Diabetes – The Chinese Medicine Perspective
Symptoms | Causes | Risk factors | Complications | Treatment | Diet | Diagnosis | Prevention
“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.”
― George Bernard Shaw
Disclaimer: Our website do not provide medical advise, diagnosis, or treatment. The information I provided here are base my interpretation on Dr. Yáng Zhàn Yuán`s publication in 2007 “Handbook to Cure Diabetes” (ISBN-10: 9889919338, ISBN-13: 9789889919337). It is all for informational purpose only.
Diabetes is a diagnosis of bio-medicine when a person suffer from a metabolic condition that causes high blood sugar. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is the imbalance of the Zang Fu system that cause such improper metabolism.
Untreated diabetes and incorrect medical intervention have serious after effect on the individual’s health and well being.
Types of Diabetes (According to TCM)
Base on Traditional Chinese Medicine pathology, there are three types of diabetes.
- Upper Emaciation & Thirst (a.k.a Upper Xiao / Upper diabetes) is a body imbalance. It affect the body’s water distribution, result in plasma glucose increase. The imbalance located at a place somewhat resemblance to the circulation system of bio-medicine (heart / lung / blood vessels). As the heart and lung located in the upper part of the trunk, we call it Upper diabetes. Upper diabetes is commonly associated with overwork. Its thirst symptom is prominence.
- Middle Emaciation & Thirst (a.k.a Middler Xiao / Middle diabetes) is also a body imbalance. The initial absorption of food and fluid was affected, result in plasma glucose increase. The increase of thirst and hunger, so as emaciation are all prominent. The imbalance is located at a place very similar to what bio-medicine refer as gastrointestinal system. Therefore, we call it middle diabetes to associate it with the location of the stomach. This imbalance is most commonly associated with over eating and poor diet.
- Lower Emaciation & Thirst (a.k.a Lower Xiao / Lower diabetes) is a body imbalance as well. In this case, the body’s fluid recycling function is disturbed, result in plasma glucose increase. The most prominent symptom is polyuria (frequent urination). The location of the imbalance resides at a place similar to what bio-medicine refer as urinary system; therefore, we call it lower diabetes in association with the pelvic area. This type of diabetes is most commonly associated with excess sexual activities or poor intimacy habits.
In order to treat diabetes the Chinese Medicine way, we will need to further classify the above types into more specific sub-types. Learn more about the differentiation and their corresponding treatment strategy.
Symptoms
Contrary to bio-medicine’s understanding, where the symptoms of diabetes depends on how much the blood sugar is elevated, according to TCM, the symptoms and the elevated blood sugar itself are both cause by the underlying body imbalance.
General symptoms
- polydipsia (excessive thirst)
- polyphagia (excessive hunger)
- polyuria (escessive urination)
- emaciation (weight loss and weakness)
- glycosuria (sweet urine)
- sores
- night blindness/blurry vision
- hearing loss
- fever
- spontaneous sweat
- cough
- sexual dysfunction in men
- yeast and urinary tract infections
- dry and itchy skin
Upper Emaciation & Thirst Type diabetes
Symptoms of Upper Emaciation & Thirst type diabetes can include:
- irritable
- excessive thirst
- dry mouth and tongue
- frequent urination
- excessive urination (in terms of volume)
- thin yellow tongue coating
- excess rapid pulse
Middle Emaciation & Thirst Type diabetes
Symptoms of Middle Emaciation & Thirst type diabetes can include
- excess hunger and able to digest the increase amount of food intake
- thirst
- polyuria
- emaciation
- dry stool and constipation
- yellow tongue coating
- excess slippery pulse
Lower Emaciation & Thirst Type diabetes
Symptoms of Lower Emaciation & Thirst type diabetes can include
- polyuria
- cloudy/turbid urination
- glycosuria (sweet urine)
- sore lower back and knee
- fatigue
- dizziness
- tinnitus
- dry mouth and lips
- itchy and dry skin
- ear helix abnormality
- cold hands and feet
- aversion to cold
- impotent
- menstrual dysfunction
- red tongue with scanty tongue coating
- thin rapid pulse
Takeaway
Diabetes symptoms can be subtle and hard to detect at first. Learn about its risk factor and take preemptive measure for your health.
Causes of diabetes
According to Dr Yang (Handbook to Cure Diabetes, 2007), certain imbalance of our Zang Fu system can condense the blood plasma. The raised blood glucose level we found in diabetics are not an excess of sugar, but lack of solvent in our blood stream.
