Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, has become a popular method of treatment for women with arthritis. Previous research has shown that a significant number of women with arthritis use TCM, and a study at the University of...examined this phenomenon using a health services research approach. Results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health also found that women with arthritis were more likely to use TCM than those without, with a range of 4.0-9.5%. TCM has shown positive effects on arthritis, and this study provides a critical, systematic analysis of its use. Furthermore, a cohort study compared the risk of sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who use TCM versus those who do not. While there has been some debate on what exactly constitutes TCM use, including traditional herbs and therapies, the use of TCM in treating arthritis is a widespread practice.