When you’ve got 99 problems, let’s make sure your poop isn’t one

Emily Chau

Chronic irregular bowel movements can be irksome and distressing especially when all conventional recommendations have been followed. This is one area that Western medicine is lacking behind Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM has long understood that bowel movements can be used to analyse imbalances in the body. Two particularly difficult to explain conditions in Western medicine which are better explained and managed with Traditional Chinese medicine are daybreak diarrhea and constipation due to sluggish bowels.

Daybreak diarrhea

Also known as Cock’s Crow diarrhea because this type of diarrhea occurs in the morning, most cases between 5am and 7am. This type of diarrhea may even cause people to wake up early with the urgent need to defecate. The stools tend to be loose or watery and may have undigested food. There tends to be abdominal pain or coldness which feels better with pressure or warmth. After defecation the person may feel exhausted.

Daybreak diarrhea is associated with the pattern diagnosis of Kidney and Spleen Yang deficiency. In this pattern, there is not enough Yang or heat to process food and fluids. There is also insufficient energy to regulate and control the anus allowing the unprocessed material to pass prematurely.

Sluggish Bowels

Another bowel movement disturbance which Chinese medicine is particularly good at may help with is constipation due to sluggish bowels. This condition tends to be more chronic so people who have this may have tried increasing their fiber intake and regularly exercise but still do not have regular bowel movements. The stools are usually moist and large (as opposed to dry and pebble-like). The person might rarely feel the urge to defecate but when they do defecate, they feel tired after the bowel movements. Additionally, the person may have cold limbs or tend to feel cold and when they have abdominal pain, it usually feels better with warmth or pressure.

In TCM, constipation with these symptoms are caused by Qi deficiency or Yang and Qi deficiency. The digestive system does not have enough Qi or energy to move the ingested food through the intestines. Things can also be slowed down by not having enough Yang (heat) in the body, essentially allowing the intestines to “freeze” or slow down peristalsis.

After looking at the symptoms by a TCM practitioner and the correct pattern diagnosis is identified, acupuncture and herbs can may help with both these conditions. Additional dietary and lifestyle modifications may be recommended to correct imbalances to regulate bowel movements. At Naturopathicliving medical solutions we work with our clients to provide holistic care.

Reference:

MacLean, Will, and Jane Lyttleton. Clinical Handbook of Internal Medicine: The Care of Disease with Traditional Chinese Medicine: Vol 2: Spleen and Stomach. University of Western Sydney, 2002.