TCM Diarrhea Treatment Articles

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Traditional Chinese medicine may be very helpful for those who are experiencing symptoms of diarrhea, as diarrhea is the result of excess dampness in the body. Sometimes the dampness is the result of what in TCM is called deficiency, in which case bacteria or parasites will not necessarily be the cause although they could also accompany deficiency symptoms. It is this dampness “evil” which causes diarrhea according to the TCM view although the type of dampness diagnosis will effect how it will be treated in each individual. Treating dampness symptoms should eventually resolve candida which thrives generally in those with dampness symptoms.

Following are several articles on how treating this dampness might be approached in TCM. I have to say that it is best to consult a knowledgeable practitioner in treating diarrhea, especially severe diarrhea, because choosing the wrong treatment will not resolve symptoms of diarrhea and indeed may worsen them:

How to Treat Diarrhea with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Schoenbart, Bill, and Ellen Shefi. "How to Treat Diarrhea with Traditional Chinese Medicine." 15 August 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/how-to-treat-diarrhea-with-traditional-chinese-medicine.htm> 23 April 2010.

The causes of diarrhea vary. In acute cases, a person can become dehydrated very quickly, so it is important to seek immediate medical attention if the condition persists. If an acute case of diarrhea occurs along with a common cold or stomach upset and it is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and a lack of appetite, a reliable remedy is Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan.
If contaminated food or water is the cause, the diarrhea is often accompanied by a burning sensation and a strong smell. In these cases, a practitioner provides treatment to kill the pathogen (usually bacteria) with a formula such as Huang Lian Su Pian and restore normal digestive function with a formula such as Mu Xiang Shun Qi Wan. Most practitioners recommend a laboratory test to ensure the pathogens are eliminated.

Rice is the best solid food to eat to treat diarrhea
according to traditional Chinese medicine.

In cases of chronic loose stools, the underlying pattern is usually spleen qi deficiency. Other symptoms might be fatigue, poor appetite, pale face and tongue, and gurgling sounds in the intestines. Shen Ling Bai Zhu Pian is an effective remedy in this pattern: The Codonopsis and Atractylodes herbs tonify the spleen, while its astringent herbs, such as lotus seeds, stop the diarrhea.
Acute diarrhea is fairly easy to treat with one or two acupuncture treatments and a few days of herbal therapy. Two points on the stomach meridian (25 and 37) are especially effective; relief comes soon after they are needled. If the diarrhea is chronic and due to qi or yang deficiency, moxibustion is very helpful when applied to these points.
If the cause of discomfort is bacteria or parasites, herbal therapy as described above is the recommended treatment. The length of time needed to treat chronic cases varies; ultimately, the person's dietary habits are usually the decisive factor. Cases due to severe qi deficiency can take a few weeks to months to resolve.

In all types of diarrhea, it is important to drink sufficient liquids to avoid dehydration. Hot peppermint tea or vegetable broth are good choices. Plain white rice is the best solid food to soothe the stomach and firm up the stools until the condition passes.

HowStuffWorks "How to Treat Diarrhea with Traditional Chinese Medicine"

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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a medical condition characterized by loose, watery stools. A person with diarrhea typically has at least three bowel movements a day. In cases of acute diarrhea, the condition seldom lasts more than a few days and is not indicative of any serious medical problems. Cases of chronic diarrhea last for extended periods of time and are often symptomatic of serious medical problems. The most serious consequence of diarrhea is dehydration, or excessive loss of water from the body, a condition that may be fatal. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has devised methods for treating this condition that include acupuncture and herbal treatments specific to the type of diarrhea.
How Can Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Be Used to Treat Diarrhea?

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) often recommend acupuncture and herbal remedies for the treatment of diarrhea. A TCM practitioner will interview and examine a patient to determine the probable cause of the disease before prescribing an appropriate treatment. Diagnosis includes several forms of TCM examination, including pulse palpation, tongue observation, and may also include palpation of the body’s meridians (energy pathways). These diagnostic tools will help the practitioner develop a sense of the patient’s pattern of disharmony, according to Oriental Medicine theory.

Several patterns of disharmony often resulting in diarrhea, including:

* Cold-dampness diarrhea is characterized by loss of appetite, abdominal pain, a slow pulse, a pale tongue with a white coating and watery stools.

* Heat-dampness diarrhea is characterized by abdominal pain, thirst, dark yellow urine, a rapid pulse, and a red tongue with a greasy yellow coating.

* Spleen and Stomach deficiency diarrhea is characterized by poor appetite, fatigue, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, a weak-slow pulse and a pale tongue with a greasy coating.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Diarrhea

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the primary forms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment. Each pattern of diarrhea, described above, can be treated either with a specific herb or, more commonly, a combination of herbs, each of which contributes to a cure for the disorder.

