Hi viz
I have no experience of taking it internally, but 5 years ago I had a persistent swollen foot and ankle, making it very painful to walk. This was about 4 years after I had torn the tendons, and the problem kept coming back. I went to the local hospital (I was living in China) and the doctor gave me a large bag of herbs. I was to put them in boiling water, let it cool, and then soak my foot. The problem cleared up in about 7 -10 days and has never been back.
Chinese medicine has been around for 5000 years, and as long as you get a reliable, trained practitioner, it can be remarkably effective. I would stress 'trained' though - there are a lot of quacks out there.
I had to laugh when I was visiting the doctor - he was smoking, and all the waiting patients crowded into the consulting room to give advice. Mind you, I was about the only foreigner living in that part of the city, and most preferred to use their expensive private western medicine. I'd done that, with no success, but I felt a bit stupid sitting at home with my leg in a bucket.
I also have friends, both in China and here, who have had acupuncture and swear by it.
Good luck