Poor digestion 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.
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Poor digestion can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like poor digestion here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here poor digestion is often associated with poor appetite, fatigue and loose stools in the pattern “Spleen Qi Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of poor digestion we’ve identified three herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat poor digestion.
Spleen Qi Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause poor digestion
In Chinese Medicine poor digestion is a symptom for the pattern "Spleen Qi Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Tongue color: Pale
Spleen Qi Deficiency is one of the most commonly seen TCM pattern. It is caused by unhealthy diet such as fat raw or cold food, bad eating habit, emotional stress or damp environment. It is the central pattern to all other Spleen disharmonies, because many other Deficiency patterns derive from it.
In addition to poor digestion, other symptoms associated with Spleen Qi Deficiency include poor appetite, fatigue and loose stools.
Spleen Qi Deficiency is often treated with Si Jun Zi Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Si Jun Zi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Qi".
Three herbal formulas that might help with poor digestion
Si Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Si Jun Zi Tang help with poor digestion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Qi Deficiency' of which poor digestion is a symptom.
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. Clears Phlegm and mucus. Promotes appetite.
Why might Liu Jun Zi Tang help with poor digestion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Qi Deficiency' of which poor digestion is a symptom.
Fei Er Wan
Source date: 1156 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Kills parasites. Reduces accumulation. Strengthens the Spleen. Clears Heat.
Why might Fei Er Wan help with poor digestion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Qi Deficiency' of which poor digestion is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for poor digestion
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat poor digestion
Why might Quisqualis Fruit (Shi Jun Zi) help with poor digestion?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat poor digestion and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat poor digestion as a symptom (such as Fei Er Wan for instance).
Quisqualis Fruits is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Kills parasites. Improves children's digestion
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with poor digestion?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat poor digestion as a symptom, like Si Jun Zi Tang or Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with poor digestion?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat poor digestion as a symptom, like Si Jun Zi Tang or Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with poor digestion?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat poor digestion as a symptom, like Si Jun Zi Tang or Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with poor digestion?
Because Ginseng is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat poor digestion as a symptom, like Si Jun Zi Tang or Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit).
Other symptoms often associated with poor digestion
Poor appetite Parasites Roundworm Childhood malnutrition Abdominal pain Fatigue Loose stools Pale face Weak Limbs Lassitude