Several herbs are recommended for the treatment of diarrhea:

* Huang Lian - Golden thread rhizome (Coptis chinensis rhizome) is recommended because it has a tendency to rehydrate and restore proper heat balance in the lower part of the body. Additionally, it clears damp-heat and has a anti-bacterial and anti-viral effect.

* Tu Su Zi - Chinese dodder (Cuscuta chinensis) strengthens yin, improves the action of the kidneys, and reduces the production of urine.

* Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea corylifolia) strengthens and improves the function of the kidneys and spleen and cools the lower back.

* Yi Zhi Ren - Black cardamon (Amomum subulatum) warms the kidneys and spleen and contributes toward the retention of urine.

Combinations of herbs useful for the treatment of diarrhea are often commercially available. As with individual herbs, each combination is recommended for the treatment of a specific pattern of diarrhea.

As an example, a decoction used to treat diarrhea resulting from a deficiency of yang in the spleen and kidneys consists of nine herbs, including:

* bu gu zhi (Psoralea corylifolia)
* bai wu wei zi (magnolia vine [Schisandra] fruit)
* fu zi (radix aconiti lateralis praeparata; Typhonium giganteum)
* wu zhu yu (Fructus evodiae)
* rou dou kou (semen myristicae; nutmeg; Myristica fragrans)
* dang shen (radix codonopsis pilosulae; Pilose asiabell [Codonopsis pilosulae] root)
* bai zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae root)
* gan jiang (ginger root; rhizoma zingiberis praeparata)
* gan cao (radix glycyrrhizae; licorice root)

This combination of herbs is recommended because its components have astringent properties, causing tissues to contract and retain water, thus reducing diarrhea. It also tends to warm the kidneys and improve the function of the spleen.

Visiting a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) will allow a customized formula to be designed for your specific symptoms. Many of the classical and modern herbal formulas are modified to meet the needs of each individual patient, helping to balance their health and alleviate the diarrhea.

Acupuncture for Diarrhea

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners may also use acupuncture for the treatment of diarrhea. Acupuncture involves the insertion of long, thin needles into various parts of the body to relieve the symptoms of a medical disorder. The precise location at which needles are inserted for the treatment of diarrhea depends on the type of diarrhea diagnosed. By adjusting the flow of qi, yin and yang along various meridians, organs that may be responsible for the patient’s symptoms are brought into balance and made to function normally.

Typical acupuncture points used in the treatment diarrhea include:

* Zu San Li – Stomach 36 (St-36) – this point strengthens digestion and help the generation of Qi (vital energy) and Blood in the body. It is used to harmonize the stomach and is the command point of the abdomen, alleviating any disharmony in this area.

* Tian Shu – Stomach 25 (St-25) – this point is primarily used to treat disorders of the intestines and to regulate the flow of energy through the lower abdomen. It is often used in the treatment of diarrhea due to its influence of the Large Intestine. The point is frequently used in cases of diarrhea caused by bacillary dysentery.

* Zhong Wan – Ren 12 (Rn-12) – this point is commonly used to regulate the stomach and intestines, especially in cases of diarrhea with undigested food or diarrhea with blood and pus. Due to the regulating effect of this point, it can also be used in cases of stagnation within the intestines, leading to constipation.

A variety of point combinations may be selected by the acupuncturist when treating diarrhea based upon the patient’s specific presentation of signs and symptoms. In acute cases of diarrhea, it is common to use both acupuncture and herbal medicine together to quickly resolve the condition.

Massage and acupressure can also be used to treat diarrhea. By manipulating various parts of the body, a practitioner may be able to stimulate and adjust the flow of body forces to remove the causes for diarrhea. These treatments are generally used in addition to acupuncture and herbal medicine to control cases of diarrhea.

What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a 5,000-year-old system of medicine used for treating disorders of both the mind and body. While the physiology and pathology of TCM differs considerably from that of conventional (allopathic) medicine, the practice has shown to be effective for many disorders in clinical trials and is considered a safe form of treatment. In TCM, the body is seen as a microcosm of the whole universe, and health and disease occur as the result of the flow of various forces, such as yin and yang, and of a vital spirit known as qi throughout the body. Illness results from an imbalance in these forces or problems in the function of various organs. The treatment of illness, then, involves the use of herbs, acupuncture, massage or other techniques to restore the proper balance of forces and energy and to restore the proper function of organs.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Acute diarrhea is most commonly caused by bacterial, viral or parasitic infection, by intolerance to foods or by a reaction to certain medicines. Allopathic practitioners tend to use antibiotics to treat the cause of some forms of acute diarrhea and to recommend a variety of products to treat its symptoms. Chronic diarrhea tends to be associated with more serious diseases of the digestive system, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, colitis and celiac disease. These disorders often require more aggressive treatments, such as surgery, and the diarrhea with which they are associated can only be treated symptomatically. Alternative medicines, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), may be helpful in the treatment of these chronic diseases that cause diarrhea.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Diarrhea - altMD.com Article

