TCM Perspective: Indigestion

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In TCM, our digestive system transforms food into Qi and Blood, which are the most important substances necessary for life. Thus, maintaining good digestion is the basis for good health.

Our digestive system includes the functions of the Stomach, Spleen, Large Intestine and Small Intestine.

The Stomach is the main receiver of the food we consume. It is in charge of receiving and breaking down food and liquids for further absorption. If this function is disturbed, disharmonies such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting may occur.

The Spleen is the key organ of digestion in TCM. It transforms the nutritive essence from food and liquids in the Stomach into Qi, Blood and body fluids. The Spleen is also responsible for water metabolism. When the Spleen is in disharmony, symptoms like abdominal distention, poor appetite, loose stools or edema may follow.

The Small Intestine receives food from the Stomach to carry out the further absorption of essential nutrients needed by the body. Disharmony in the Small Intestine may give rise to urinary or bowel disorders.

The Large Intestine receives residual materials sent down from the Small Intestine, absorbs the remaining nutrients and essential fluids, then excretes the waste in the form of faeces. Dysfunction of the Large Intestine may result in abdominal pain, loose stools or constipation.

The Bladder stores and excretes urine. Common urinary problems may be manifested as incontinence or difficulty in urination, with a burning or painful sensation.

Digestive Disorder

Lifestyle, stress and dietary factors can put a strain on our digestive system. TCM provides satisfactory relief for digestive disorders through herbal medication, acupuncture and other treatment methods.

Here are some common digestive disorders and their related treatments from the TCM perspective:

(A) Indigestion
Indigestion is a condition caused by food stagnation. Overeating, eating too fast, or having a weak digestive system may also contribute to indigestion. Common symptoms of indigestion include fullness, bloating or aching in the upper, middle or lower abdomen, hiccups, a poor appetite, or breaking wind accompanied with strong and undesirable smells and bad breath.

In TCM, the treatment principles work by nourishing the entire digestive system to improve our digestive functions, as well as inducing bowel movements to remove stagnant food.

Common Chinese herbs used to relieve digestive problems are Hawthorn Berry (Shanzha, 山楂), Barley Sprout (Maiya, 麦芽), Rice Sprout (Guya, 谷芽), Chicken Gizzard Lining (Jineijin, 鸡内金), Unripe Bitter Orange (Zhishi, 枳实), Tangerine Peel (Chenpi, 陈皮) and Areca Seed (Binglang, 槟榔).

Acupuncture, massage, herbal medicines and dietary changes can help to relieve digestive problems too.

(B) Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder which may manifest itself differently from person to person. Some of the common symptoms of IBS are abdominal bloating, cramping or pain, flatulence, diarrhoea and/or constipation. Common symptoms of indigestion include fullness, bloating or aching in the upper, middle or lower abdomen, hiccups, a poor appetite, or breaking wind accompanied with strong and undesirable smells and bad breath.

IBS can result from eating too much greasy or spicy food, or from emotional factors such as depression, excessive anxiety and insomnia. These emotional factors may be triggered or aggravated by stress.

For symptoms of IBS, TCM prescriptions use herbs such as White Atractylodes (Baizhu, 白术), Tangerine Peel (Chenpi, 陈皮), Poria (Fuling, 茯苓), Siler Root (Fangfeng, 防风), White Peony Root (Baishao, 白芍), Licorice Root (Gancao, 甘草), Chinese Yam (Huaishan, 淮山) and Dried Ginger (Ganjiang, 干姜).

Acupuncture helps by alleviating the pain, regulating bowel movements and preventing abdominal pains or cramps associated with this condition. It also regulates the gastrointestinal functions, which may in turn manage the root of the problem.

(C) Heartburn
Heartburn is a condition where our Stomach acid rises up to the oesophagus. It is also known as acid reflux or acid regurgitation. The acid may cause a burning pain in the chest or throat, and leave a sour taste in the mouth. In TCM, heartburn is regarded as a manifestation of disharmonies in the Stomach and Liver’s functions. The basic treatment principle is to restore balance to optimise the functions of the Liver and Stomach.

Common herbs used to relieve heartburn symptoms are Processed Pinellia (Zhibanxia, 制半夏), Chinese Dates (Dazao, 大枣), Licorice Root (Gancao, 甘草), White Poeny Root (Baishao, 白芍), White Atractylodes (Baizhu, 白术), Peppermint (Bohe, 薄荷), Hare’s Ear Root (Chaihu, 柴胡), Chinese Angelica (Danggui, 当归), Poria (Fuling, 茯苓) and Fresh Ginger (Shengjiang, 生姜).

Ban Xia Xie Xin Wan (半夏瀉心丸) and Xiao Yao Wan (逍遥丸) are two classic formulae commonly used to reduce acid reflux and relieve heartburn symptoms.

Get The Right Treatment

A TCM Physician’s Guide to Understanding Your Tongue

Beyond simply tasting food, your tongue is actually a roadmap to your health, revealing critical insights into your body’s internal balance, energy flow, and overall well-being.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we closely observe the tongue’s colour, shape, texture, and coating to uncover signs of imbalances. It’s an essential diagnostic tool that helps us determine what’s really going on inside your body. Curious about what your tongue is trying to tell you? Let’s dive into the most common tongue signs and their significance, TCM style!

