One of the most common intestinal conditions plaguing man these days is IBS or Irritable bowel syndrome. This disease can lead to diarrhea, constipation, bloating, excess gas and cramping pain. IBS and other kinds of bowel disorders have been successfully treated for thousands of years with Chinese medicine. This medical system has long been established in China. Western countries have now accepted this system calling it alternative medicine and several clinical studies have proven that Chinese medicine is an effective and safe treatment for patients suffering from IBS. One study done in 1998 and printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that Chinese medicine, specifically Chinese herbal medicine, was shown to be effective and safe for patients suffering from IBS. There are actually no pharmaceutical drugs available offered by Western medicine to treat IBS and because of this a lot of sufferers are relying on Chinese medicine to seek relief from their recurrent symptoms.
According to TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine, the physiological concept of the human body is totally different from that of the western conventional medicine model. Western medicine sees that IBS is a condition of both the small and large intestines. The TCM perspective, on the other hand, sees that normal function of the bowel is based on the interaction of the other organs with the intestines. The Large Intestine, Kidney, Liver and Spleen can all contribute to a disharmony pattern. When we talk about the disharmony of these aforementioned organs, we are not referring to the problem of a specific organ or energy pathways but of the function of those organs.
The one-of-a-kind diagnosis used by Traditional Chinese Medicine is known as the differentiation of the clinical symptom-complexes. IBS treatment depends on factors inherent in the patient one of which is the diagnostic results of the patient. A Bellingham practitioner of TCM integrates the use of Chinese herbal therapy with acupuncture treatment to resolve the unique problem of the patient. This means that the treatment is unique and designed specifically for the patient’s needs.
Based on the Theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Irritable Bowel syndrome can be classified into certain types. They include:
Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine – Symptoms of this pattern include diarrhea with a sense of urgency and stomach pain. The diarrhea is usually explosive and yellow with a strong foul odor combined with a burning sensation. The heat may mean that the intestines have a minor infection that may not show on lab tests. Besides that, there is also stuffiness in the chest and heaviness of the body.
Disharmony of the Spleen/Liver – This disharmony results in stomach pain and distention along with irritability. The diarrhea and constipation that alternates is indicative of an imbalance in Spleen/Liver. Anger, frustration and stress tend to exacerbate the condition.
Stagnation of Liver Qi – Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists believe that the Liver is easily affected by anger, aggravation and stress. When this pattern arises, the Liver Qi flow gets stuck or becomes stagnant. A patient with IBS caused by Liver Qi Stagnation may experience distending pain in the region below the ribs and pellet shaped stools. He/she may experience acid reflux, belching or nausea. Women may suffer from additional symptoms of painful or irregular periods. Stress can aggravate or trigger these symptoms.
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency – The positive energy of Yang gives warmth to the body and a deficiency of it in the Kidney and Spleen may result in cold feet and hands and a sensation of cold in the body. IBS patients with this underlying problem may experience morning diarrhea that may contain undigested food particles. Urinary incontinence, frequent urination, low libido and chronic low back pain are other symptoms of this disharmony.
Overabundant Cold in the Spleen – Too much cold in the Spleen results in extreme pain. This may cause the sufferer to “double over” in pain. The person may curl his/her body to mitigate the pain. Constipation always accompanies the pain.
Spleen Distressed by Dampness – This disharmony may lead to Spleen Qi deficiency symptoms combined with a sensation of heaviness or nausea. The patient may have a feeling of incomplete bowel movement. He/she also may suffer from constipation. This condition is usually the result of consuming a lot of greasy or fried foods. It also can arise from too much worrying or thinking and other emotional factors. Sufferers of this condition are required to eat a simple and plain diet to reverse the disharmony. Acupuncturists and TCM practitioners believe that too much eating of sugar and sugar-saturated foods and dairy foods can result in dampness in the body and so needs to be avoided altogether.
Spleen Qi Deficiency – TCM practitioners believe that the Spleen is important for digestion. Patients with IBS caused by this pattern may experience diarrhea and fatigue that is aggravated by overexertion. This is usually accompanied by stomach pain that can be relieved by applying pressure on the affected region. Patients with this condition can also suffer from hemorrhoids, bloating and gas.
COMMENTS