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Diarrhea

Diarrhea refers to an abnormal frequency and liquidity of fecal discharges but without tenesmus or purulent and blood stools.
Etiology and Pathogenesis

The disease chiefly involves the spleen, stomach and intestines and also affects the liver and kidneys. The common causes of diarrhea are the effects of dampness, immoderate diet and drinking, hypofunction of the spleen and stomach, emotional upsets and deficiency of kidney-yang. The hypofunction of spleen with failure of transportation and transformation and the domination of dampness serve as the chief pathogenesis.

Syndrome Differentiation and Therapeutic Principles

A. Syndrome differentiation

(a) Differentiation between diarrhea and dysentery: Diarrhea is characterized by watery discharges and abdominal pain relievable after bowel movement, while dysentery is marked by discharge of bloody and mucous stools and accompanied by tenesmus.

(b) Identification of acute and chronic cases: Acute diarrhea is attributable to cold-dampness, dampness-heat and improper diet, while chronic diarrhea may result from deficiency of the spleen and stomach, deficiency of spleen-yang and kidney-yang and in coordination of the liver and spleen.

(c) Differentiation between cold and heat as well as asthenia and sthenia syndrome: Diarrhea with thin and watery stools containing undigested food is attributed to cold-syndrome, and that with yellow-brown and odorous stool, urgency of bowel movement and hot feeling of the anus is considered due to heat-syndrome. A chronic case with abdominal pain relievable by warmth, fatigue and cold limbs is attributed to asthenia-syndrome, and that with severe abdominal pain and tenderness is considered due to sthenia-syndrome.

B. Therapeutic Principles

There are nine therapeutic principles for diarrhea summarized by the ancient physicians, namely, eliminating dampness with bland drugs, clearing away heat, lifting up middle-jiao qi, dredging with diuretics, soothing with sweet drugs, alleviating diarrhea with sour drugs, drying the spleen, warming the kidneys and arresting discharge with astringents. These principles should be applied accordingly.

Classification and Treatment

A. Diarrhea of cold-dampness type

Manifestations: Watery stool, abdominal pain, increased borborygmus, loss of appetite, pale tongue with white greasy coating and deep and slow pulse.

Therapeutic principles: Expel cold and dampness, and arrest diarrhea.

Prescription: The Modification of Weiling Decoction

Rhizoma Atractylodis Praeparata 10 g
Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 10 g
Polyporus Umbellatus 10 g
Ramulus Cinnamomi 5 g
Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis 6 g
Poria 15 g
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae 10 g
Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata 3 g

Remarks: Add Radix Ledebouriellae and Herba Schizonepetae for cases with fever, chilliness and general aching. Add Massa Fermentata Medicinalis and Fructus Hordei Germinatus for those with dyspepsia. Add Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Rhizoma Pinelliae and herba Agastachis for those with nausea and vomiting.

B. Diarrhea of dampness-heat type

Manifestations: Discharge of odorous, loose stool, abdominal pain, burning sensation in the anus, restlessness, thirst, dark yellow urine, thick and yellow greasy tongue coating and soft-floating and rapid pulse.

Therapeutic principles: Clear away heat and eliminate dampness.

Prescription: The Modified Decoction of Puerariae, Scutellariae and Coptidis

Radix Puerariae 15 g
Rhizoma Coptidis 5 g
Semen Plantaginis 10 g
Rhizoma Alismatis 10 g
Radix Scutellariae 10 g
Flos Lonicerae 10 g
Talcum 15 g

Remarks: Add Radix Paeoniae Alba and Radix Aucklandiae for cases with severe abdominal pain. Add Cortex Phellodendri and Radix Sophorae Flavescentis for those with burning sensation in the anus. Add Rhizoma Pinelliae, Herba Agastachis, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae and Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam for treating cases with nausea and vomiting.

C. Diarrhea due to indigestion

Manifestations: Diarrhea with discharge of odorous stool, abdominal pain relieved after bowel movement, distension over the epigastrium and abdomen, eructation, anorexia, thick greasy tongue coating and wiry and smooth pulse.

Therapeutic principles: Relieve dyspepsia, and stop diarrhea.