1. Normal Tongue: Balanced

Tongue Appearance: Light pink, moist, with a thin white coating.

What it means:
A normal tongue means your body is well-balanced, your energy, or 'Qi', is flowing smoothly, and your digestive system is working just right. Keep up the good habits, because your body is thanking you for it.

Health tip: Continue to eat balanced meals, stay hydrated, and manage stress. You’re doing fantastic!

2. ‘Qi’ Deficient: Feeling Drained?

Tongue Appearance: Pale, with teeth marks on the sides.

What it means:
If your tongue is looking a bit pale with teeth marks along the sides, your 'Qi' might be running low. This often happens when you’re overworked, tired, or feeling mentally drained. You might also feel weak, short of breath, or easily fatigued.

Health Tip: Focus on nourishing your 'Qi' by eating whole grains, lean proteins, and fresh veggies. Also, take breaks and get enough sleep to recharge your energy levels.

3. Heaty Tongue: Too Much Fire in the System?

Tongue Appearance: Red and dry with yellow coating.

What it means:
A red, dry tongue is a classic sign that your body’s dealing with too much heat. Maybe you’ve been indulging in too many spicy foods, or perhaps stress and inflammation are building up. Feeling irritable, sweaty, or thirsty? Your tongue is asking for a cool-down!

Health Tip: To cool things down, incorporate cooling foods like cucumber, pear, and chrysanthemum tea into your diet.

4. Damp Retention: Feeling Bloated or Sluggish?

Tongue Appearance: Big and fat with a greasy coating, with teeth marks on the sides.

What it means:
If your tongue looks swollen and has a thick, greasy coating, it’s a sign of dampness in your body. This usually happens when you feel heavy, bloated, and sluggish—like you’re carrying around too much extra moisture. You might also feel lethargic and experience digestive issues like bloating or phlegm.

Health Tip: Reduce dampness by avoiding greasy, oily, or overly sweet foods. Incorporate foods that expel dampness, such as barley. Light exercise can also help get things moving.

5. Blood Deficient: Poor Nourishment?

Tongue Appearance: Pale, thin and dry.

What it means:
A pale and dry tongue is a telltale sign of blood deficiency. This can make you feel tired, dizzy, or even a bit anxious. Women may notice this around their menstrual cycle, or it might show up after illness or lack of nourishment.

Health Tip: Boost your blood with nutrient-rich foods like spinach, red meat, and dates. Blood-nourishing herbs such as Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) can also be beneficial under a physician’s guidance. Make sure you’re getting enough rest, too!

6. Blood Stasis: Feeling Stuck?

Tongue Appearance: Dark purple with spots or patches.

What it means:
If your tongue has a purplish hue with spots or patches, it’s likely a sign of blood stasis, meaning your circulation isn’t running smoothly. This can happen when you’re stressed, not getting enough exercise, or dealing with long-term issues like pain or emotional distress.

Health Tip: Get moving! Regular exercise and stress-relieving activities like yoga or meditation can help unblock the stagnation. Consult our TCM physician for herbs like Chuan Xiong (Szechuan lovage), known for its blood-moving properties.

7. ‘Yang’ Deficient: Feeling Cold?

Tongue Appearance: Pale and swollen with a wet surface.

What it means:
If your tongue is pale and looks a bit puffy or swollen, especially with a wet coating, it’s a sign of 'Yang' deficiency. Your body may not have enough warming energy to keep things moving, leading to cold hands, feet, and general fatigue.

Health Tip: Warm yourself up with food like mutton, ginger, and cinnamon. Make time for restorative practices like ‘Tai Chi’ or ‘Qi Gong’ to recharge your 'Yang' energy.

8. ‘Yin’ Deficient: Running on Empty?

Tongue Appearance: Red with cracks.

What it means:
A red tongue with cracks is a sign that your body’s cooling 'Yin' energy is running low. This can result in symptoms like dry mouth, hot flushes, night sweats, easily irritable and restlessness.

Health Tip: Nourish your 'Yin' with foods like pears, tofu, and sesame seeds. Keeping hydrated and finding time to rest is essential to help balance out the heat.

Look After Your Tongue, Look After Yourself!

Your tongue can tell you so much about your health! If you notice any of these signs, take it as your body’s gentle reminder to give it some love and care. By making small changes to your diet, lifestyle, and stress management, you can help your body get back into balance.

And remember, if you’re unsure about what your tongue is telling you, it’s always a good idea to consult a TCM physician who can guide you through the healing process and tailor the best advice for your unique body.

After all, your tongue may be small, but it speaks volumes about your health!

Covid-19 in TCM’s Point of View

Over the past thousands of years of Chinese history, TCM has battled against hundreds of plagues that led to the accumulation of effective treatments and prevention methods to alleviate the symptoms experienced. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as we experience today, is also classified as a “plague”.

