Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body's inability to produce or use insulin effectively. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers an alternative approach to managing diabetes mellitus by addressing the root cause of the illness and restoring balance to the body's energies. In TCM, diabetes is called "Xiao Ke," which translates to "wasting and thirsting" disorder. The treatment of diabetes in TCM revolves around three major organ systems: the Lungs-fire, Stomach-fire, and Kidneys yin deficiency. This article will discuss the symptoms associated with each of these organ systems and the recommended herbal remedies and dietary changes to address them.
Lungs-fire
The Lungs-fire imbalance is characterized by symptoms such as:
- Dry nose and mouth
- Frequent urination
- Normal bowel movements
- Pain in the throat, also red and swollen
- Intense thirst and excessive drinking
- Vomiting of blood
The primary treatment goal for Lungs-fire is to produce fluids and clear heat. Two recommended herbal formulas are Xiao-Ke-Fang and Jiang-Tang-Yi-Hao-Fang. Additionally, incorporating foods such as lily flower, salt, cattail, asparagus, soya milk, duck egg, and olive into the diet can help to alleviate symptoms and restore balance.
Stomach-fire
Stomach-fire imbalance can present with the following symptoms:
- Bitter taste in the mouth
- Bleeding from gums
- Bleeding from space between teeth with pain
- Constipation with dry stools
- Dry sensations in the mouth
- Eating a lot and still feeling hungry
- Fever
- Headache
- Hiccups
- Hungry with a good appetite and eating a lot, but still underweight
- Incapable of sound sleep in children
- Morning sickness
- Nosebleed
- Pain in the gums with swelling
- Pain in the throat, also red and swollen
- Toothache
- Underweight
- Vomiting of blood
- Vomiting right after eating
The treatment goal for Stomach-fire is to sedate fire, nourish the yin, and lubricate dryness. The recommended herbal formulas are Shi-Gao-Zhi-Mu-Jia-Ren-Shen-Tang and Jiang-Tang-Er-Hao-Fang. Incorporating foods such as areca nuts, buckwheat, common carp, banana, bitter endive, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, bamboo shoot, cucumber, Job's-tears, liver, leaf beet, mung bean, peppermint, purslane, lily flower, salt, and cattail into the diet can help alleviate symptoms and restore balance.
Kidneys yin deficiency
Symptoms of Kidneys yin deficiency include:
- Cough with sputum containing blood or coughing out fresh blood
- Dry sensations in the mouth, particularly at night
- Dry throat
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Hot sensations in any part of the body
- Night sweats
- Pain in the heels
- Pain in the loins (lumbago)
- Retention of urine
- Ringing in ears
- Seminal emission with dreams
- Sleeplessness
- Spots in front of the eyes
- Thirst
- Toothache or shaky teeth
- Urine as thick as fat
The treatment goal for Kidneys yin deficiency is to strengthen the semen and the kidney yin. Recommended herbal formulas include Liu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan, Wu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan, or Jiang-Tang-San-Hao-Fang. Incorporating foods such as abalone, asparagus, chicken egg, cuttlefish, duck, duck egg, white fungus, oyster, pork, royal jelly, chestnut, chicken liver, and pork kidneys into the diet can help alleviate symptoms and restore balance.
Conclusion
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a holistic approach to managing diabetes mellitus by addressing the root causes of the illness and restoring balance to the body's energies. By focusing on the three major organ systems of Lungs-fire, Stomach-fire, and Kidneys yin deficiency, TCM practitioners use herbal formulas and dietary changes to alleviate symptoms and promote overall health. As with any medical treatment, it is essential to consult with a qualified TCM practitioner to determine the best course of action for your individual needs.