Imagine two glasses of water where the first one contains 100 ml of fluid and the second one contains 200 ml. Now, we add 30g of sugar in each of them. The one that start with less liquid will taste sweeter compare to the other; as the sugar concentration per unit of solvent is higher over there. That’s how Dr Yang’s understand diabetes and how his diabetic cure were designed on
Continue quoting from Dr Yang, contrary to what bio-medicine suggest, for diabetics that is indeed caused by Zang Fu imbalance, the overall energy (sugar) amount within the body is actually lower than the healthy level. In such circumstances, the standard recommendation of restricting sugar intake is inappropriate and a likely be harmful.
Depends on the types of diabetes (according to TCM differentiation), the mechanic that condensed the plasma are also different.
Upper Emaciation & Thirst Type diabetes
- The water distribution function of the body is affected by the imbalance of the Zang Fu system. Water backing-up and force the body to excrete them as urine. Lack of proper water distribution result in condensed plasma within the blood stream, resulting raise of blood glucose level, thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination. Such imbalance are common among individual that has overwork and lack of physical exercises (sweating).
Middle Emaciation & Thirst Type diabetes
- The initial absorption of fluid is affected by the imbalance of the Zang Fu system. Water were excreted even before attempted for distribution. Lack of water supply result in condensed plasma within the blood stream, resulting raise of blood glucose level. Lack of fluid and actual energy absorption results in thirst, hunger, and emaciation. Such imbalance are common among individual that has history of overeating, indulging in spicy food, indulging in sweet, indulging in alcohol, indulging in greasy food, indulging in raw food, and many other poor dietary choices. Stress and poor eating habit can also create such imbalance.
Lower Emaciation & Thirst Type diabetes
- The water recycling function of the body is injured by the imbalance of the Zang Fu system. Water and other vital substances were lost unnecessarily from urination. Lack of water overall result in condensed plasma within the blood stream, subsequently result in hyperglycemia and thirst. A failing recycling system result in glycosuria (sugar within urine) and other urination issues. Such imbalance are common among individuals that have histories of excess sexual activities or poor intimacy habit (e.g. for one, having sex after indulging in alcohol.)
Type 2 Diabetes
- There are people that is born diabetic. Dr Yang’s publication didn’t specify how a fetus may inherit an imbalance from the parent nor how a fetus may developed a Zang Fu imbalance during pregnancy. However, there is no evidence suggesting us to correct the imbalance differently comparing it to the normal adult onset imbalance.
Takeaway
Life style can affect the balance of the Zang Fu system. Depends on the nature of the imbalance, it can condense our blood plasma through three different ways; affecting the water absorption, affecting the water distribution, or affecting the water recycling
Diabetes risk factors
Certain factors increase your risk for diabetes.
- genetics / succeed to an imbalance life style.
- aging / poor health
- overweight
- lack of exercise/sweat
- history of gestational diabetes
- prediabetes
- have other diagnosis related to condensed plasma (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides)
- stress and unhappiness
- over control or lack of disciplines
- adapting an unnatural life style in relate to your genetic composition.
Takeaway
Diabetes is an alarming sign for one’s exiting poor health or sub-health. Living an imbalance lifestyle can increase your risk or odd to have diabetes.
Diabetes complications
Zang Fu imbalance can condensed your plasma and cause diabetes. It can also develop further into many serious illness. Common complication associated with diabetes include
- organ damages (heart, kidney, brain)
- nerve damages
- vision loss
- hearing loss
- diabetic foot
- skin infection
- mental disorder
Takeaway
Diabetes (Zang Fu imbalance) can have serious medical complication. You should take it seriously and start proper treatment as early as possible.
Treatment of diabetes
“Prior to pharmaceutical treatment and dietary intervention, if one can properly correct the cause of diabetes, taking the proper Chinese herbal decoction treatment, one’s diabetes shall be cure within 15-60 days. However, if one has already started pharmaceutical treatment and injuries the body further by such intervention, one will have to take more times to first gradually restore vitality.” (Handbook to Cure Diabetes, 2007, P.22)
Disclaimer: The above quote is an opinion of Dr Yang. It may contradict with other information you receive from your physicians. Our website do not provide medical advise, diagnosis, or treatment. All the information here is for informational purpose only. We will not be held liable for anything that happens from the use of the content here.
According to Handbook to Cure Diabetes (2007), Dr Yang propose a 4 pillars integrated treatment plan to cure diabetes. its fundamental principle are composed by two aspects:
- Identifying the root cause of the diseases and treat the root cause accordingly. Do not entangled by the symptom thus neglected the root cause.