Unlike a common flu that is caused by common pathogenic factors (e.g. wind, cold, heat, humidity, dryness and fire), plague is often associated with dampness and toxin pathogens. Currently, the clinical observations in China have shown that COVID-19 is commonly caused by the interactions of dampness, toxin, heat, and stasis, of which dampness being the most dominate pathogenic factor.

For mild to moderate stages of COVID-19, the common symptoms observed are low fever, tiredness, dry cough, muscle ache, nausea or diarrhea. The common syndrome is “lung with dampness toxin retention” and hence the TCM treatment principle is to eliminate exterior pathogens, heat and dampness, detoxify and invigorate the spleen.

Why do some people have it worst then? This is because COVID-19 is a disease that presents itself in different stages. For the critical stages, the toxin further attacks the lung and heart, at worst blocking the vital organ’s function and resulting in the collapse of yang qi in the body. This results in high fever, shortness of breath, unconsciousness, multiple functional failure and shock. The treatment principle at this critical stage aims to ventilate lung qi, remove heat to restore consciousness and to recuperate the yang qi.

Here are some tips to help with your recovery from Covid-19.
Do:
consume smaller meal portions at the beginning and slowly increase portion as your appetite returns.
Start off with food that are easy to digest, for example diluted porridge.

Incorporate other nutritious food as you regain appetite, such as thicker porridge, fish meat and chicken soup.

_{Tips: To remove excess dampness and strengthen your spleen, you can boil lotus leaves in water first and use this water to later cook your porridge. You can also add Chinese barley (薏苡仁), Chinese yam (山药), lotus seed (莲子), tangerine peel (陈皮) and Qian Shi (芡实) into your diet too.}

Don’t:
over-consume cold and raw food such as fruits and salads, spicy and oily food as it will trap dampness and further burden your spleen and stomach.

_{Sources: https://cmjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13020-020-00375-1}

Eu Yan Sang's Pain Management

The most common types of pain we encounter in our clinics frequently occur in the neck, shoulders, knees, and wrists. These areas are often problematic due to poor posture while standing, sitting, or carrying heavy objects. In recent years, the widespread use of mobile devices and gaming addiction have contributed to neck stiffness. Alarmingly, our youngest patient experiencing such issues was only eight years old.

How Pain Arises

Pain typically arises due to two primary causes:

Pain Caused by Obstruction: Blockages in the flow of ‘Qi’ or blood.
Pain Caused by Weakness: Weakness in ‘Qi’, blood, liver, or kidney functions.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pain can affect every area and organ of the body. TCM excels at managing nerve-related pain through techniques such as acupuncture, scraping, tuina, and cupping. These methods often produce highly positive results. However, for conditions like severe inflammation or bone spurs, patients may benefit from seeking treatment through Western medicine.

Treatment Options in TCM

Several TCM therapies effectively manage pain, including:

There are several ways that TCM can help manage pain, such as cupping, acupuncture, tuina, electromagnetic therapy.

Acupuncture: Involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote healing.
Cupping: Targets deeper pain and promotes blood flow.
Electromagnetic Therapy: Offers cutting-edge pain relief and enhanced healing by harnessing the power of electromagnetic fields.
Tuina (Therapeutic Massage): Relieves muscle tension and enhances circulation.
Scraping (Gua Sha): Ideal for less severe pain and helps release toxins.
Herbal Medication: Highly concentrated herbal powders customised to individual needs.

Benefits of Acupuncture

Acupuncture offers numerous benefits and is highly effective for addressing various ailments. It can:

Increase Circulation: Targets key points to enhance blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs, reducing stagnation.
Restore Balance: Unblocks meridians to ensure smooth energy flow, aligning with TCM’s principles of balancing ‘Qi’.
Alleviate Pain: Provides targeted relief for conditions such as migraines, muscle tension, and chronic discomfort.

World Health Organization (WHO) Endorsement

In 2003, the World Health Organization recognized acupuncture as an effective treatment for 28 diseases, symptoms, and conditions, while identifying 64 indications where it could be beneficial. These include:

Headaches
Neck pain
Knee pain
Low back pain
Sprains
Sciatica
Rheumatoid arthritis
Tennis elbow

Make an appointment now to relief your pain

Lifestyle Adjustments for Pain Management

While undergoing TCM treatments, patients are encouraged to adopt the following lifestyle changes to maximise recovery and prevent recurrence:

Stay Physically Active: Exercise helps loosen the muscles around the affected area, reducing the risk of pain returning.
Diet changes according to individual Body Constitution or consider consume Pain-Relieving Foods:
- Ginger, Indian Curry, Chili Padi: Contains turmeric, which eases pain and inflammation. For menstrual pain, ginger tea with brown sugar is highly recommended.
- Omega-3: Found in deep-sea fish, it combats inflammation, rheumatism, arthritis, and migraines.
- Coffee: Disrupts pain receptor functions, offering temporary relief. Best for those who do not consume coffee regularly.
- Berries and Cherries: Strawberries, cherries, and blackberries rival the effects of aspirin, boost immunity, and soothe inflammation.

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