Obesity
Obesity is a growing concern worldwide, and many individuals are seeking alternative methods to manage and treat this condition. Chinese medicine offers unique insights and treatments for obesity by focusing on the underlying imbalances in the body. This article will discuss several causes of obesity, as diagnosed in Chinese medicine, and outline corresponding treatments using herbal formulas and dietary recommendations.
Spleen-dampness
Symptoms of spleen-dampness include chest discomfort, diarrhea, edema, heavy sensations in the head and body, jaundice, a love of hot drinks, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, scant urine, stomach fullness, a sweet and sticky taste in the mouth, and extreme fatigue.
Treatment: Strengthen the spleen and remove dampness.
Recommended Formula: Fang-Ji-Huang-Qi-Tang with Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Gold carp, corncob, horse bean, Job's-tears, prickly ash, adzuki bean, and bamboo shoot.
Spleen and Stomach Heat and Dampness
Symptoms include abdominal swelling, bad breath, bleeding gums, dizziness, constipation, foul breath, getting hungry easily, gum swelling, hiccups, light taste in the mouth, nosebleeds, gum and throat pain, perspiring on the head, stomachache, thirst, vomiting, and blood vomiting.
Treatment: Clear heat in the stomach and remove dampness.
Recommended Formula: Fang-Feng-Tong-Sheng-San
Dietary Recommendations: Carp, celery, horse bean, jellyfish skin, Job's-tears, prickly ash, hyacinth bean, oregano, sweet basil, adzuki bean, bamboo shoot, soybean sprouts, rosin, banana, bitter endive, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, cucumber, leaf beet, mung bean, peppermint, and purslane.
Liver Energy Congestion
Symptoms include abdominal obstruction, abdominal pain, bitter taste in the mouth, convulsions, dry tongue, getting angry easily, numbness, upper abdominal pain, poor appetite, stomachache, and sensations of objects in the throat.
Treatment: Disperse liver energy congestion.
Recommended Formula: Da-Chai-Hu-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Brown sugar, garlic, turmeric, kumquat, beef, cherry, bird's nest, butter-fish, chicken, coconut meat, date, tofu, mustard seed, sweet rice, goose meat, mutton, jackfruit, squash, sweet potato, red and black date, rice, rock sugar, caraway seed, spearmint, common button mushroom, oregano, red bean, ambergris, dill seed, sweet basil, and saffron.
Simultaneous Energy Congestion and Blood Coagulations
Symptoms include abdominal swelling, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, congested chest, irregular menstruation with blood clots in women, love of sighing, persistent abdominal lump, pain in the upper abdomen, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Treatment: Regulate energy and remove blood coagulations.
Recommended Formula: Tao-Hong-Si-Wu-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Beef, cherry, bird's nest, butterfish, chicken, coconut meat, date, tofu, mustard seed, sweet rice, goose meat, mutton, jackfruit, squash, sweet potato, red and black date, rice, rock sugar, caraway seed, spearmint, common button mushroom, oregano, red bean, ambergris, dill seed, garlic, sweet basil, saffron, ambergris, brown sugar, chestnut, eggplant, peach, black soybean, sturgeon, crab, distillers' grains, papaya, and saffron.
Internal Sputum
Symptoms include abdominal swelling or rumbling, congested chest, dizziness, headache, heaviness in the body, love of hot drinks, preference for sweet or greasy foods, numbness, pain in the chest or upper abdomen, palpitations, stomachache, swollen body of the tongue, and vomiting or coughing out watery sputum in large amounts.
Treatment: Strengthen the spleen and transform sputum.
Recommended Formula: Wen-Dan-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Bamboo shoot, crown daisy, date, fresh ginger, leaf or brown mustard, mustard seed, black and white pepper, white or yellow mustard seed, asparagus, and pear.
Spleen-Kidneys Yang Deficiency
Symptoms include abdominal swelling, cold hands and feet or cold loins, diarrhea before dawn, diarrhea with sticky and muddy stools, dysentery, eating very little, edema, fatigue, fear of cold, four limbs weakness, frequent urination with clear or white urine, mental fatigue, poor appetite, scant urine, sputum rumbling with panting, and watery stools.
Treatment: Warm the kidneys and strengthen the spleen.
Recommended Formula: Zhen-Wu-Tang with Huang-Ji-Huang-Qi-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Air bladder of shark, chicken, cayenne pepper, fennel, nutmeg, black and white pepper, prickly ash, mutton, sword bean, white or yellow mustard, kidney, lobster, sardine, shrimp, sparrow, clove, dill seed, fennel, pistachio nut, sparrow egg, crab apple, raspberry, and walnut.
Conclusion
Chinese medicine provides various treatment options for obesity based on the underlying imbalances in the body. By understanding the root causes of obesity, such as spleen-dampness, spleen and stomach heat and dampness, liver energy congestion, and spleen-kidneys yang deficiency, individuals can tailor their treatment with specific herbal formulas and dietary recommendations. It is important to consult a qualified practitioner of Chinese medicine to receive an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.
