参苓白术散 / Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Treats the following symptoms:
Consolidate Qi was released from “Tai Ping Formulas of welfare dispensary” issued by the state in the Song Dynasty of China, which was made by adding strengthening Spleen and removing Dampness herbs to the Four Gentlemen Formula.
It is an important formulation for the treatment of chronic diarrhoea and bowel sounds due to Spleen Deficiency and Dampness. It is clinically used for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic diarrhoea, chronic gastritis, chronic colitis, gastric or duodenal ulcers, or increased white vaginal discharge. Modern researches show that this formulation can regulate gastrointestinal motility, improve metabolism and improve immunity.
Case:
Edited by Yu Zhen in the Qing Dynasty, published in 1778 in “Ancient and Modern Medical Records”:
A woman has diarrhoea for three days before every menstruation. Her pulse is weak.
Diagnosis: Spleen deficiency fails to transform dampness and causes diarrhoea. She took Consolidate Qi powder, 3 grams 2 to 3 times a day, each time with rice porridge. After taking the medicine for a month, the diarrhoea disappeared before her menstruation.
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
Typical symptoms:
chronic fatigueDisease description:
In chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, the most common symptom is increasing severe exhaustion even during activities which are not very strenuous. The causes of the disease are suspected to be infections, immunity defects and hormonal disorders. Stress from work and private life also plays a role.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that the occurrence of chronic fatigue is mainly due to Qi Deficiency because of Blockage. It may be caused by external pathogens and disturbed internal organ. Treating chronic fatigue syndrome does not only replenish Qi but also regulates the function of organs and expels the pathogens of the body.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Qi Deficiency and Invasion by Wind Heat
An underlying Qi Deficiency permits Wind-Heat pathogens to invade and lodge more deeply in the body. This may take the form of chronic viral infection with chronic fatigue.
Recommended formulas to use:
Qi Deficiency and Damp
When Dampness blocks the Qi, it can cause Qi Deficiency and lead to fatigue, aggravated by physical or mental activity or after eating, lack of concentration, loss of appetite, loose stools, poor muscle tone, heavy limbs.
Recommended formulas to use:
Qi Deficiency and Damp Phlegm
Qi Deficiency with Damp Phlegm blocking the meridians, leading to fatigue and muscular aches.
Recommended formulas to use:
DIARRHOEA
Typical symptoms:
abdominal pain, abnormal bowel sounds, diarrhoea, food poisoning, loose stool, poor appetite, stomach acheDisease description:
Diarrhoea is one of the most widespread health disorders and can be caused by infections or food intolerances, but also stress and poisoning. While acute diarrhoea is over after two weeks at the latest, chronic diarrhoea lasts longer.
Those who have diarrhoea are plagued by frequent bowel movements with almost liquid stool. Because the body excretes an excessive amount of fluid, which can lead to a loss of electrolytes, this situation is particularly threatening for children and elderly people. On top of that diarrhoea can be accompanied by other complaints such as nausea, abdominal cramps, malaise and circulation problems.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Diarrhoea is a disorder of the Spleen, Stomach and Intestine. Gastrointestinal Invasion of Damp-Cold or Damp-Heat can cause acute diarrhoea. Spleen and Stomach Weakness, Liver and Spleen inconsistency and insufficient Kidney Yang can lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction and chronic diarrhoea.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
ACUTE: External Damp-Cold
Recommended formulas to use:
ACUTE: Damp-Heat
Damp-Heat blocks the Spleen function leading to foul-smelling diarrhoea or with mucus, abdominal pain, more frequent bowel movements, burning sensation in the anus.
Recommended formulas to use:
CHRONIC: Spleen Qi Deficiency and Damp
Recommended formulas to use:
CHRONIC: Spleen Yang Deficiency
Failure to transform and transport leads to chronic (early morning) diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rumbling noise, a feeling of cold in the abdomen, worse after cold food.
Recommended formulas to use:
HIV / AIDS
Typical symptoms:
abdominal pain, anaemia, breathlessness on exertion, cold and flu in a prolonged duration, cough, fatigue, fever, HIV/AIDS, immune compromised patient, immune deficiency, loose stool, loss of energy, pain in the chest, shortness of breath, sore throat, stomach ache, sweating, swollen and painful gums, weight loss, yeast and fungal problemsDisease description:
HIV stands for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus”, the pathogen that weakens the human immune system. Infection with HIV most often occur during unprotected sexual intercourse or through HIV-infected blood. Failure to treat HIV infection means that at a certain point in time the body will no longer be able defend itself against other infectious pathogens and falls seriously ill with normally harmless diseases. This condition is then called “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome” (AIDS). People with AIDS often suffer from pneumonia and fungal diseases.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
HIV infection is viewed as an Invasion of Damp and Toxic Heat, which is not showing symptoms in the beginning (asymptomatic phase). The virus is hiding in the body and slowly depleting Wei Qi, then later attacks the Lung and can cause flu-like symptoms. Then it progresses inwards depleting Spleen and Stomach Qi and drying Stomach Yin. The Toxic Heat dries the Blood, causing Blood Deficiency and eventually Yin- and Yang- and Essence Deficiency.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Qi Deficiency and Latent Toxin
Immune deficiency in the asymptomatic HIV positive patient.
