Gastrointestinal Disorders in Chinese Medicine
By: Wei Liu, TCMD, MPH, LAC and Changzhen Gong, PhD, MS
Traditional Chinese Medical Theory for Digestive Disorders
In traditional Chinese medical theory, the Spleen is the key organ involved in gastro-intestinal
disorders. The Spleen has primary responsibility for "transforming" and "transporting" food essence in
the body, including the excretion of waste material. The Spleen and Stomach are Yin/Yang partners,
and each one can develop characteristic problems. The Spleen needs to be somewhat moist in order to
function well, but if it becomes deficient in Chi, it will become overwhelmed by moisture, and a
pathological condition of Dampness (or Damp Heat) can settle into the body. The Stomach, on the
other hand, needs to be on the dry side to function well, and when its balance is upset, it can easily
overheat, and a painful condition of Stomach Fire can develop. Other organs, especially the Liver, can
also contribute to gastro-intestinal distress. The four most common patterns seen when gastrointestinal problems are differentiated are as follows: Spleen Chi Deficiency, which is caused by chronic
fatigue or chronic illness; Damp Heat Retention, which is caused by improper diet, environmental
factors, or infections; Disharmony of Liver and Spleen, which is caused by emotional disturbance; and
Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency, which is caused by chronic illness or aging. To treat these
imbalances, Chinese medicine commonly uses acupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion. When
applied properly, these modalities balance Yin and Yang, harmonize Chi and Blood, nourish the
organs, and eliminate Damp Heat.
Conditions which respond well to acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine include:
gastrointestinal infections such as virus infections from rotavirus
bacterial infections from salmonella, shigella or escherichia coli
inflammatory diseases such as chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, chronic enteritis, and
gastroenteritis
peptic ulcers such as duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer
circulation problems in the gastrointestinal system such as gastrointestinal tract bleeding and
intestinal cramps
gastrointestinal tumors such as stomach cancer, tumors of the small intestine, or colon cancer
inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
and other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and short bowel syndrome.
Moxibustion for Gastrointestinal Conditions
Traditional Chinese medicine employs several healing techniques to treat patients, including
acupuncture, herbal formulas, and moxibustion. Acupuncture and herbs are familiar to most people in
this country, but moxibustion is less well known. Moxibustion is a therapeutic technique of applying an
ignited cone or stick of mugwort or other medicinal herbs over the affected part of the body or on the
acupuncture points. Moxibustion is often used to warm up cold conditions, or to tonify deficient
conditions, but it is also an effective agent against certain types of inflammation, and can be used to
treat most gastro-intestinal conditions.
Scientific Support
How do we explain these beneficial effects of Chinese medicine modalities in a modern clinical sense?
How does it work from the viewpoint of biomedicine? Numerous modern studies, most of them
conducted at China’s leading research and teaching institutes and in hospital settings, show that
acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine can bring about bio-chemical changes.
The following are a few examples:
Excretory Rate of D-Xylose. The excretory rate of D-Xylose is an index of the absorption function of
the intestines. Patients with chronic gastritis, chronic enteritis, or peptic ulcer tend to have a lower
excretory rate of D-Xylose. A number of clinical studies in China show that acupuncture and
moxibustion can increase the D-Xylose excretory rate significantly.
Serum Gastrin. Gastrin is a hormone in the digestive tract, secreted mainly by cells in the stomach in
response to eating food. Gastrin causes the stomach to produce more acid and also stimulates
contraction of muscles in the wall of the stomach, ileum, and colon. This contraction propels food
through the digestive tract. A very recent study at the Affiliated Hospital of Sichuan Academy of
Traditional Chinese Medicine found that moxibustion (moxa made with astraglus, codonopsis, etc.) at
acupuncture points St 36, Ren 4, and Ren 12 can raise the serum gastrin level.
T-lymphocytes and their Subgroups. T-lymphocytes and their subgroups reflect the status of cells’
immune functions. Substantial evidence shows that Spleen Deficient patients have a lower immune
function at the cellular level. Clinical studies in China show that acupuncture and moxibustion can
increase T-lymphocytes and their subgroups in the blood.
Immunoglobulins. Many patients with gastro-intestinal disorders seem to have a lower-than-normal
immune response. Immnuglobulins are proteins in the blood serum and tissue fluids that are produced
by cells of the immune system. They help to destroy antigen-bearing microorganisms in the
bloodstream and tissues. Extensive research shows that moxibustion adt acupuncture points St 36,
Ren 12, and Ren 8 can increase the levels of Immnuglobulins Ig A, Ig G, Ig M, and thereby benefit a
variety of health conditions such as chronic gastritis, antral gastritis, gastric ulcer, atrophic gastritis,
gastroduodenal ulcer, and gastroptosis (stomach has "dropped" from normal position).
Article courtesy of Acufinder.com