Chinese Medicine for Irritable Bowels

If you've been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it means that tests like colonoscopies, scans, or bloodwork have revealed nothing. So your doctor doesn't have a clue about what's really causing your problem. Thus, the 'catch-all' diagnosis of 'Irritable bowel'. 

TCM and IBS

Health arises from the harmonious flow of energy and fluids. 

Symptoms of irritable bowel diseases indicate that this balance has been disrupted or become unharmonious. 

Dietary excess, poor or irregular eating habits, emotional stress, and organ pathologies among other things, can cause these disruptions. 

In addition to treating the symptoms of IBS, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors also address the root imbalances of these symptoms. Our aim is to resolve your complaints by restoring balance and harmony to your mind and body.

As we recognize the mind-body connection, TCM understands the impact that stress, anxiety, emotional disturbance, and lifestyle choices can have on the digestive system.

To us, IBS is a symptom, not a disease, and we must understand it according to the patterns known to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  Since all these patterns are diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Disease by your doctor, the diagnosis of IBD (or IBS) is irrelevant to a TCM practitioner. 

To prescribe the right medicine, we need to know if your problems are caused by Spleen Qi Deficiency, Damp Heat in the Large Intestine, Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Invades Spleen or some combination of these patterns.  

Once diagnosed, we can use several methods to restore harmony.  

Herbs go right to the gut and are essential to restore digestive balance and normalcy. Herb formulas also target issues such as excess heat, constraint, dampness, or stagnation.

Acupuncture, has been shown to effectively regulate digestive function, reduce inflammation, and ease muscle spasms.

Bodywork and massage can help restore balance by normalizing the flows of Qi and Blood.

Dietary advice can also be helpful. Remember, our problems can be influence both by what we eat and how we eat.

If you're struggling with IBS, look beyond convention and explore the wisdom of Chinese medicine. It may provide the lasting relief you need. 

Some Common OTC Digestive Formulas

If your digestive complaints have lasted 2 weeks or longer, you must seek consultation from a practitioner, but if your problems are only occasional, the following over-the-counter remedies are safe and effective for short term use.

• Simple Indigestion - Stomach Curing Pills
• Occasional Constipation - Moisten Intestines Pill
• Loose Stool - Liu Jun Zi formula
• Low Appetite - Xiang Sha Yang Wei formula
• Nausea - Stomach Curing Pills
• Diarrhea due to Spleen Deficiency - Shen Ling Bai Zhu Pian
• Acute Dysentery - Huang Lian Su

Information on this site is provided for educational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or another medical professional. We make no claim as to efficacy or safety of herbs or herbal medicine appearing on this site. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.