In my last two articles, I discussed simple formula combinations for gan mao and gynecological pathologies. In this month's column, I will examine clinically effective formula combinations for common gastrointestinal complaints. Many chronic diseases develop due to a poorly functioning digestive system.
One of the most common gastrointestinal pathologies is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition typically manifests with symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal pain, sore throat and burning sensations in the throat or stomach due to the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. Some of the most common TCM patterns found in GERD presentations are: liver depression qi stagnation, stomach fire, stomach yin vacuity, food stagnation and spleen qi vacuity. In chronic cases, it's not uncommon to have two or more of these patterns overlap and/or evolve into other patterns such as damp heat, phlegm and yin-vacuity heat. The following formula combinations can be very effective if modified according to the patient's unique disease expression.
These are just some of the possible pattern combinations which could potentially occur in common GERD presentations. The clinician must decide which patterns are overlapping and strive to understand potential pattern evolutions in order to efficiently address the patient's unique disease expression.
Another common gastrointestinal complaint is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Symptoms typically include chronic and frequent diarrhea or constipation (usually accompanied by pain), abdominal bloating and pain, nausea, loss of appetite and depression. The most common TCM patterns seen in the standard IBS presentations are liver depression qi stagnation, spleen qi vacuity, liver depression with depressive heat, damp heat and food stagnation. Chronic disease can damage the liver and kidneys. It's not uncommon to see these patterns evolve into yin vacuity, vacuity heat, blood vacuity and blood stasis. The following formula combinations can be very effective if modified according to the patient's unique disease expression.
These are just a few of the possible pattern variations that might appear in IBS pathologies. Both GERD and IBS are complex conditions with potentially severe outcomes. The purpose of this short article was not to discuss the etiology or pathology of these conditions in depth, but to provide some clinical suggestions on TCM pattern management. Please refer to appropriate medical texts for background and diagnostic information on GERDand IBS. It's also important to keep in mind important dietary issues germane to both of these conditions, such as food allergies, food sensitivities, trigger foods and improper food combinations.
Structured water (H3O2) can be considered a fourth state of water between liquid and solid. It has the hexagonal structure of ice; however, missing a critical bond, it behaves more like a gel than a solid, but retains some of its crystalline structure.
In the past five years of my clinical practice, I have seen an astonishing upsurge in the chronic use of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications for the gastrointestinal issue diagnosed by allopathic medicine as GERD. It is not uncommon to encounter patients taking these prescriptions for five-plus years.
Working with chronically ill patients entails acknowledging the reality that not all patients will survive their diagnosis. Chinese medicine and acupuncture play a crucial role in palliative and end-of-life care, addressing medication and disease side effects, alleviating pain associated with death, reducing anxiety and stress, and helping patients find peace during the dying process.
