IBS - chineese treatment

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm knowledgable about homeopathics but very new to Chineese Medicine.

I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It's periodic, varying from

constipated to " get to the john NOW " . At times it's a real problem. I

read some time ago that Chineese Healing had an effective cure for

this, but have never found out what that cure is.

 

Can you help, please.

 

Jeff

[Guest guest]

" The modern Chinese medical literature is unanimous in saying that the

root cause of IBS is always a disharmony between the liver and

spleen. " (The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with

, Bob Flaws and Philippe Sionneau, p. 314.)

 

Please keep in mind that TCM Organs are not equivalent to anatomical

organs. They are collections of functions. Most writers always will

capitalize the names of TCM Organs so that those new to TCM will know

that it's the TCM Organ being discussed and not the anatomical organ.

Since the cited material is from " A Textbook and Clinical Manual " (for

professionals and TCM students), the authors haven't done this since

students and professionals know from the context if the Organ or organ

is referred to in the writing.

 

The Organ most associated with the smooth flow of Qi

(pronounced " chee " , roughly though inadequately translated

as " energy " ) is the Liver. When the Liver is healthy, Qi will flow

smoothly and spread out gently in all directions. When Qi flow is

sluggish or blocked, this is called " Qi Stagnation " . In addition, it

sometimes can attack/ " invade " other Organs like the Stomach and

Spleen.

 

The Spleen includes many of the functions actually associated with the

pancreas and some that aren't recognized as functions of either the

spleen or the pancreas. For example, the Spleen is the primary Organ

for the accumulation of Qi in the body. (When there is not enough Qi

this is called " Qi Deficiency " .) One of the functions of the Spleen Qi

in the body is to move things. Blood, other liquids, feces, etc.

 

Sometimes the Liver will " Invade " the Spleen (and/or the Stomach). The

diagnosis is Liver Invading Spleen or Liver and Spleen Not Harmonized.

What has happened is that something has gone wrong with the Liver's

function of smoothing moving Qi. Instead of flowing smoothly, the Qi

is attacking ( " invading " ) the Spleen.

 

There are two main reasons why this can happen. One, the Liver is

imbalanced. It has become " constrained " and as a result the Liver no

longer is moving Qi properly. As a result, the Qi " attacks " other

Organs like the Spleen.

 

The other reason is that the Spleen is invaded because the Spleen is

weak. There are symptoms and signs that are characteristic of Liver

Invading the Spleen regardless if the Root is the Liver in Excess or

the Spleen is Deficient. (Don't worry about understanding the

terms " Excess " and " Deficiency " for now. I included them for some of

the readers currently learning about these terms.)

 

The general " clinical manifestations " of Liver Invading the Spleen are:

 

" Irritability, abdominal distension and pain, alternation of

constipation and diarrhoea, stools sometimes dry and bitty and

sometimes loose, flatulence, tiredness.

 

" Tongue: Red on the sides or Pale.

 

" Pulse: Weak on the right and Wiry on the left.

 

" Key symptoms: alternation of constipation and diarrhoea, abdominal

distension and pain. " (The Foundations of , Giovanni

Maiocia, p. 227.)

 

When the primary cause is the Liver being stagnant and thus in Excess,

constipation will tend to predominate. This also is when the sides of

the tongue are likely to be red. The diarrhea tends to predominate

when the Spleen is Deficient. The tongue also will tend to be pale.

 

Regardless if the primary, starting cause is Liver Excess or Spleen

Deficiency, the longer this problem goes on, the more likely that both

problems will become marked and will worsen each other. It no longer

will be enough to just treat the Liver or just treat the Spleen. Both

will need to be treated.

 

Treatment will vary according to the exact clinical picture.

Treatment will change over time as the clinical picture changes. There

are herbal formulas that will treat the Liver and Liver Qi Stagnation

problems as well as formulas that " tonify " (streghtens, gives it what

it needs) the Spleen. There are acupoints that will move Qi as well as

acupoints that strengthen the Spleen. Qi Gong exercises are

especially good for moving Qi properly. In addition there may need to

be changes in the diet, help with handling emotions, and other things

depending on the individual's case.

