Acute hepatitis according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
In Chinese Medicine, acute hepatitis is sometimes associated with Toxic Heat, a so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease" because both concepts arise from totally different ways of seeing the human body.
To understand whether someone's acute hepatitis might be caused by the pattern Toxic Heat, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from acute hepatitis alone. Indeed if acute hepatitis is caused by Toxic Heat, patients also experience symptoms such as boils, carbuncles, erythema and swellings. Similarly, patients with Toxic Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.
We've listed below a more detailed description of Toxic Heat so that you can have a better understanding of where acute hepatitis might find its root according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below three formulas that can help treat Toxic Heat.
Toxic Heat, a "pattern of disharmony" associated with acute hepatitis
Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) is the key herb for Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin, a formula used for Toxic Heat
Toxic Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Recommended herbal formula: Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin
Symptoms: Boils Sores Erythema Swellings Carbuncles
Acute hepatitis might be due to Toxic Heat if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as boils, carbuncles, erythema and swellings. Similarly, patients with Toxic Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.
The three herbal formulas that might help with acute hepatitis
Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin
Source date: 1742 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity. Cools the Blood. Reduces swelling.
Why might Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin help with acute hepatitis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Toxic Heat, a pattern sometimes associated with acute hepatitis. If it looks like you might suffer from Toxic Heat, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Why might Huang Lian Jie Du Tang help with acute hepatitis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with acute hepatitis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Huang Lian Jiao Du Tang
Why might Huang Lian Jiao Du Tang help with acute hepatitis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with acute hepatitis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
