caseseffectiveness and 5 cases were invalid. 19cases of Leigongtengduogan group were markedly improved, 13 cases wereimproved, 4 cases were invalid. There wasn't any toxicity reaction happened inzoumatai group. But there were some untoward effects at the Leigongtengduogangroup such as pigmentation of facial skin, Poor appetite, abdominal distension,menopause and other adverse reaction, but there was none quit from thetreatment because of side effect ^[2].

1.Traumatic injury; wind-damp pain 

2.Pain of joints

3.Rheumatic arthritis

[1] YangShengJin. 37 cases of gouty arthritistreated with Dong Medicine. Journal of medicine & pharmacy of Chineseminorities, 2007, (2): 74.

[2] TangYaPing. Clinical observation on effects of RhizomaArdisiae Gigantifoliae in rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Sichuan oftraditional Chinese Medicine,2007, 25 (1):54.