3 Big issues affecting Digestion according to TCM
- HEAT:
- Symptoms: Acid reflux, heartburn, dry mouth, bad breath, and a burning sensation in the stomach.
- Severe indigestion, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, often caused by food poisoning or excessive rich food.
- Herbs:
- Huang Lian (Coptis): Bitter and cooling, it clears Heat and Fire, especially for symptoms like reflux and heartburn.
- Huang Qin (Scutellaria): Clears Heat Toxins and addresses inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle): Effective for clearing toxins and calming inflammatory responses.
- DAMP:
- Symptoms: Bloating, a heavy feeling after eating, sluggish digestion and loose stools. Nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness, and a sticky tongue coating.
- Herbs:
- Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel): Aromatic and warming, it resolves Dampness and regulates Qi, easing bloating and discomfort.
- Bai Zhu (Atractylodes): Strengthens the Spleen and dries Dampness, improving energy and digestive function.
- Ban Xia (Pinellia): Resolves Phlegm and harmonizes the Stomach to relieve nausea and vomiting.
- Fu Ling (Poria): Supports the Spleen and helps transform Phlegm to ease digestive stagnation.
- DRY:
- Symptoms: Difficulty passing stools, dryness, and abdominal discomfort.
- Herbs:
- Da Huang (Rhubarb Root): A strong purgative that clears Heat and resolves constipation.
- Huo Ma Ren (Hemp Seed): Lubricates the intestines, particularly for Yin-deficient dryness.
How Chinese Herbs for digestion are customised for you
TCM herbal formulas are not a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, they're tailored to the individual, addressing the root cause of symptoms rather than masking them. For example, a patient with reflux and heartburn due to Heat would receive cooling herbs like Huang Lian, while someone with bloating caused by Dampness might benefit from Chen Pi and Bai Zhu.
Consulting a qualified TCM practitioner
This ensures the right herbs and formulas are selected for your specific needs.
There are many different "base formulas" sourced from Chinese Medical classics for digestion. It's the skill and experience of the trained TCM practitioner that determines what formulas are used as a foundation to build upon and which single herbs are included or excluded. This is why seeking help from a professional is important, rather than over the counter products. Your practitioner can differentiate what is suitable just for you.
By addressing the underlying imbalances and settling and relieving the digestive organs, Chinese herbal medicine provides an effective and natural approach to digestive health.
Want to know more? If you're on Sydney's Northern Beaches, you can reach out via email or make an appointment online here.
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