Diabetes, a chronic disease that plagues countless patients around the world, not only poses a serious threat to people’s health, but also affects all aspects of life. In the world of traditional Chinese medicine, diabetes is classified as the category of “thirst”, and its morbidity mechanism is related to the imbalance of Yin and Yang in the body and the disharmony of Qi and blood. Traditional Chinese medicine, with its unique theory and treatment methods, provides a new perspective and approach for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. This article will take you into the world of traditional Chinese medicine, explore the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine, and help you better understand and deal with this disease.
1. Understanding of diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, diabetes belongs to the category of “diabetes”. Its main causes include lack of natural endowment, improper diet, emotional disorders, overwork and so on. 1. Insufficient endowment: Congenital physical weakness and inadequate kidney function can easily lead to diabetes. 2. Improper diet: long-term overeating of fat and sweet taste will damage the spleen and stomach, cause disorder of transportation and transformation, accumulate heat in the interior, eliminate grain and consume fluid, and cause diabetes. 3. Emotional disorders: Long-term mental stress, anxiety, depression and other negative emotions, leading to liver-qi stagnation, depression and fire, burning lung and stomach Yin and fluid, resulting in diabetes. 4. Overwork: overwork, improper sexual intercourse, damage to the kidney, deficiency of kidney yin, endogenous deficiency fire, heart and lung, resulting in diabetes.
2. Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis of diabetes 1. Inspection: observe the patient’s complexion, tongue coating, pulse, etc. Flushing complexion, yellow and greasy tongue coating, and thready and rapid pulse are common manifestations in diabetic patients. 2. Smell and examine: listen to the patient’s voice, breathing, etc. Diabetic patients may have hoarseness, shortness of breath and other symptoms. 3. Inquiry: Inquire about the patient’s symptoms, medical history, diet, living habits, etc. To understand whether patients have symptoms of diabetes such as polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, emaciation, and whether they have family history, bad living habits, etc. 4. Palpation: judge the pulse condition by touching the patient’s pulse. The common pulse of diabetic patients is thready, rapid, wiry and slippery.
3. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of diabetes 1. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment (1) Syndrome differentiation and treatment: according to the symptoms, signs, tongue coating, pulse condition of patients, and then use the corresponding traditional Chinese medicine prescription for treatment. The common syndrome types are lung heat and body fluid impairment type, stomach heat excess type, kidney yin deficiency type, yin and Yang deficiency type and so on. -Lung heat and body fluid impairment type: manifested by thirst and polydipsia, dry mouth and tongue, frequent urination, etc. The treatment should clear heat and moisten the lung, promote the production of body fluid and quench thirst, and the commonly used prescription is Xiaoke Fang. -Stomach heat type: It is characterized by polyphagia, easy hunger, thirst, excessive urination, emaciation, etc. The treatment should be clearing stomach and purging fire, nourishing yin and increasing fluid, and the commonly used prescription is modified Jade Lady Decoction. -Deficiency of kidney-yin type: It is characterized by frequent and excessive urination, turbidity such as grease, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, dizziness and tinnitus. The treatment should nourish yin and tonify the kidney, moisten dryness and quench thirst, and the commonly used prescription is modified Liuwei Dihuang Pill. -Deficiency of both yin and Yang: It is characterized by frequent urination, turbid urine like ointment, dark complexion, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, aversion to cold and cold limbs. The treatment should be nourishing yin and warming Yang, tonifying the kidney and arresting astringency, and the commonly used prescription is Jinkui Shenqi Pill. (2) Single prescription: Some single prescriptions also have certain curative effect in the treatment of diabetes. For example, corn silk, balsam pear, yam and so on have a certain hypoglycemic effect. 2. Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment can regulate the functions of Qi, blood and viscera, and has a certain therapeutic effect on diabetes. Commonly used points are Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Taixi, Yishu and so on. By needling these points, we can regulate the endocrine system of the human body, promote the secretion of insulin and reduce blood sugar. 3. Dietary conditioning Chinese medicine emphasizes the importance of dietary conditioning in the treatment of diabetes. Diabetic patients should follow the dietary principles of low sugar, low fat and high fiber, control the amount of food and avoid overeating. At the same time, you can choose your own food according to the syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine. For example, patients with lung heat and body fluid impairment can eat more foods that can clear heat and moisten the lung, such as pears, lilies, tremella, etc.; patients with excessive stomach heat can eat more foods that can clear stomach and purge fire, such as balsam pear, cucumber, tomato, etc.; patients with kidney yin deficiency can eat more foods that can nourish yin and tonify the kidney, such as yam, wolfberry, black sesame, etc. 4. Exercise therapy Proper exercise can enhance physical fitness, regulate the circulation of Qi and blood, and has a certain therapeutic effect on diabetes. Diabetic patients should choose suitable exercise methods according to their physical condition, such as walking, jogging, Tai Chi, etc. Exercise intensity should be moderate to avoid overwork.
4. Advantages of TCM treatment of diabetes mellitus 1. Holistic concept: TCM treatment of diabetes mellitus pays attention to the holistic concept, starting from the patient’s general condition, considering the etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms and other factors, and carries out syndrome differentiation and treatment. It can not only control blood sugar, but also improve the overall health of patients. 2. Small side effects: Most of the traditional Chinese medicines come from natural plants, and the side effects are relatively small. Acupuncture, diet, exercise therapy and other treatment methods have no obvious side effects. 3. Individualized treatment: Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of diabetes emphasizes individualized treatment, according to the different constitutions, conditions and symptoms of patients, and formulates individualized treatment programs. 4. Prevention of complications: Traditional Chinese medicine can prevent and treat complications of diabetes while treating diabetes. By regulating the functions of Qi, blood and viscera, it can enhance physical fitness, improve immunity and prevent complications.
Through the introduction of this article, we have a deep understanding of the TCM diagnosis and treatment methods and concepts of diabetes. Traditional Chinese medicine, with its unique theoretical system, provides a rich choice for the treatment of diabetes. From treatment based on syndrome differentiation to holistic conditioning, from traditional Chinese medicine conditioning to acupuncture, massage and other characteristic therapies, traditional Chinese medicine plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of diabetes. However, the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine is not achieved overnight, it requires the joint efforts of patients, doctors and society. Patients need to maintain good living habits, reasonable diet, moderate exercise and emotional regulation to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang in the body. Doctors need to formulate individualized treatment plans according to the specific conditions of patients, and flexibly use various treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine to achieve the best therapeutic effect. At the same time, we should also realize that Chinese medicine and Western medicine are not antagonistic, but complementary. In the process of treating diabetes, we can combine the treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, give full play to their respective advantages, and provide more comprehensive and effective treatment programs for patients. In a word, TCM diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus provides us with a new perspective and way of treatment. Through in-depth understanding and practice of TCM diagnosis and treatment methods, we can better control the development of diabetes and improve the quality of life. Let’s work together to explore the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine and protect our health.