Recommended formulas to use:
Lung Qi & Yin Deficiency
Susceptibility to infection such as recurrent episodes of a sore throat, fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, rashes, pruritus, weight loss, fatigue, night sweating.
Recommended formulas to use:
Spleen Qi Deficiency
Frequent infections, fatigue, diarrhoea or loose stools, lack of appetite, dull pain in the abdomen, weight loss, lethargy, the need to take naps after meals.
recommended formulae: Arouse Centre Qi
in case of loose stool: Consolidate Qi
in case of heartburn and stomach pain: Harmonizes Stomach
Recommended formulas to use:
Damp Heat
Immune deficiency, wet skin lesions, yeast and fungal problems, parasitic diarrhoea, bleeding gums.
Recommended formulas to use:
INDIGESTION
Typical symptoms:
abdominal pain, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue, loose stool, nausea, stomach acheDisease description:
Indigestion is a collective term for complaints of the digestive organs. In most cases, the causes are harmless, such as eating too fast or eating spicy, greasy and fatty foods. Sometimes the reason for indigestion is to be found in rather serious illnesses like inflammation of the stomach, ulcers, pancreas inflammation, intestinal blockage or reduced blood flow in the intestine. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily. Common symptoms are stomach aches, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence, heartburn, acid reflux and fatigue.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that Spleen and Stomach play the main role in completing the digestion and absorption of the diet. Indigestion is mainly due to the failure of Spleen and Stomach function. Since the digestion process also requires help from Liver Qi, the dysfunction of the Spleen, Stomach and Liver is the most common cause of indigestion. Overeating can also damage the Spleen and Stomach, leading to accumulation of food. High life pressure result in Liver Qi Stagnation, and further blocks Spleen function. Depression can also lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction, forming Dampness, Heat, Phlegm or Blood Stasis which blocking the Spleen and Stomach.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Spleen Qi Deficiency
When there is Spleen Qi Deficiency, it fails to transform and transport, causing indigestion, distension after eating, poor appetite, loose stools and fatigue.
above symptoms:
+ increased stomach fullness: Stomach Tonic
+ increased tiredness: Four Gentlemen Formula
+ prolaps of organs, athrophy of stomach membrane: Arouse Center Qi
Recommended formulas to use:
Qi Deficiency and Damp
Recommended formulas to use:
Food Stagnation
Recommended formulas to use:
Disharmony of Stomach
Recommended formulas to use:
Stomach Heat
Recommended formulas to use:
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Disease description:
The irritable bowel is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Diagnosed when a doctor has ruled out other possible causes, it is based on a functional disorder of the intestine and manifests itself through long-lasting or recurring abdominal pain, a feeling of fullness and diarrhoea or constipation, which occurs for a total of at least three months within a year.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese Medicine believes in the early stage of this disease, the Spleen and Liver are out of balance. For a long time, the Spleen Deficiency can do further damages to both, Kidney and Spleen.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Disharmony of Liver and Spleen with Heat
Stagnant Liver Qi leads to Heat and Rebellious Liver Qi invading and disrupting Spleen and intestinal function leading to alternating constipation and diarrhoea, cramping abdominal pain relieved by bowel movements (dry and bitty or loose stool), flatulence, mucus in the stool.
Recommended formulas to use:
Spleen Deficiency and Damp
Deficiency and Damp lead to poor transportation function of Spleen, Damp Retention, poor appetite, indigestion, loose stools or diarrhoea, distension and fullness, lassitude.
Recommended formulas to use:
VAGINAL DISCHARGE
Disease description:
A little vaginal discharge is normal and occurs in every woman. As part of normal body function, the daily secretion of secretions may vary from woman to woman and the amount of discharge may change during the cycle. A healthy vaginal flora, including vaginal discharge, prevents the penetration and proliferation of germs and ensures the correct vaginal acidity level. Bacterial infections, fungal infestation and viruses can cause vaginal discharge. Taking antibiotics also disturb the vaginal flora, resulting in an imbalance that provides a better breeding ground for pathogenic germs or fungi. They can cause symptoms such as redness, itching, burning, pain in the vaginal area, extreme dryness or a coloured or foul-smelling discharge.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
The main cause of the vaginal discharge is Damp Evil. Dampness can be caused by Spleen Deficiency or insufficient Kidney Yang. Both may lead to water metabolism failure and Dampness Retention. Moreover, an External Dampness or Invading Damp Heat can lead to discharge.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Spleen Qi and Kidney Yang Deficiency & Damp
White excessive vaginal discharge without smell, dull complexion, tiredness, cold limbs, loose stools.
Recommended formulas to use:
Damp Heat
Profuse, sticky yellow or brown discharge with smell, loose stools.