Pancreatis 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.
Pancreatis factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Symptoms: Clump Phlegm Chest pain and seven other symptoms
Recommended formula: Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
Heat in Yang brightness Organs
Symptoms: Flatulence Focal distention Abdominal fullness and three other symptoms
Recommended formula: Da Cheng Qi Tang
In Chinese Medicine, pancreatis can be associated with four 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 pancreatis can be caused by four different patterns.
To understand whether someone's pancreatis 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 pancreatis alone. For instance when pancreatis is caused by the pattern Phlegm Heat in the Lungs, patients also experience symptoms such as constipation, bitter taste in the mouth, coughing of copious thick yellow sputum and chest pain. Similarly, patients with Phlegm Heat in the Lungs typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as a tongue with sticky coating, yellow coating.
We've listed below a description of the four patterns associated with pancreatis 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 seven formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with pancreatis, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The four "patterns of disharmony" associated with pancreatis
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm Heat in the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Yellow coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Recommended herbal formula: Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
Symptoms: Clump Phlegm Chest pain Constipation Epigastric pain Clumping in the chest Bitter taste in the mouth Epigastric focal distention Focal distention of the chest Coughing of copious thick yellow sputum
Pancreatis might be due to Phlegm Heat in the Lungs if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as constipation, bitter taste in the mouth, coughing of copious thick yellow sputum and chest pain. Similarly, patients with Phlegm Heat in the Lungs typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as a tongue with sticky coating, yellow coating.
Rhubarb (Da Huang) is the key herb for Da Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Heat in Yang brightness Organs
Heat in Yang brightness Organs
Pulse type(s): Full (Shi)
Tongue coating: Grey or black coating, Yellow coating
Recommended herbal formula: Da Cheng Qi Tang
Symptoms: Flatulence Focal distention Abdominal fullness Severe constipation Tense and firm abdomen Abdominal pain that increases upon pressure
Pancreatis might be due to Heat in Yang brightness Organs if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as severe constipation, flatulence, focal distention and abdominal fullness. Similarly, patients with Heat in Yang brightness Organs typically exhibit full (Shi) pulses as well as a tongue with grey or black coating, yellow coating.
Rhubarb (Da Huang) is the key herb for Da Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Yang Excess
Yang Excess
Recommended herbal formula: Da Cheng Qi Tang
Pancreatis might be due to Yang Excess if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as .
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Tight (Jin)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Normal (light red), Pale
Recommended herbal formula: Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Symptoms: Coughing Dizziness Headaches Depression Moving pain Listlessness Hypochondrium fullness
Pancreatis might be due to Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as coughing, hypochondrium fullness, dizziness and headaches. Similarly, patients with Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation typically exhibit empty (Xu) or tight (Jin) pulses as well as a normal (light red), pale tongue with thin white coating.
Read more about Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation here
The seven herbal formulas that might help with pancreatis
Da Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Purges Heat from the Stomach and Intestines. Relieves constipation.
Why might Da Cheng Qi Tang help with pancreatis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Heat in Yang brightness Organs and Yang Excess which are sometimes associated with pancreatis. If any of these patterns look like something you might suffer from, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Transforms Phlegm. Expands the chest. Dissipates clumps.
Why might Xiao Xian Xiong Tang help with pancreatis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Phlegm Heat in the Lungs, a pattern sometimes associated with pancreatis. If it looks like you might suffer from Phlegm Heat in the Lungs, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Treats the Lesser Yang Channels (Gallbladder and Triple Warmer). Regulates the Liver and Spleen functions. Addresses combined Yin-Yang symptoms of External and Internal, Excess and Deficiency, and Hot and Cold.
Why might Xiao Chai Hu Tang help with pancreatis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation, a pattern sometimes associated with pancreatis. If it looks like you might suffer from Lung Qi Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Si Ni San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Regulates Liver and Spleen. Eliminates Internal Heat.
Why might Si Ni San help with pancreatis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with pancreatis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Bao He Wan
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Reduces food stagnation. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Bao He Wan help with pancreatis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with pancreatis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
