Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea means that the stool is thin or watery and comes more frequently than usual. The symptoms may occur suddenly, for example due to an intestinal infection or misplaced diet, but also are present long or recurring.
Some people mainly have thin stools without many other symptoms. In others, diarrhoea is associated with abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea, tiredness or a strong urge to go to the toilet. Also, the moment of diarrhoea occurs may vary: for example after eating, during stressful periods or early in the morning.
In Chinese medicine, not only does it look at diarrhoea but also at its character and the conditions under which it occurs. On the basis of this overall picture acupuncture and Chinese herbs are tuned.
Western disorders that may cause diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is a symptom and not a condition in itself. Possible causes include:
- infections by virus, bacteria or parasite
- food poisoning
- irritable bowel syndrome (PDS)
- food intolerances such as lactose intolerance, or coeliac disease
- inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- side effects of medication such as antibiotics, certain blood sugar lowering agents or laxatives
- hyperthyroidism
When to contact your doctor?
Diarrhoea causes the body to lose fluids and salts; drinking enough is particularly important in severe diarrhoea. Contact a doctor for severe or persistent symptoms, signs of dehydration (such as intense thirst, reduced urination or dizziness), blood in the stool, high fever, severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or recurring diarrhoea without a clear cause. Young children and older people may become dehydrated more quickly, so do not delay medical assessment. In long-lasting diarrhoea, underlying conditions such as coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or chronic infection should also be medically investigated, rather than approached only through TCM.
Possible causes
Acute diarrhoea is often caused by infection with a virus, bacteria or parasite, by food poisoning, a change in diet or as a side effect of medication. These symptoms usually disappear within a few days.
In chronic or recurrent diarrhoea, an underlying weakness of digestion often occurs, for example after a long-term infection, after antibiotic use or through prolonged overload and exhaustion.
Stress and tension can also affect the intestinal movement and provoke or worsen diarrhoea, especially when the symptoms are clearly related to emotions or busy periods.
How can acupuncture help with diarrhoea?
Acupuncture looks at the type of diarrhoea and its symptoms. Diarrhoea caused mainly by stress requires treatment other than prolonged thin stools associated with fatigue, or acute diarrhoea with burning sensation and strong smelling stool.
During and immediately after treatment, acupuncture may include:
- regulating bowel function and stool
- reducing abdominal cramps and bloating
- soothing the impact of stress and tension on the intestines
- relief of acute burning or restlessness in severe diarrhoea
Which acupuncture points are used depends on the overall picture of complaints and can be adjusted during the treatment course.
How can Chinese herbal medicine help with diarrhoea?
Chinese herbs can be particularly interesting when diarrhoea exists longer or regularly comes back. Unlike acupuncture, herbs are used daily between treatments to gradually build up and support digestion.
Depending on the pattern, herbal treatment may include:
- the structural strengthening of a weak digestion
- reducing excessive fluid accumulation (Dampness) in the digestive system
- heating the digestion in case of complaints that improve by heat
- reducing Heat of Dampness-Heat in acute, burning complaints
- supporting Spleen and kidney in long-term, deeper complaints
Chinese herbs and acupuncture work in their own way and can complement each other.
How does Chinese medicine view diarrhoea?
Within the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), diarrhoea is not seen as one fixed problem. The Western diagnosis or complaint is the starting point, after which the underlying imbalance causes or maintains the complaints.
In diarrhoea, the TCM organ systems of the Spleen, Stomach and Intestines play a particularly important role. These names refer to broader functional systems than the anatomical organs alone. In TCM, the Spleen is associated with processing food and distributing nutrients and fluids. When this function is impaired, fluids may accumulate; this is called Dampness and may manifest as loose stools, a heavy or bloated feeling and fatigue. The Stomach processes food at an earlier stage; when food temporarily remains “stuck” there, this may also contribute to diarrhoea.
The Liver can also play a role. Within TCM, the Liver is connected to a free and even flow of Qi . In case of stress or stress, this flow may be disturbed and affect digestion A recognizable example is sudden urge or diarrhoea during stressful situations.
In addition, there may be a shortage of Yang , the body's heating and supportive function. Diarrhoea is often associated with cold, tiredness and complaints that improve through heat; this can involve the kidney in addition to the Spleen.
