Septicemia 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.
Septicemia factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Symptoms: Fever Delirious speech Black and tarry stools and three other symptoms
Recommended formula: Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation
Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Generalized body pain and one other symptom
Recommended formula: Da Qing Long Tang
In Chinese Medicine, septicemia can be associated with three 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 septicemia can be caused by three different patterns.
To understand whether someone's septicemia 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 septicemia alone. For instance when septicemia is caused by the pattern Heat in the Blood, patients also experience symptoms such as fever, black and tarry stools, abdominal distention and fullness and thirst with an inability to swallow. Similarly, patients with Heat in the Blood typically exhibit fine (Xi) or rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a bluish-purple tongue.
We've listed below a description of the three patterns associated with septicemia 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 eight formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with septicemia, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The three "patterns of disharmony" associated with septicemia
Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) is the key herb for Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a formula used for Heat in the Blood
Heat in the Blood
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
Recommended herbal formula: Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Symptoms: Fever Delirious speech Black and tarry stools Abdominal distention and fullness Thirst with an inability to swallow Frequent bleeding episodes in stools urine or vomit
Septicemia might be due to Heat in the Blood if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as fever, black and tarry stools, abdominal distention and fullness and thirst with an inability to swallow. Similarly, patients with Heat in the Blood typically exhibit fine (Xi) or rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a bluish-purple tongue.
Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the key herb for Da Qing Long Tang, a formula used for Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation
Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu), Tight (Jin)
Recommended herbal formula: Da Qing Long Tang
Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Generalized body pain Severe fever and chills without sweating
Septicemia might be due to Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as severe fever and chills without sweating, generalized body pain, thirst and irritability. Similarly, patients with Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation typically exhibit floating (Fu) or tight (Jin) pulses.
Read more about Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation here
Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the key herb for Da Qing Long Tang, a formula used for Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs
Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick white coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Recommended herbal formula: Da Qing Long Tang
Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Absence of sweating Feeling of heaviness Generalized body pain Alternating fever and chills Superficial edema in the extremities
Septicemia might be due to Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as feeling of heaviness, generalized body pain, superficial edema in the extremities and alternating fever and chills. Similarly, patients with Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs typically exhibit tight (Jin) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with sticky coating, thick white coating.
The eight herbal formulas that might help with septicemia
Da Qing Long Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Promotes sweating. Releases the Exterior. Clears Interior Heat.
Why might Da Qing Long Tang help with septicemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation and Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs which are sometimes associated with septicemia. 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).
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Why might Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang help with septicemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Heat in the Blood, a pattern sometimes associated with septicemia. If it looks like you might suffer from Heat in the Blood, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Qing Ying Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears the Nutritive level Heat. Relieves Fire Toxin. Removes Heat. Nourishes Yin.
Why might Qing Ying Tang help with septicemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with septicemia. If it looks like you might suffer from , 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 septicemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with septicemia. 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 septicemia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with septicemia. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
