Hemorrhoids in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different hemorrhoids patterns according to TCM theory
Educational content • Consult qualified practitioners for medical advice
Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Hemorrhoids, commonly known as piles, are swollen veins in the lower part of the anus and rectum. When the walls of these vessels are stretched, they become irritated. Though hemorrhoids can be unpleasant and painful, they are easily treatable and very common. Various forms, including bleeding hemorrhoids, chronic hemorrhoids, and postpartum hemorrhoids, can manifest differently, ranging from mild discomfort to significant pain, impacting daily activities.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets hemorrhoids through the lens of imbalance and disharmony within the body's energy systems. Unlike the Western approach that typically focuses on the symptoms, TCM aims to identify and address the root cause of the condition.
It considers hemorrhoids as a manifestation of underlying issues such as Qi (energy) Copplapsing, Dampness accumulation, or Blood Stasis. TCM stresses the importance of diagnosing the specific pattern of disharmony to tailor the treatment effectively, thereby not just alleviating the symptoms but also rectifying the fundamental imbalance.
TCM Patterns for Hemorrhoids
Each pattern represents a distinct underlying imbalance that can cause hemorrhoids
Large Intestine collapse
Diagnostic signs
Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo), Fine (Xi)
The tongue is characteristically pale, soft, and puffy, often with scalloped edges from the teeth pressing into its swollen surface. The coating is white and slippery (wet-looking), reflecting internal Cold and Dampness from Yang deficiency. In more severe or prolonged cases, the tongue body may appear slightly dusky-pale. The overall appearance conveys a picture of depleted warmth and accumulated fluid that the body cannot transform.
Accompanying symptoms you may experience
Recommended herbal formulas
Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking
Diagnostic signs
Empty (Xu), Weak (Ruo)
The tongue is typically pale and may appear puffy or tender with teeth marks along the edges, reflecting underlying Spleen Qi weakness. The coating is thin and white, and the tongue body may appear slightly moist or wet. There is generally no redness, stasis spots, or other markings. In cases where Qi Sinking has been present for a long time and begins to affect Blood production, the tongue may appear even paler.
Accompanying symptoms you may experience
Recommended herbal formulas
Spleen Qi Sinking
Diagnostic signs
Weak (Ruo), Empty (Xu), Deep (Chen)
The tongue is typically pale, reflecting the underlying Qi deficiency and poor nourishment of tissues. It tends to be puffy and soft (tender) rather than firm, and teeth marks along the edges are common, indicating that weakened Spleen Qi cannot properly transform fluids, leading to slight swelling of the tongue body. The coating is usually thin and white, without signs of Heat or Dampness transformation in the base pattern. If the pattern is long-standing, the tongue may appear slightly shorter or less vigorous in its extension.
Accompanying symptoms you may experience
Recommended herbal formulas
Herbal Formulas for Hemorrhoids
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address hemorrhoids