Patient's question:
I have had intermittent digestive issues for a long time. Over the past four years, I have seen many different doctors, but the results have been inconsistent. My stomach never hurts, and there are no major problems, but I experience bloating, belching, loss of appetite at meal times, and slow digestion. Most doctors' diagnoses fall into two main categories:1. Yang deficiency → Dampness obstruction: The primary pathogenesis is Yang deficiency and spleen dampness. Yang deficiency is the cause, and internal retention of water and dampness is the result.
2. Dampness obstruction → Spleen Yang: Excessive dampness leads to weak Yang, resulting in Yang deficiency. Excessive dampness is the cause, and weak Yang is the result. It is not advisable to use warming herbs to exacerbate the heat, but instead, choose methods to dispel dampness and unblock Yang.
I have always wanted to understand which is the cause and which is the effect—it is very important. Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Doctor's answer:
Analysis of the condition:1. Yang deficiency with dampness stagnation and dampness obstructing spleen yang. These two conditions, once developed, actually present very similar symptoms.
- Yang deficiency with dampness stagnation: First, symptoms of yang deficiency appear, such as cold hands and feet, preference for warm water, loose and watery stools, clear and abundant urine. Subsequently, exposure to dampness occurs, such as getting caught in the rain or consuming excessive cold drinks. This leads to dampness obstructing the spleen, resulting in:
- Lethargy, poor appetite, reduced food intake, loose and sticky stools, white greasy tongue, and weak, slippery pulse.
- Treatment primarily involves warming yang and resolving dampness.
- Dampness obstructing spleen yang: This occurs when the spleen yang is not deficient or only slightly deficient, but heavy dampness is contracted directly. Symptoms include lethargy, poor appetite, reduced food intake, loose and sticky stools, white greasy tongue, and slippery pulse. However, symptoms of yang deficiency, such as cold hands and feet, may be absent or mild.
- Treatment primarily involves dispelling dampness and invigorating the spleen.
Advice:
2. Whether it is A or B needs to be determined based on your detailed condition, such as medical history, tongue, and pulse, for a comprehensive assessment.
Doctor's inquiry:
Do you feel particularly cold?