Syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Published: 06/29/2010 - Updated: 01/04/2014

One of the main characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine is the differentiation of syndromes, which depends on the characteristics of the problem and although we are talking of the same disease, the principle of treatment is different in all cases.

One of the jewels that different Chinese doctors throughout history have left us is undoubtedly the work and application of herbal medicine and the various modifications to adapt to the transformation of the evolutions of the different pathologies.

The formulation si jun zi tang is a good example in which we can view by adding or removing certain materials, we can adapt to their different manifestations. Its formula translation "noble decoction of four ingredients” makes us understand the property of this formulation.

This consists of:

  • Panax ginseng (ren shen) 10 gr.
  • Poria cocos (fu ling) 9 gr.
  • Atractylodes macrocephala (bai zhu) 9 gr.
  • Glyzyrrhiza uralensis (gancao) 6 gr.

Panax ginseng: a central nervous system stimulant, thus better to control fatigue. Improves physical and mental performance, without manifesting excessive fatigue, lowers blood cholesterol levels. Lowers blood glucose levels, stimulates sexual functions. Stimulates hormones in the sex glands, increassd sexual function in both sexes, increases appetite, aids digestion, absorption and metabolism of nutrients, reduces and even eliminates anaphylactic reactions, in certain cases, causes an increase retention of Na +, which decreases the excretion of urine and therefore decreases urine production, stimulates production of red cells and stimulates the production of immunoglobulin, the synthesis of proteins that lead to increased appetite and decreases blood cholesterol.

Poria cocos: calms shen and the heart, strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. Stimulates diuresis, inhibits the reabsorption of electrolytes Na, K, and Cl of the renal tubules. Tones the Stomach. Harmonizes the Middle Jiao operation. Disperses the moisture, and regulates water metabolism. Reduces inflammation by strengthening the Spleen and Stomach and regulating their functions. Eliminates phlegm.

Atractylodes macrocephala: Invigorates Qi. Invigorate the spleen. Harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach functions. Disperses moisture through diuresis and would enhance the reabsorption of moisture through the regulation of the functioning of the Spleen and Stomach, which may be distributed and transported.. Strengthens surface defense system by toning the Spleen and Stomach Qi, finally controlling sweating. Controls diarrhea due to a deficiency of Qi of the Middle Jiao.

Glyzyrrhiza uralensis: Used in the syndrome of insufficiency of Spleen and Stomach. Digestive disorders, with an attack of cold. Hyposecretion gastric, gastro-duodenal ulcer, Qi deficiency syndrome, which may manifest as diarrhea at morning, Yang deficiency syndrome, palpitations, muscle weakness, due to Qi deficiency syndrome, dryness, lack of hydration because a Stomach distress syndrome, dry throat, goiter, anthrax, accumulation of toxins in Superior Jiao, due to an insufficiency syndrome Lung and Spleen and Stomach, which causes the liquid is not distributed, stored and transformed into pathogens, cough, asthma, due to dry lung.

As we can see, you could say these are very precious (noble) to invigorate the middle jiao, which means that invigorating spleen and stomach, we increase the supply of nutrient uptake and improve the general course of all functions throughout the body, and helps us if we have a lack of qi of the spleen and stomach with symptoms like abdominal distension accentuated after eating, fatigue and tiredness in the limbs, weak and shallow breathing, reluctance to speak, face white or yellow , swollen body or thin, clear tongue, and weak pulse and / or braking.

Symptoms and Cases

However, based of this formulation and depending on the symptoms, you can add other materials to fit the case we have at the moment.

For example, a case in which there is pathological abdominal mass, poor appetite, loose stools, diarrhea, overuse of fatty foods, plenty of phlegm, fatigue, shortness of breath, weak voice while speaking, the crisis is usually related to the eating disorder. Thin tongue coating and slippery granular or white, pale tongue and thready and rapid pulse. We see that apart from lack of qi of spleen stomach, there is TAN, and materials should be added so as to eliminate the white Citrus reticulata (maturus fructus), Pinella ternata, saussurrea lappa, and Zingiber officinalis AMOMUM villosum (recens), in this case, the formula would be called LIU JUN ZI TANG.

In the event that the patient has abdominal distension and pain, clear liquid stools, fatigue and heaviness throughout the body and swollen, cold extremities, clear vaginal discharge, has a preference for heat, the tongue is clear, hypertrophic, white fur and slippery and the pulse is sunken and slow. In this case, we have a failure of spleen yang, therefore we should add materials that heat up and increase the yang as Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum cassia.

In the event that the patient has dizziness, vertigo, weak and shallow breathing, not wanting to talk, asthenia, sweating, pale yellow or pale complexion, palpitations, insomnia, pale tongue with smooth texture, pulse thready, weak and collapsed. In this case we are talking about a simultaneous failure of qi and blood and the representative formula is gui pi tang, which is formed by si jun zi tang and dang gui bu xue tang.

As we have seen from these examples, other applications can be made aware of this formulation and others, and as always with the characteristic of the differentiation of syndromes.

Source: MTC College
www.mtc.es

About the author
  • FEMTC

    The European Foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine is an international institution created in 1989. As a private foundation, its main objectives are the promotion, dissemination, teaching, research and defense of the practice of Chinese medicine in Spain, Europe and the world, under the criteria of quality and scientific rigor. Linkedin profile. Twitter.