Spleen-dampness
Symptoms of spleen-dampness include chest discomfort, diarrhea, edema, heavy sensations in the head and body, jaundice, a love of hot drinks, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, scant urine, stomach fullness, a sweet and sticky taste in the mouth, and extreme fatigue.
Treatment: Strengthen the spleen and remove dampness.
Recommended Formula: Fang-Ji-Huang-Qi-Tang with Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Gold carp, corncob, horse bean, Job's-tears, prickly ash, adzuki bean, and bamboo shoot.
Spleen and Stomach Heat and Dampness
Symptoms include abdominal swelling, bad breath, bleeding gums, dizziness, constipation, foul breath, getting hungry easily, gum swelling, hiccups, light taste in the mouth, nosebleeds, gum and throat pain, perspiring on the head, stomachache, thirst, vomiting, and blood vomiting.
Treatment: Clear heat in the stomach and remove dampness.
Recommended Formula: Fang-Feng-Tong-Sheng-San
Dietary Recommendations: Carp, celery, horse bean, jellyfish skin, Job's-tears, prickly ash, hyacinth bean, oregano, sweet basil, adzuki bean, bamboo shoot, soybean sprouts, rosin, banana, bitter endive, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, cucumber, leaf beet, mung bean, peppermint, and purslane.
Liver Energy Congestion
Symptoms include abdominal obstruction, abdominal pain, bitter taste in the mouth, convulsions, dry tongue, getting angry easily, numbness, upper abdominal pain, poor appetite, stomachache, and sensations of objects in the throat.
Treatment: Disperse liver energy congestion.
Recommended Formula: Da-Chai-Hu-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Brown sugar, garlic, turmeric, kumquat, beef, cherry, bird's nest, butter-fish, chicken, coconut meat, date, tofu, mustard seed, sweet rice, goose meat, mutton, jackfruit, squash, sweet potato, red and black date, rice, rock sugar, caraway seed, spearmint, common button mushroom, oregano, red bean, ambergris, dill seed, sweet basil, and saffron.
Simultaneous Energy Congestion and Blood Coagulations
Symptoms include abdominal swelling, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, congested chest, irregular menstruation with blood clots in women, love of sighing, persistent abdominal lump, pain in the upper abdomen, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Treatment: Regulate energy and remove blood coagulations.
Recommended Formula: Tao-Hong-Si-Wu-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Beef, cherry, bird's nest, butterfish, chicken, coconut meat, date, tofu, mustard seed, sweet rice, goose meat, mutton, jackfruit, squash, sweet potato, red and black date, rice, rock sugar, caraway seed, spearmint, common button mushroom, oregano, red bean, ambergris, dill seed, garlic, sweet basil, saffron, ambergris, brown sugar, chestnut, eggplant, peach, black soybean, sturgeon, crab, distillers' grains, papaya, and saffron.
Internal Sputum
Symptoms include abdominal swelling or rumbling, congested chest, dizziness, headache, heaviness in the body, love of hot drinks, preference for sweet or greasy foods, numbness, pain in the chest or upper abdomen, palpitations, stomachache, swollen body of the tongue, and vomiting or coughing out watery sputum in large amounts.
Treatment: Strengthen the spleen and transform sputum.
Recommended Formula: Wen-Dan-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Bamboo shoot, crown daisy, date, fresh ginger, leaf or brown mustard, mustard seed, black and white pepper, white or yellow mustard seed, asparagus, and pear.
Spleen-Kidneys Yang Deficiency
Symptoms include abdominal swelling, cold hands and feet or cold loins, diarrhea before dawn, diarrhea with sticky and muddy stools, dysentery, eating very little, edema, fatigue, fear of cold, four limbs weakness, frequent urination with clear or white urine, mental fatigue, poor appetite, scant urine, sputum rumbling with panting, and watery stools.
Treatment: Warm the kidneys and strengthen the spleen.
Recommended Formula: Zhen-Wu-Tang with Huang-Ji-Huang-Qi-Tang
Dietary Recommendations: Air bladder of shark, chicken, cayenne pepper, fennel, nutmeg, black and white pepper, prickly ash, mutton, sword bean, white or yellow mustard, kidney, lobster, sardine, shrimp, sparrow, clove, dill seed, fennel, pistachio nut, sparrow egg, crab apple, raspberry, and walnut.
Conclusion
Chinese medicine provides various treatment options for obesity based on the underlying imbalances in the body. By understanding the root causes of obesity, such as spleen-dampness, spleen and stomach heat and dampness, liver energy congestion, and spleen-kidneys yang deficiency, individuals can tailor their treatment with specific herbal formulas and dietary recommendations. It is important to consult a qualified practitioner of Chinese medicine to receive an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.