A recognizable combination of such complaints and characteristics is called a TCM pattern. Below are only the most common patterns discussed. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns can occur simultaneously, allowing you to recognize yourself in more than one pattern. Not everyone with the same pattern has all the mentioned symptoms. The pattern is determined on the basis of the overall grievance image.
Most common TCM patterns in diarrhoea
Spleen-Qi-deficiency
In Spleen-Qi deficiency, digestion is not strong enough to process nutrition and moisture properly, which easily results in thin stools. This pattern occurs especially in chronic or recurrent complaints and may be associated with Dampness.
Common symptoms: prolonged soft or thin stools, sometimes urge shortly after eating, bloating, loss of appetite, tiredness and feeling heavy in the body.
Examples of Western disorders: PDS with diarrhoea, functional diarrhoea and some forms of food intolerance or malabsorption.
Liver-Spleen disharmony
In this pattern, tension disturbs the normal functioning of the digestive system, allowing the intestines to react strongly to stress, frustration or emotional stress.
Common symptoms: diarrhoea or sudden urge during stress, abdominal cramps prior to stool, bloated or tense abdomen, improvement after stool or winding, and sometimes variation with constipation. Irritability or stressed shoulders may also occur.
Examples of Western disorders: especially PDS and other functional bowel complaints where stress has a clear influence.
Dampness-Heat in the Intestines
Dampness-Heat describes a combination of accumulation of moisture and signs of heat, and usually gives a more active picture of complaints than Spleen-Qi deficiency.
Common symptoms: sudden or frequent diarrhoea, strong urge, strong smelling stool, abdominal pain, burning around the anus and sometimes mucus. Nausea, thirst or feeling warm may also occur.
Examples of Western diseases: acute gastroenteritis and some inflammatory or infectious bowel disorders. Medical diagnosis is important in case of possible infection or inflammation of the gut.
Cold-Dampness in the spijsvertering
With this pattern, digestion is temporarily hampered by a combination of Cold and Dampness. It can occur after a lot of cold or raw food, but also in people who are sensitive to cold.
Common symptoms: watery or thin stools, abdominal cramps, heavy or full-bodied feeling, nausea and loss of appetite. The abdomen may feel cold; warmth is often experienced as pleasant.
Examples of Western disorders: acute or recurrent functional diarrhoea and some forms of gastroenteritis.
Food stagnation
In case of food stagnation, the Stomach is temporarily overloaded, for example after eating too much, fast eating or a heavy meal.
Common symptoms: diarrhoea with undigested food residues, strong smelling feces, bloating of the abdomen, regurgitation or peasantry, nausea and feeling full. The symptoms often decrease after stools or belching.
Examples of Western disorders: acute indigestion after excessive eating and some forms of functional dyspepsia with diarrhoea.
Spleen- and Kidney-Yang-deficiency
This pattern can occur when a weak digestion exists for a long time and also the heating function of the kidney becomes insufficient. It is a deeper deficiency patterns than Spleen-Qi deficiency.
Common symptoms: prolonged or recurrent watery diarrhoea, sometimes especially early in the morning, undigested food in the stools, fatigue, rapid coldness and cold hands or feet. Stomach symptoms may improve due to warmth and mild pressure; also low back discomfort may occur.
Examples of Western disorders: chronic functional diarrhoea, PDS and some conditions involving prolonged diarrhoea or malabsorption.
Outlook
How quickly diarrhoea improves depends heavily on the cause. A temporarily disturbed bowel function can recover relatively quickly, while prolonged or recurring symptoms usually require more time.
In the initial phase acupuncture is usually applied approximately once a week; for severe or persistent complaints, a higher frequency may temporarily be appropriate from two to three times a week. As complaints become more stable, the frequency can be reduced. Chinese herbs can be used daily and adjusted during the treatment process. These are guidelines and not fixed rules; the actual duration and frequency depend on the cause, severity and duration of the complaints.
Contact
Do you have regular diarrhoea and want to know if acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine can match your symptoms? During a first consultation we discuss your complaints, digestion, lifestyle and general health. On this basis, we will examine which TCM pattern is most likely and which treatment fits in with it.