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Acupuncture treatment for Diarrhoea

The acupuncture treatment to each patient is different between patient. It is a custom treatment. Th
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Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose or liquid bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin with loss of the normal stretchiness of the skin and irritable behaviour. This can progress to decreased urination, loss of skin color, a fast heart rate, and a decrease in responsiveness as it becomes more severe. Many people get diarrhea once or twice each year. It normally lasts 2 to 3 days, and you can treat it with over-the-counter medicines. Some people get it more often as part of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other conditions. Of all reported illnesses in the USA, diarrhea is the second most common. The average adult has diarrhea four times a year. American children typically have seven to 15 cases of diarrhea by the time they reach age five.1

 

CONTENTS


SYMPTOMS

CAUSES

TREATMENTS

 

SYMPTOMS


Other than loose or watery stool, the diarrhea also brings many other symptoms, including stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, and sometimes loss of appetite. Dehydration is also the symptom of diarrhea. Dehydration can be serious if not treated properly.2

 

CAUSES


The most common cause is an infection of the intestines due to either a virus, bacteria, or parasite; a condition known as gastroenteritis. These infections are often acquired from food or water that has been contaminated by stool, or directly from another person who is infected. It may be divided into three types: short duration watery diarrhea, short duration bloody diarrhea, and if it lasts for more than two weeks, persistent diarrhea. The short duration watery diarrhea may be due to an infection by cholera, although this is rare in the developed world. If blood is present it is also known as dysentery. A number of non-infectious causes may also result in diarrhea, including hyperthyroidism, lactose intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, a number of medications, and irritable bowel syndrome.3

 

TREATMENTS


Related Acupuncture Points:

CV-12, LI-11, LI-3, SP-3, ST-25

Acupuncture treats diarrhea by stimulating the following acupoints:
ST-36 – by targeting this point, the digestion function become stronger and harmonizes the abdomen.
ST-25 – by treating this point, the intestine function benefits. It also helps regulating qi flow in the lower abdomen.
CV-12 – The harmony between stomach and intestine can be regulated by treating this point.
In order to obtain the maximum effect, acupuncturists also combine acupuncture with another treatment such as herbal medicine and massage.4

In detail, traditional chinese medicine considers 5 types of diarrhea:

– Cold Diarrhea – exogenous cold w/direct strike on the intestines. Signs & Symptoms: Abdominal pain that improves with the application of heat, loose or watery stools, possibly w/undigested food, clear urine, no thirst. Tongue: Pale, white coat. Pulse: Slow, tight. Treatment acupoints: ST-36 to tonify ST/SP, CV-6 to tonify Qi, CV-12 – ST-Mu, ST-25 – LI-Mu, diarrhea, BL-25 – LI Shu. Xinnong (CAM) Point Selection: ST-25 – LI-Mu, diarrhea, ST-36 – to tonify ST/SP, CV-6 – to tonify Qi, CV-12 – ST-Mu.

– Hot (Damp-heat) Diarrhea – exogenous heat enters the middle jiao, possibly combining w/damp – possible in warmer climates/months with humidity. Signs & Symptoms: Abdominal pain w/urge to defecate, burning sensation in the anus, hot yellow stools w/foul odor, scanty dark urine, aversion to heat, thrist w/desire for cold drinks, irritability, fever possible. Tongue: Yellow coat, greasy (if damp). Pulse: Fast, slippery (if damp). Treatment acupoints: ST-25 – LI-Mu, ST-37 – w/ST-25 to clear heat/regulate intestines, LI-4 to clear heat in LI, ST-44 to clear heat, SP-9 to resolve dampness, BL-25 – LI-Shu. Point Selection: CV-12 – ST-Mu, BL-22 – TH Shu – transform body fluids, SP-6 – to resolve dampness, SP-9 – to resolve dampness, ST-25 – LI-Mu, regulate stools BL-25 – LI-Shu.5

– Damp Diarrhea – Can be acute or chronic, due to overexposure to a damp environment a/or excessive consumption of damp foods. Signs & Symptoms: Watery stools, abdominal distention, boborygmus, stuffy chest, no thirst, scanty urine, sallow complexion, lack of appetite, heaviness of the body. Tongue: Greasy, white coat or very wet. Pulse: Slippery, soft. Treatment acupoints: BL-20 – SP-Shu, CV-9 to resolve dampness, SP-9 to resolve dampness, ST-28 to damp heat in the lower warmer, esp. with urinary tract involvement. Point Selection: BL-12 to expel wind, BL-22 – TH-Shu, SP-6 to tonify SP, to transform damp, SP-9 to transform damp, CV-6 to tonify Qi, ST-25 – LI-Mu.

– SP Deficiency Diarrhea – Signs & Symptoms: Thin, watery stools w/undigested food, abdominal distention, lack of appetite, fatigue. Tongue: Pale, swollen w/teeth marks. Pulse: Empty, thin. Treatment Acupoints: ST-36 to tonify ST/SP, BL-25 – LI-Shu, ST-25 – LI-Mu, SP-3 to tonify SP, BL-20 – SP-Shu, LV-13 – SP-Mu, CV-12 – ST-Mu. Point Selection: ST-36 to tonify ST/SP, SP-3 to tonify SP, CV-12-ST-Mu, BL-20-SP-Shu, LV-13 – SP-Mu.6

– KD Deficiency Diarrhea – Signs & Symptoms: Very watery stool, diarhea at dawn, cold abdomen a/or lower extremeties, abdominal pain, low back pain. Tongue: Pale, puffy body, white coat. Pulse: Deep, empty, slow. Treatment acupoints: ST-36 to tonify ST/SP, BL-25 – LI-Shu, ST-25 – LI-Mu, GV-4 to tonify KD, CV-4 to tonify KD, BL-23 – KD-Shu, GV-20 – raise Yang, diarrhea.

– LV/SP Diarrhea – Signs & Symptoms: Sudden diarrhea, abdominal pain, borborygmus, undigested stools, urgency related to emotional states esp. anger, frustration, feeling stressed a/or overwhelmed. Tongue: Normal or slightly purplish. Pulse: Wiry. Treatment acupoints: ST-36 to tonify ST/SP, BL-25 – LI-Shu, ST-25 – LI-Mu, LV-3 to harmonize LV, GB-34 to harmonize LV/GB, BL-18 – LV-Shu, BL-20 – SP-Shu, SP-6 to tonify SP.7

Footnotes

  1. Diarrhea – wikipedia.org -2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diarrhea
  2. Diarrhoea – nhs.uk – 2017, http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diarrhoea/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
  3. Diarrhoea: Symptoms, treatment and prevention – webmd.boots.com – 2017, http://www.webmd.boots.com/digestive-disorders/diarrhoea
  4. Natural Treatments for Diarrhea – natural-treatments-for.com – 2017, http://www.natural-treatments-for.com/natural-treatments-for-diarrhea.html
  5. Natural Treatments for Diarrhea – natural-treatments-for.com – 2017, http://www.natural-treatments-for.com/natural-treatments-for-diarrhea.html
  6. Acupuncture for Diarrhea: Treatment Protocols – yinyanghouse.com – 2017, https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/treatments/acupuncture_for_diarrhea
  7. Acupuncture for Diarrhea: Treatment Protocols – yinyanghouse.com – 2017, https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/treatments/acupuncture_for_diarrhea