IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH IRREGULAR PERIOD IN CHINESE MEDICINE
BY: DR KHIN MYINT SEIN
MBBS DFFP MCMIR UK
Patient: A
female, 40 years old
Case History:
She had been suffering from
irritable bowel syndrome for about five years. The main symptoms were feeling
bloated with distended pain in the abdominal area, poor appetite/ loose stool,
tired and angry easily. The symptoms got worse before the menstruation and her
sleep had been disturbed other symptoms were delayed period with irregularity
and heavy feeling in legs.
Examination: The tongue was slightly pale with white greasy coating;
the pulse was deep, taut and forceless.
Syndrome: Spleen Qi deficiency with dampness retention and
Liver Qi stagnation.
. For
stagnation of the liver Qi are emotional factors. There is more obvious in the
modern western countries. The stagnated liver Qi fails to regulate the
circulation and distribution of Qi and blood and the following diseases will be
caused; irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea, infertility or even various
lumps such as cyst, myoma or carcinoma.
The general clinical manifestations of liver Qi
stagnation are: distension or pain in the chest or hypochondrium, depressed or
sadness, particularly apparent before menstruation, often accompanied by poor
appetite, basically normal tongue picture, and taut pulse.
Spleen and
stomach.
The stomach is responsible for intake
and digestion of food and the spleen dominates the transformation of food into
food-essence. Both the stomach and spleen act as the source of Qi and blood. In
gynaecology, the dysfunction of spleen and stomach is mainly characterised by
deficiency.
Insufficiency of blood due to deficiency of the spleen and stomach.
Over thinking or improper diet can lead to deficiency of the spleen and stomach
which may influence the normal production of Qi and blood. When the
insufficiency of blood fails to provide the required substances for
menstruation and pregnancy, there will be delayed menstruation, amenorrhoea or
infertility.
Deficient spleen failing to control blood.
If the spleen is deficient and fails to control blood within the meridians,
then there will be prolonged menstruation, irregular vaginal bleeding or
miscarriage.
Dampness retention due to the spleen deficiency.
Dampness retention is caused if the spleen fails to transport water. The
downward flow of dampness can cause leukorrhagia, menstrual diarrhoea or
menstrual oedema.
If dampness obstructs the chong and conception meridians, amenorrhoea,
infertility or tumours will occur.
Clinical manifestation: heavy sensation or weighty pain, stuffy chest and
abdomen, loose stool. Poor appetite, itching or blistering on skin, turbid
urine, greasy coating of tongue slippery
The general clinical manifestations of the deficiency
of the spleen and stomach are:
bad complexion, dizziness, fatigue,
poor appetite or nausea. The tongue is pale and tender with white thin coating
and pulse is weak.
The normal generation and restraint relationships among the five elements
embody the mechanisms of self- regulation and self-control existing within
various things in the whole.
If the normal generation and restraint relationships are changed due to various
causes, then there will be abnormal restraint among the five elements, which is
mainly expressed in two ways. One is “over-restraint”, namely to restrain too
much. The other is “counter-restraint”, namely to be restrained reversely. The
abnormal restraint relationship reflects that things lose their proper ability
of self-regulation and self-control. Here in this case, liver is a wood and
because of liver Qi stagnation caused over-restraint to the earth which is
spleen. Owing to the spleen Qi deficient, then dampness retention is followed
due to spleen fails to transport water.
Treatment principle:
tonifying the spleen Qi and eliminating
dampness and soothing the liver Qi.
Acupoints: BL18 BL20
PC6 GV20 ST36
SP9 LR3 CV6
CV12
Technique Used:
BL18 LR3 : REDUCING
BL20 ST36 CV6 ; REINFORCING
PC6 GV20 SP9 CV12 : EVEN
Ear points:
spleen , stomach, liver, sanjiao, shenmen.
T.C.M.:
1. Xiao
yao san. Tang Kuei and Bupleurum formula C24, 4TABLETS B.D.
2. Liu Jun Zi Tang, Major six Herbs Formula. C27 4tablets B.D
Results: after taking 3 doses of herbs and undergoing 6 treatments of
acupuncture, diarrhoea and irregular period had been relieved. After 6 doses of
the above recipe and 12 treatments of acupuncture the patient has fully been
cured. Thanks to the Chinese traditional medicine for helping in this way.
Add.: 2712 San Gabriel
Boulevard
Rosemead, CA 91770 U.S.A.
Tel.:
(626) 288-1199
Fax:
(626) 288-4199