Stomach flu 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.

Stomach flu factsheet

Possible causes and remedies:

Summer Heat

Symptoms: Fever Thirst Sweating and four other symptoms

Recommended formula: Liu Yi San

Damp-Heat in the Bladder

Symptoms: Painful urinary dribbling Stony painful urinary dribbling

Recommended formula: Liu Yi San

In Chinese Medicine, stomach flu 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 stomach flu can be caused by two different patterns.

To understand whether someone's stomach flu 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 stomach flu alone. For instance when stomach flu is caused by the pattern Summer Heat, patients also experience symptoms such as fever, sweating, thirst and irritability. Similarly, patients with Summer Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or soggy (Ru) pulses as well as a tongue with yellow coating.

We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with stomach flu 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 five formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with stomach flu, depending on which pattern fits your profile.

The two "patterns of disharmony" associated with stomach flu

Talc (Hua Shi) is the key herb for Liu Yi San, a formula used for Summer Heat

Summer Heat

Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Soggy (Ru)

Tongue coating: Yellow coating

Recommended herbal formula: Liu Yi San

Symptoms: Fever Thirst Sweating Diarrhea Vomiting Irritability Urinary difficulty

Stomach flu might be due to Summer Heat if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as fever, sweating, thirst and irritability. Similarly, patients with Summer Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or soggy (Ru) pulses as well as a tongue with yellow coating.

Damp-Heat in the Bladder

Recommended herbal formula: Liu Yi San

Symptoms: Painful urinary dribbling Stony painful urinary dribbling

Stomach flu might be due to Damp-Heat in the Bladder if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as painful urinary dribbling and stony painful urinary dribbling.

The five herbal formulas that might help with stomach flu

The top herbs in Liu Yi San are Talc (Hua Shi) and Liquorice (Gan Cao)

Liu Yi San

Source date: 1172 AD

Number of ingredients: 2 herbs

Key actions: Clears Summer-Heat. Drains Dampness. Supplements Qi.

Why might Liu Yi San help with stomach flu?

Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Summer Heat and Damp-Heat in the Bladder which are sometimes associated with stomach flu. 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).

Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San

Source date: 1107 AD

Number of ingredients: 11 herbs

Key actions: Releases the Exterior. Transforms Dampness. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Middle Burner.

Why might Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San help with stomach flu?

Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with stomach flu. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).