Common Gastrointestinal Diseases Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Author: Shen Kaijin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features:
1. Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment
1.1 Main Symptoms of Phlegm-Heat Interacting and Stagnating: Fullness and distension in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea with vomiting tendency, weak limbs, yellow and turbid urine, or yellow phlegm coughed up, thin yellow greasy tongue, wiry and slippery pulse. Treatment: Clearing damp-heat and resolving phlegm. Formulas: Modified Er Chen Tang (Pinellia and Gastrodia Decoction) and Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (Pinellia and Bupleurum Decoction): Chinese cinnamon, pinellia, tangerine peel, poria, prepared ginger, Codonopsis pilosula, white, orange peel, perilla stem, bupleurum, costus, cardamom, melon seed. Modifications: Add agastache, piperia, and cardamom seeds if dampness-turbidity is heavy with white greasy tongue; add scutellaria or coptis rhizome if heat is severe; add roasted shao xiang and chicken gizzard if appetite is poor; combine Xiao Xian Xiong Tang (Minor Depression Chest Decoction) and Si Ling San (Four Ling Decoction) if chest tightness and phlegm are abundant.
1.2 Main Symptoms of Dietary Obstruction: Fullness and oppression in the chest and upper abdomen, belching with sour regurgitation, or nausea and abdominal pain, poor appetite, usually with a history of overeating before onset, yellow greasy and thick tongue, wiry and tense pulse. Treatment: Promoting dietary resolution and harmonizing the stomach. Formula: Bao He Wan (Bao He Pill) plus orange peel, magnolia bark, and costus. If constipation occurs with rapid and full pulse, it indicates phlegm and food stagnation internally, and can be supplemented with Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan (Musk and Orange Peel Pill).
1.3 Main Symptoms of Spleen and Stomach Deficiency: Middle Qi deficiency after illness or injury from improper purgation, causing depressed yang, fullness and oppression in the chest and upper abdomen, sometimes loose or tight, intermittent and alleviating, hollow without substance, no hunger, poor appetite, preference for warmth and pressure, relief with warmth, cold limbs, shortness of breath and fatigue, body weakness and reluctance to speak, loose and thin stools, weak pulse. Treatment: Warming and tonifying the spleen and stomach. Formulas: Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Middle Strengthening and Qi Invigorating Decoction) or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (Sandalwood and Cardamom Six Gentlemen Decoction) modified: Codonopsis pilosula, white, poria, pinellia, tangerine peel, cardamom, costus, bupleurum, orange peel, white peony root, perilla stem, licorice. If yang deficiency with fullness and oppression, looser in the morning and tighter at night, unbearable distension, use Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang (Aconite and Licorice Middle Strengthening Decoction) without licorice to warm and resolve it.
1.4 Main Symptoms of Liver Qi Stagnation: Emotional depression, obstructed qi flow, fullness and oppression in the flanks and upper abdomen, frequent sighing; discomfort and oppression in the chest and upper abdomen, restlessness and irritability, distension in both flanks, sighing intermittently or fluctuating with emotions, wiry or wiry-thin pulse. Treatment: Soothing the liver and resolving depression, regulating qi and resolving stagnation. Formula: Yue Ju Wan (Depression-Resolving Pill) modified: angelica, perilla leaf, atractylodes, six, ligusticum, bupleurum, orange peel, white peony root, costus, cardamom, tangerine peel. Modifications: Add Euonymus and clary sage if qi stagnation is severe; add roasted shao xiang, roasted bupleurum, and chicken gizzard if dietary stagnation exists; use frangipani if heat develops.
1.5 Main Symptoms of Phlegm-Qi Stagnation: Fullness and oppression in the chest and upper abdomen, distension and discomfort, dizziness, chest tightness with no appetite, nausea with vomiting tendency, heavy and fatigued limbs, or unsatisfactory phlegm cough, yellow and turbid urine. Treatment: Resolving dampness and phlegm, regulating qi and relieving oppression. Formula: Ping Chen Tang (Poria and Pinellia Decoction) modified: fried atractylodes, magnolia bark, tangerine peel, pinellia, white poria, baked licorice, perilla leaf, peucedanum, dry ginger, bupleurum, orange peel, white peony root. Modifications: Add fern and rhubarb if liver qi ascends; remove dry ginger if cold is mild; add cardamom and costus if middle palace is not smooth.
1.6 Main Symptoms of Stomach Cold and Fullness: Fullness and oppression in the middle palace, stomach cold with preference for warmth, fear of wind in the stomach area, preference for hand covering, cold limbs, and aversion to cold. Symptoms worsen with cold exposure or cold air, but improve with heat or heat application to the stomach, thin white tongue, deep and tense pulse. Treatment: Warming the middle and dispelling cold. Formula: Zheng Qi Tian Xiang San (Vital Qi and Fragrant Powder) modified: dry ginger, atractylodes, magnolia bark, tangerine peel, pinellia, Euonymus, perilla leaf, orange peel, licorice.
1.7 Main Symptoms of Heat and Fullness: Fullness and oppression in the lower abdomen, restlessness,