zushima

Zushima, also known as Cortex Daphnes, is a traditional Chinese medicine derived from the processed stem and root barks of plants in the genus *Daphne*, primarily *Daphne giraldii*, *Daphne tangutica*, and *Daphne retusa*. It is utilized in various topical formulations, such as patches and sprays, for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The drug is primarily indicated for the symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA), joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and soft tissue injuries. Its therapeutic effect is attributed to active phytochemicals like daphnetin, which inhibit the production of prostaglandin E2 by suppressing cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Clinical evidence, including multicenter non-inferiority trials, suggests that Zushima patches provide pain relief and functional improvement comparable to topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like indomethacin, though they are associated with a higher incidence of mild-to-moderate skin irritation.

Brand names

Zushima sprayCortex Daphnes patch

Other names

Cortex Daphnes祖师麻Daphne giraldii Nitsche.Daphne tangutica Maxim.Daphne retusa Hemsl.