Diarrhea, chronic

By: Joe Hing Kwok Chu      按此看中文

Diarrhea that lasts for more than 2 weeks is considered persistent or chronic.

Causes can be:

I.  infection:

• Parasites, such as: Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, microsporidia

• Bacteria, such as: Campylobacter, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella

• Viral infections, such as: HIV, rotavirus, Norwalk agent

• Yeast infections

II. not caused by an infection:

• Antibiotics

• High blood pressure medications

• Cancer drugs

• Crohn’s disease

• Colitis

• Diabetes, thyroid and other endocrine diseases

• Food additives (sorbitol, fructose, and others)

• Food allergies

• Pixu (spleen deficient)  See formula at below.

• Shenyangxu (kidney yang deficient)

  see chronic morning diarrhea

• Hyperthyroidism

• Liver Qi Stagnation

• Previous surgery or radiation of the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract

• Tumors and polyps

• Reduced blood flow to the intestine

• Heredity--certain diseases occur more often in related family members.

• Travel

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Sample of Chinese Herb Formulae

Formula 1:

Chronic diarrhea due to pixu (spleen deficient):

Prescription: qian shi 20 g, lian zi 12 g, dang shen 15 g, bai zhu 12 g, fu ling 9 g. Grind into fine powder. Take 3 to 6 g each time, 2 to 3 times a day.

脾虛腹瀉﹕

處方﹕ 芡實20克﹐蓮子12克﹐黨參15克﹐白朮12克﹐茯苓9克。共研細末。每日服二至三次。每次三至六克。

Formula 2:

ai ye 7.5 g, sheng jiang 11g, chen pi 4 g.  Boil with water and reduce to a thick extract. Take orally while warm.

In Chinese

艾葉 7.5 克，生姜 11 克， 陳皮 4 克。

水兩碗半，煎 八分。溫服。

注意：艾葉有毒。不可多下。陰虛有熱者須小心。

以下各項可能引起長期腹瀉﹕
1.腸道腫瘤
2.甲狀腺機能亢進
3.消化和吸收障礙
4.功能性腹瀉：肝氣郁結，運化失常所致。
 

Caution about ai ye: use caution in case of yin deficiency or heat in blood.  The effective ingredient is the volatile oil and it is the toxic ingredient which can cause inflammation of the skin mucus. When taken orally can cause irritation of the of the digestive tract. After absolving, it can arrive at the liver and can obstruct the metabolism of the liver and can cause jaundice type of hepatitis. Its effect toward the central nervous system is prominent. In toxic reaction, the central nervous system becomes over active and can induce seizure. Because of the changes of the reflex of the nerves, it can damage the walls of  blood vessels and causes hyperemia (increase of blood flow to the part of body) of the uterus and causes bleeding. Toxic range is 20 ~ 30 g if taken orally.

Also see chronic morning diarrhea

See  Chinese Herb Dictionary for Latin botanical names.

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