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.
Possible causes and remedies:
Symptoms: Belching Vomiting Acid reflux and five other symptoms
Recommended formula: Yue Ju Wan
Symptoms: Difficulty swallowing Stuffiness of chest and diaphragm Feeling of a lump in the throat which comes and goes
Recommended formula: Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang
In Chinese Medicine, globus hystericus can be associated with two 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", as a matter of fact here globus hystericus can be caused by two different patterns.
To understand whether someone's globus hystericus might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from globus hystericus alone. For instance when globus hystericus is caused by the pattern Qi Stagnation, patients also experience symptoms such as stifling sensation in the chest and abdomen, fixed pain in the hypochondria, belching and vomiting. Similarly, patients with Qi Stagnation typically exhibit wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a normal (light red) tongue with thin white coating.
We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with globus hystericus so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities 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 two formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with globus hystericus, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu) is the key herb for Yue Ju Wan, a formula used for Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Normal (light red)
Recommended herbal formula: Yue Ju Wan
Symptoms: Belching Vomiting Acid reflux Indigestion Poor appetite Fixed pain in the hypochondria Mild coughing with copious sputum Stifling sensation in the chest and abdomen
Globus hystericus might be due to Qi Stagnation if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as stifling sensation in the chest and abdomen, fixed pain in the hypochondria, belching and vomiting. Similarly, patients with Qi Stagnation typically exhibit wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a normal (light red) tongue with thin white coating.
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) is the key herb for Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang, a formula used for Qi-Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Recommended herbal formula: Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang
Symptoms: Difficulty swallowing Stuffiness of chest and diaphragm Feeling of a lump in the throat which comes and goes
Globus hystericus might be due to Qi-Phlegm if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, feeling of a lump in the throat which comes and goes and stuffiness of chest and diaphragm. Similarly, patients with Qi-Phlegm typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with thick white coating.
The top herbs in Yue Ju Wan are Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu), Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong) and Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu)
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes the movement of Qi. Releases all types of Stagnation (Qi, Blood, Phlegm, Fire, Food and Dampness).
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Qi Stagnation, a pattern sometimes associated with globus hystericus. If it looks like you might suffer from Qi Stagnation, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
The top herbs in Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang are Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia), Houpu Magnolia Bark (Hou Pu) and Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Regulates the flow of Qi, treats esophageal spasm. Clears Phlegm.
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Qi-Phlegm, a pattern sometimes associated with globus hystericus. If it looks like you might suffer from Qi-Phlegm, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).