Diarrhea Flashcards
What is the definition of diarrhea?
Diarrhea is defined as the passage of semi-formed or watery stools, usually passed more frequently than normal.
What is the abnormal Qi dynamic of the SP in diarrhea?
SP Qi can’t ascend clear essence to HT, LU, and 4 limbs to support their function.
SP can’t transform the food resulting in loose stools
Normally, how many bowel movements should one have per day? How much is considered diarrhea?
Normal- 2x
Diarrhea- 3-4+x
How is the word ‘diarrhea’ represented in Chinese?
In Chinese, ‘diarrhea’ is represented as ‘Xie-xie’, composed of two characters both pronounced ‘xie’.
One character means ‘loose stools’, and the other means ‘stools like water’.
In ____________ , diarrhea is also known as chronic enteritis, gastrointestinal dysfunction, allergic enteritis, ulcerative colitis, + IBS
Western Med
The following are ______ of diarrhea
Invasion of External Evils (cold, damp, summer-heat)
Improper Diet
Emotions + Stress
Overwork, chronic illness + excessive sexual activity
Etiologies or causes of diarrhea
Diarrhea has an etiology of Improper Diet, and what is the pathogenesis?
Eating spoiled food, too hot or too cold foods –> acute diarrhea
over-eating or excessive consumption of cold, greasy, or sweet foods –>
chronic diarrhea
Damages SP Qi
(These impair the transforming and transporting of the Spleen so that Spleen-Qi cannot ascend and diarrhea results)
Diarrhea has an etiology of Emotions + Stress, what is the pathogenesis?
Emotional Stress - Worry, pensiveness, brooding and excessive mental work –> weaken/damage the Spleen
Anger –> liver qi stagnation –> attack the spleen –> chronic diarrhea.
The etiology of diarrhea is overwork, chronic illness, and excessive sexual activity. What is the pathogenesis of diarrhea?
Weaken spleen and
kidney –> chronic diarrhea
KI, especially KI Yang controls 2 lower orifices
What internal organs are most related to diarrhea?
Diarrhea is most related to the Spleen, stomach, and intestine.
What pathogenic factor is most related to diarrhea?
Diarrhea is most related to Dampness. Also see Cold + Summer-Heat
Which internal organs play a role in dampness?
The Liver (emotions) and Kidneys (control lower orifices) also play a role.
What happens to Spleen-Qi in any type of diarrhea?
There is always an inversion in the movement of Spleen-Qi, i.e. Spleen-Qi descending instead of ascending.
What does the Simple Questions in chapter 5 say about diarrhoea?
“When clear Qi descends … and turbid Qi ascends, there is diarrhea.”
What are the chief S/sx of diarrhea?
Acute: sudden, short-term, increased frequency of defecation with decreased urination
Chronic diarrhea: long-term, slower development, less frequency of defecation
The following are patterns of _________?
External Cold-Damp Invasion
Damp-Heat
Food Retention
Acute diarrhea
The following are patterns of _________?
SP + ST Xu
LR Qi Stagnation
KI Yang Xu
Chronic diarrhea
The following are S/sx of acute diarrhea due to ____________?
Loose stools, mixed w/ water + food, distending abdomen pain, borborygmus, no thirst, chills, likes warmth
T: Pale w/ white, slippery coating
P: Slow
External Cold-Damp Invasion
The following are S/sx of acute diarrhea due to ____________?
Diarrhea w/ abdominal pain, yellow, hot + fetid stools, burning sensation in anus, restlessness + thirst, likes cold drink but doesn’t want to drink, scanty yellow urine
T: Red w/ yellow, sticky coating
P: Rapid + Soggy
Damp-Heat
What are the characteristics of Damp-Heat?
The patient wants to drink but has no desire to drink
The following are S/sx of acute diarrhea due to ____________?
Diarrhea w/ abdominal pain, borborygmus, relief after BM, diarrhea w/ fetid stools w/ undigested foods, belching, acid reflux, aversion to food
T: Thick + greasy coating
P: Slippery
Food Retention
The following are S/sx of chronic diarrhea due to _____?
Loose stools w/ undigested foods, intermittent onset or soon after earing greasy or oily foods, frequent BMs, pale face, lassitude, aversion to food
T: Pale w/ white coating
P: Soggy + moderate + forceless
SP + ST Xu
The following are S/sx of chronic diarrhea due to _____?
Distension + oppression in chest + hypochondria area, bleaching, poor appetite, recurrent diarrhea + and. pain, aggravated by emotions or stress
T: Red w/ thin coating
P: Wiry
LR Qi Stagnation
The following are S/sx of chronic diarrhea due to _____?
Diarrhea at dawn, abdominal pain before dawn, relief after bowel movements, cold and. soreness + weakness of lumbar + knees, emaciation, darker complexion
T: pale + puffy
P: Deep + Thready
KI Yang Xu
What are the main points of treating acute diarrhea?
ST-25: Front-mu of LI
ST-37: Lower He-sea of LI
ST-39: Lower He-sea of SI
SP-9: Resovles dampness
REN-9: Drains dampness + separates water from stool
What are the main points of treating chronic diarrhea?
REN-8: Warms interior (salt + paste moxa)
ST-25: Front-mu of LI
ST-36: tonifys SP + ST
SP-4: Luo-connecting + Invigorate SP + strengthen ST + Regulates normal SP Qi dynamic
What are the main points for accompanying S/sx?
Cold-Damp invasion-
REN-8: salty moxa
Damp-Heat-
ST-44
Food Retention-
REN-12
ST-21
SP + ST Xu-
BL-20 + BL-21
SP-3
LR Qi Stagnation-
LR-3
KI Yang Xu-
BL-23
DU-4
What are some alternative methods to treat diarrhea?
Ear points-
LI, ST, SP, LR, KI + Sympathesis
