Protein-deficiency edema 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.
Protein-deficiency edema 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 protein-deficiency edema 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 protein-deficiency edema is often associated with labored breathing in the pattern “Oedema”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of protein-deficiency edema we’ve identified five 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 protein-deficiency edema.
Oedema, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause protein-deficiency edema
In Chinese Medicine protein-deficiency edema is a symptom for the pattern "Oedema". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Oedema
Oedema
Pulse type(s): Hidden (Fu), Slowed-down (Huan)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Oedema manifests itself as swellings due to the retention of Body Fluids. Chinese Medicine believes that it originates from the leaking of Body Fluids from their normal pathways into the space between skin and muscles.
In addition to protein-deficiency edema, other symptoms associated with Oedema include labored breathing.
Oedema is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
Five herbal formulas that might help with protein-deficiency edema
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which protein-deficiency edema is a symptom.
Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Diuretic, clears Excess fluid and removes edema. Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Calms External Wind.
Why might Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which protein-deficiency edema is a symptom.
Ping Wei San
Source date: 1051 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Dries Dampness. Improves the Spleen's transportive function. Promotes the movement of Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Ping Wei San help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which protein-deficiency edema is a symptom.
Wu Pi Yin
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Reduces edema, diuretic. Regulates and strengthens Spleen Qi.
Why might Wu Pi Yin help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which protein-deficiency edema is a symptom.
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms and transforms Phlegm-Fluids. Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
Why might Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which protein-deficiency edema is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat protein-deficiency edema
Why might Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Ling San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Oedema' (a pattern with protein-deficiency edema as a symptom)
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Ling San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Oedema' (a pattern with protein-deficiency edema as a symptom)
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 Polyporus (Zhu Ling) help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Ling San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Oedema' (a pattern with protein-deficiency edema as a symptom)
Polyporus is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Drains Dampness and encourages urination
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Ling San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Oedema' (a pattern with protein-deficiency edema as a symptom)
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with protein-deficiency edema?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Ling San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Oedema' (a pattern with protein-deficiency edema as a symptom)
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.