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- Chinese Medicine and
Chinese Herbs for .....
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Chinese Herbs for I.B.S.
Irritable Bowel SyndromeThe Truth About IBS
Herbs for diarrhea
Herbs for constipation
Herbs for alternating constipation and diarrhea.
Herbs for gas and intestinal cramps.
Herbs for nausea
Herbs for food stagnation
The Truth About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
"IBS" is a catch-all category for intestinal complaints that are not otherwise understood by your doctor. If your doctor diagnosis Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it means he or she hasn't a clue about what is causing your problems. A diagnosis of IBS usually means that tests such as colonoscopies, X-Rays, etc. have revealed little or nothing.
TCM, which dates from antiquity, has more experience in understanding and treating these ailments.
To the TCM doctor, IBS symptoms are not mysterious. Varying patterns of diarrhea, constipation, cramps, bloating, etc., involve the free flow of energy (qi), and/or the timing and balance (yin/yang) of the digestive organs. These patterns are well documented in the annals of TCM. Spleen Qi Deficiency, Spleen Yang Deficiency, Damp Heat in the Large Intestine, Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Invades Spleen, Liver Invades Stomach are all lumped together by Western doctors as IBS.
Since all these differing patterns are called IBS by modern medicine, the diagnosis of IBS is useless to a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. Curing IBS requires a diagnosis according to TCM.
For this reason, practitioner help is strongly recommended.
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e-mail to: questions@drshen.com
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HERBS for DIARRHEA
HOT DIARRHEA - YANG TYPE - EXCESS TYPE
Hot type of diarrhea is generally caused by a hot external pathogin such as a bacteria, virus, fungus, or other microorganism.
The onset is usually sudden, the odor strong. The pulse is often rapid, and the tongue body may be red, or the coating yellowish. This is typical of dysenteric diarrhea caused by drinking or eating contaminated food.
Taking Huang Lian Su promptly will usually shorten the course of this ailment.
COLD DIARRHEA - YIN TYPE - DEFICIENT TYPE
Cold type of diarrhea is usually related to internal disharmonies or deficiencies. These disharmonies come from many sources, including emotional patterns like worry and frustration, poor eating habits, congenital digestive weakness, etc. The tongue is characteristically swollen, flabby, or pale. The tongue coating may thicken with internal Dampness which is often consequent to this condition.
The onset is usually gradual, the odor mild, and the stool may only be loose. There may be mucous or undigested food in the stool.
Long term (1-6 months) use of Spleen Tonics such as Shen Ling Bai Zhu Pian, or Six Gentlemen Pills are recommended.
Spleen Qi must be conserved. Eating habits should be moderate and regular, and foods should be warm, cooked and easy to digest. Cold foods, raw foods, and other difficult-to-digest foods should be decreased as they require to much energy to digest.
HOT & COLD - YIN & YANG TYPE - MIXED TYPE
There conditions exhibit both hot and cold symptoms - either concurrently or alternately. Some of these syndromes are diagnosed as IBS, Crohn's Disease, or Ulcerative Colitis. Such conditions are complex, involving cyclical issues of yin turning into yang, of deficient becoming excess. They can be successfully treated with Chinese herbs, but require the skill of an experienced Chinese herbologist. Do not attempt self treatment in these cases.
Use this link to find help.
Chinese Herbs for Constipation
Good digestion, like good overall health, depends on good flow. Constipation is a sign of poor flow.
DEFICIENT YIN TYPE CONSTIPATION
Deficiency of blood, or other body fluids can lead to constipation. Lacking enough water, the body reabsorbs too much from the stool, creating dry stool and constipation. These deficiencies are often accompanied by other signs of dryness such as dry skin, dry eyes, dry scalp, itching or thirst. Internal "heat" may also be a factor in depleting the fluids. A good remedy for this kind of constipation is Moisten Intestines Pill, also known as Rhubarb Pill, Peach Kernal Pill, or Run Chang Wan. A remedy for Yin deficient heat is Da Bu Yin Wan.
DEFICIENT YANG TYPE CONSTIPATION
Deficient qi or deficient yang can cause constipation in elderly or extremely weak people. An excellent fomula for this is Benefit the River Powder first published in 1624 AD. It consists of:
Rou Cong Rong Cistanches Deserticolae, Herba
Dang Gui Angelicae Sinensis, Radix
Niu Xi Achyranthis Bidentatae, Radix
Ze Xie Alismatis Orientalis, Rhizoma
Zhi Ke (Qiao) Citri Aurantii, Fructus
Sheng Ma Cimicifugae, Rhizoma
EXCESS TYPE CONSTIPATION
Bowel obstructions, drug reactions, parasitic, viral, or bacterial invasions, and depletion of fluids by high fevers are examples of excess type constipation. This type of constipation is often extreme and sudden and requires the use of strong purgative herbs. Herbs such as senna (fang xie ye), rhubarb (da huang), and epsom salts, as well as formulas such as Da Cheng Qi Tang, are useful in cases of obstruction, where constipation is accompanied by marked abdominal pain.
Da Cheng Qi Tang
Da Huang Radix et Rhizoma Rhei
Mang Xiao Mirabilitum Epsom Salt
Zhi Shi Citri Aurantii, Fructus Immaturus
Hou Po Magnoliae Officinalis, Cortex
Chinese Medicine for Alternating Constipation and Diarrhea
Alternating diarrhea and constipation can indicate imbalances of the digestive organs. Most commonly it is Liver Invades Spleen or Liver Invades Stomach. This does NOT indicate a modern-day pathology of the liver, spleen or stomach. Rather these are patterns where stress often plays a part, indicating an emotional component to this digestive condition. Worry, overcontemplation and anger, all can unbalance the qi of the organs and cause problems with digestion. Useful herbal products for these conditions include:
Shu Gan Wan (Soothe the Liver Pill),
Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan, and
Xiao Yao Wan (Free & Easy Pill)
Chinese Herbs for Gas and Intestinal Cramps
Stagnation of Qi in the Large Intestine results in a build up of gas. This causes bloating, or cramps, or flatulence. Such conditions can lead to more serious conditions such as Heat or Damp Heat in the Large Intestine. Eating foods that are difficult to digest or improper eating habits can contribute to this problem; so can inactivity and emotional constraint. A popular Chinese patent medicine Mu Xiang Chun Qi Wan is often helpful for minor Qi stagnations. Acupuncture may also be helpful with such qi stagnations.
Chinese Herbs for Nausea
Chinese Herbs for Food Stagnation
Over eating, rapid eating, distracted when eating, irregular eating habits, or eating excessive cold, raw, or difficult- to- digest foods can cause Food Stagnation or poor digestion. This can result in many digestive complaints including burping, heartburn, slow digestion, stomach ache, and erratic stool. Sometimes this is known as indigestion. The best remedy is to restore proper eating habits. Chinese herbs for this condition include barley sprouts (MAI YA), rice sprouts (GU YA), medicated leaven (SHEN QU), and chicken gizzard (JI NEI JIN).
The most reliable medicine is Stomach Curing Pills also known as PO CHAI.
Information on this site is provided for educational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional.
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