Prescription: The Modified Decoction of Invigorating the Middle Jiao

Rhizoma Pinelliae 10 g
Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis 6 g
Fructus Aurantii 10 g
Radix Aucklandiae 6 g
Rhizoma Alismatis 10 g
Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 10 g
Fructus Crataegi (fried) 10 g
Fructus Hordei Germinatus 10 g
Fructus Amomi 5 g

Remarks: Add Poria and Semen Plantaginis for cases with watery diarrhea. Add Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Radix Paeoniae Alba for those with severe abdominal pain and diarrhea with a sensation for incomplete evacuation.

D. Diarrhea due to weakness of the spleen and stomach

Manifestations: Loose stool containing undigested food, fullness over the epigastrium and abdomen, poor appetitie, sallow complexion, fatigue, pale tongue with thin, greasy coating and deep and slow pulse.

Therapeutic principles: Strengthen the spleen and stomach, and eliminate dampness.

Prescription: The Modified Powder of Codonopsis Pilosulae, Poria and Atractylodis Macrocephalae

Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 15 g
Poria 15 g
Semen Coicis 20 g
Semen Nelumbinis 10 g
Radix Auckloandiae 5 g
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae 10 g
Semen Dolichoris Album 15 g
Rhizoma Dioscoreae 15 g
Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 10 g
Radix Glycyrrhiae Praeparata 5 g

Remarks: Add Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli, fructus Crataegi (fried), Fructus Hordei Germinatus (fried) and fructus oryzae Germinatus (fried) for cases with anorexia. Add Fructus Chebulae and Semen Myristicae for those with frequent bowel movements. Add Rhizoma Zingiberis Praeparata, Fructus Evodiae and Cortex Cinnamomi for cases with uncontrollable discharge of loose stool and cold pain in the abdomen due to deficiency of middle-jiao yang. Add Bolus for Strengthening Middle Jiao and Benefiting Qi for longstanding cases of diarrhea with prolapse of rectum.

E. Diarrhea due to deficiency of spleen-yang and kidney-yang

Manifestations: Morning diarrhea, abdominal pain and increased borborygmus before bowel movement, weakness and soreness of lumbus and knees, coldness of lower extremities, pale tongue with white coating and deep and thready pulse.

Therapeutic principles: Warm the kidneys and benefit the spleen, and arrest diarrhea by using astringents.

Prescriptions: Pill of Four Miraculous Drugs with Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata Decoction for Regulating Middle Jiao

Fructus Psoraleae 15 g
Fructus Schisandrae 6 g
Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata 10 g
Fructus Evodiae 10 g
Semen Myristicae 10 g
Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 12 g
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae 12 g
Rhizoma Zingiberis Praeparata 6 g
Radix Glycyrrhizae 5 g

F. Diarrhea due to incoordination of the liver and spleen

Manifestations: Diarrhea upon onset of abdominal pain (which is not alleviated after bowel movement and is aggravated by anger), oppression and distention over the chest and hypochondrium, eructation, poor appetite, reddish tongue with white, greasy coating and thready and wiry pulse.

Therapeutic principles: Clear away liver-fire, support the spleen, and stop diarrhea.

Prescription: Decoction for Relieving Pain and Diarrhea

Radix Paeoniae Alba 30 g
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae 15 g
Rhizoma Dioscoreae 12 g
Radix Bupleuri 10 g
Radix Ledebouriellae 10 g
Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 10 g
Semen Dolichoris Album 15 g
Semen Plantaginis (fried) 10 g

Remarks: Add Radix Puerariae and Fructus Chebulae for cases with frequent bowel movements. Add fructus mume, Radix Glycyrrhizae and Rhizoma Corydalis for those with severe abdominal pain.

Experiential Prescriptions

A. Semen Plantaginis 915 g), Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens 910 g) and Ignited Yellow Earth (60 g); prepared as decoction; applicable to diarrhea of cold-dampness type.

B. Radix Puerariae 912 g), Radix Scutellariae 910 g) and Stylus Maydis (30 g); prepared as decoction; indicated for diarrhea of dampness-heat type.

C. Fructus Crataegi (fried, 60 g) and Semen Dolichoris Album (30 g); prepared as decoction; applicable to acute diarrhea.

D. One piece of Pericarpium Granati and 30 g of Brown Sugar; prepared as decoction; applicable to chronic diarrhea.

E. Galla Chinensis (moderate dose) dried and powdered; prepared as small pills; 3 pills to be taken three times daily; applicable to chronic diarrhea.

F. Cortex Ailanthi (45 g) and Brown Sugar (45 g); prepared as decoction; applicable to chronic diarrhea.

G. Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (15 g) and Semen Plantaginis (15 g); prepared as decoction; indicated for diarrhea due to spleen deficiency.

H. Fructus Chebulae 930 g) and Cortex Cinnamomi (30 g); powdered and prepared as pills; 3 to 5 grams taken twice daily; indicated for diarrhea due to kidney deficiency.

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