Clinical knee swelling and pain is very common in patients, with a large proportion of middle-aged and elderly patients, and the results of treatment are generally less satisfactory. Why are the results unsatisfactory? According to my clinical recollection, most patients are diagnosed with “osteoarthritis” or are unsure of the diagnosis, but there is no specific treatment in Western medicine, which often involves calcium supplementation, joint cavity injection of lubricant, and pain management, which is not very effective. There are also some joint swelling and pain as “post-surgical knee joint”, “synovitis”, “bursitis”, “traumatic joint hematoma “intra-articular free body”, “meniscus injury”, etc. There is nothing effective except that some of them can be treated surgically. Many people do not think to seek Chinese medicine treatment for the simple reason that they do not know that Chinese medicine can also treat swollen joints, especially knee swelling and pain that is considered “degenerative” by Western medicine. In fact, Chinese medicine is very effective. The following are some of the treatment ideas used by TCM practitioners. Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and topical medicine are all effective and can be consulted at the hospital or online. My experience is mainly to “drink soup and medicine”. Chinese medicine identification mainly uses “four methods” as the main treatment: the first is the kidney method. For middle-aged and elderly people with swollen and painful joints and difficulty in walking, who have a deficiency of kidney yin and yang, we use “Erxian Tang” and “Cistanches Pills” and “Yi Kidney Remission Soup” with an addition and subtraction. Generally, the pain and swelling will be relieved after two weeks. The second method is blood activation. It is mainly for post-traumatic injury or surgery where the swelling and pain do not subside, the tongue is purple and dark, and the pulse is astringent. Use “Qilisan” and “Restoration of Blood” with addition and reduction. The effect can be seen in one week. The third method is to resolve phlegm and dampness. It is mainly used for “synovitis”, “bursitis” and “joint effusion” that do not heal for a long time. Use “white mustard seeds” and “Xiaojin Dan” and “Si Miao San” plus or minus. The fourth method is to disperse cold. It is mainly used for cold and painful swelling of the joints. The pulse is sunken and the tongue is pale. Use “Yang He Tang” and “Shen Xiao San” and “Xian Tao Wan” plus or minus. The fifth method is to search the wind and open the ligaments. It is mainly used for those who are often exposed to wind and cold when they are young and gradually get sick over the years. It is often accompanied by discomfort in the joints and muscles and nerves of the whole body. Use “Wu Snake Pill” and “Rejuvenating Palsy Tang” and “Li Qi Xing Palsy Tang” plus or minus. The sixth method is to clear heat. It is mainly used for redness and swelling of joints with generalized fever. It is mainly used in the form of “Si Miao Yong An Tang”, “Clear Heat and Drain Wind Drink” and “Clear Heat and Relieve Pain Drink” with addition and reduction. The clinical use of medicine should be adjusted according to the person and the time of the disease, and often multiple methods are used, or one method for multiple diseases. The next step of medication should be explored according to the patient’s reaction to the medication, so as to achieve the purpose of relieving swelling and pain.