 

I'm not going into detail on which herbal formulas because the

clinical picture can vary. The best thing to do is to consult a

trained TCM healer. If one is not available in your area, please start

researching this subject thoroughly to make sure you understand it

before attempting anything on your own.

 

There can be other things going on that work with the Liver Invading

Spleen to complicate things. The pain from Qi Stagnation - especially

when it affects the intestines can be rather severe (but not as severe

as that caused by Blood Stasis). If the pain is very severe -

especially if it's so severe that one feels like one may pass out from

it while sitting there - this raises the possibility of Cold in the

lower body and/or the Liver meridian. If while experiencing this very

severe pain one also experiences greatly increased salivation, this

points to the possibility of Deficiency Cold (Cold caused by there not

being enough Yang to warm and activate the body properly). That Cold

is going to need to be treated too or the Spleen is never going to be

strenghtened. The Spleen is most vulnerable to Dampness, but it's

also vulnerable to Cold. If Cold is present, it will keep weakening

the Spleen.

 

If Cold is a problem, the bulk laxative psyllium seed (or products

made from it) is going to aggravate the IBS because psyllium seed has

a cooling effet on the body.

 

If Spleen weakness is a primary problem, the person may need to forego

dairy products and wheat for a while because these are two of the most

Dampness-engendering and Phlegm-engendering and mucus-engendering

foods there are. Interesting, a lot of cases of IBS are due to a

sensitivity to dairy, in particular lactose intolerance. (Note: Some

MDs in the US don't include cases of IBS caused by dairy sensitivity

under the IBS diagnosis but classify these cases as Lactose

Intolerance.) From a TCM standpoint, please keep in mind that the

Spleen is most vulnerable to Dampness. It's going to be very difficult

to strengthen the Spleen (if it's weak) while still consuming dairy or

wheat. Later on, the person may be able to eat these foods again, but

for the time being they may have to be limited so as to not put an

extra burden on the Spleen.

 

Magnesium deficiency also can play a role in some cases of

constipation and some cases of IBS. Muscles need Mg in order to

relax. Without enough Mg, they tend to stay overly contracted. As a

result, fecal matter " moves " in starts and fits through the

intestines. There is a lack of peritalsis, the wave-like motions that

move the material through the intestines. (Cold also can interfere

with peritalsis.)

 

The herb cayenne (not an herb that is listed in the Chinese Medicien

Materia Medica) will increase peritalsis, but it can be depleting of

Qi. Someone with a weak Spleen probably already is or will be Qi

Deficient because the Spleen plays such a primary role in Qi

accumulation. A Qi tonic (increases) herb may need to be taken too,

BUT if there are Liver Qi Stagnation problems (and there are in the

case of Liver constraint), this will need to be corrected. Otherwise

it's like trying to force more water into a hose with a kink in it.

The water will either come out at the faucet or burst the hose. TCM

treatment is carefully formulated for individuals. There are no " one

size fits all " treatments in TCM.

 

One very good acupoint for both constipation and diarrhea (and for the

Stomach, the Spleen, digestion, and energy) is Stomach 36, aka " Three

Mile Point " . Location: " Four finger widths below the kneecap, one

finger width on the ouside of the shinbone. If you are on the correct

spot, a muscle should flex as you move your foot up and down. "

(Aupressure's Potent Points, Michael Reed Gach, p.82.) Acupressure

uses pressure or massage on acupoints instead of needles.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am new to chinese healing but seeking a solution for IBS of long

standing. How can I find a chinese healing practioner in my area (West

Virginia)?

 

Thanks,

Jeff Levitan

[Guest guest]

check www.acufinder.com and you can search by area code

Bob

www.acuherbals.com

 

jpgjeff2 <jeffreylevitan wrote:

Hi,

I am new to chinese healing but seeking a solution for IBS of long

standing. How can I find a chinese healing practioner in my area (West

Virginia)?

 

Thanks,

Jeff Levitan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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