- Treating the sick patient rather than treating “the diagnosis”; the medication prescribed has to be customize individually. (Create a solution for each individual diabetics; No generalized solution for condition call diabetes)
The 4 pillars integrated treatment plans include the following pillars:
- education
- individualized herbal decoction
- acupuncture point / meridian base therapy (e.g. acupuncture / massage)
- energy base body building
At this moment, we do not have enough resources to illustrate Dr Yang`s 4 pillars integrated treatment in full. We will however, list some of the herbs that Dr Yang selected base on the differentiation we used above. Dr Yang will use combination of herbs to create an individualized decoction. Using single herb is NOT advised. If you have specific questions about diabetes and pre-diabetes, please feel free to contact us directly.
Upper Emaciation & Thirst type diabetes
Wood Arising Type:
Clinical manifestation: irritability, dry mouth, red forehead, often also have hypertension, and high cholesterol
| Herbs | Latin Name | How it Works |
| Niu Xi | Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae |
|
| Di Huang | Radix Rehmanniae |
|
| Mu Dan Pi | Cortex Moutan |
|
| Long Gu | Os Draconis |
|
| Huang Qi | Radix Astragali |
|
| Bai Shao | Radix Paeoniae Alba |
|
| Di Long | Pheretima |
|
| Shan Yao | Rhizoma Dioscoreae |
|
Fire Arising Type
Clinical manifestation: dry mouth, bitter taste in the mouth, polydipsia, polyuria, blurr vision, red complexion
| Herbs | Latin Name | How it Works |
| Tai Zi Shen | Radix Pseudostellariae | |
| Mai Dong | Radix Ophiopogonis |
|
| Wu Wei Zi | Fructus Schisandrae |
|
| Ji Li | Fructus Tribuli |
|
| Bai Mao Gen | Rhizoma Imperatae |
|
| Bai He | Bulbus Lilii |
|
| Bai ji | Rhizoma Bletillae |
|
Fire Water Disharmony Type
Clinical manifestation: thirst with no desire to drink, blood sugar slightly over but more significant glycosuria
| Herbs | Latin Name | How it Works |
| Fu Zi | Radix Aconiti Laateralis |
|
| Rou Gui | Cortex Cinnamomi |
|
| Chen Xiang | Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum |
|
| Ji Li | Fructus Tribuli |
|
| Mai Dong | Radix Ophiopogonis |
|
| Di Huang | Radix Rehmanniae |
|
Middle Emaciation & Thirst type diabetes
Hot Earth Type
Clinical manifestation: polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, emaciation, glycosuria, can develop into comma, delirium
| Herbs | Latin Name | How it Works |
| Ren Shen | Radix Ginseng |
|
| Mai Dong | Radix Ophiopogonis |
|
| Wu Wei Zi | Fructus Schisandrae |
|
| Shi Gao | Gypsum Fibrosum |
|
| Da Huang | Radix et Rhizoma Rhei |
|
| Niu Xi | Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae |
|
| Mang Xiao | Mirabilite |
|
Dry Earth Type
Clinical manifestation: thirst, bloating, irritable, poor appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath
| Herbs | Latin Name | How it Works |
| Chai Hu | Radix Bupleuri |
|
| Gui Zhi | Ramulus Cinnamomi |
|
| Sheng Jiang | Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens |
|
| Mai Dong | Radix Ophiopogonis |
|
| Shan Yao | Rhizoma Dioscoreae |
|
| Di Huang | Radix Rehmanniae |
|
Lower Emaciation & Thirst type diabetes
Dry Water Type
Clinical manifestation: nocturnal dry mouth, nocturnal urination, cold hands and feet, sore back and knee, fatigue
| Herbs | Latin Name | How it Works |
| Fu Zi | Radix Aconiti Laateralis |
|
| Huang Lian | Rhizoma Coptidis |
|
| Rou Gui | Cortex Cinnamomi |
|
| Sheng Jiang | Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens |
|
| Tai Zi Shen | Radix Pseudostellariae |
|
| Mai Dong | Radix Ophiopogonis |
|
| Shan Yao | Rhizoma Dioscoreae |
|
| Di Huang | Radix Rehmanniae |
|
| Du Zhong | Cortex Eucommiae |
|
| Yin Yang Huo | Herba Epimedii |
|
Full Deficient (Hot) Type
Clinical manifestation: fatigue, sore back and knee, palpitation, shortness of breath, five center heat, emaciation
| Herbs | Latin Name | How it Works |
| Di Huang | Radix Rehmanniae |
|
| Shan Yao | Rhizoma Dioscoreae |
|
| Mai Dong | Radix Ophiopogonis |
|
| Huang Qi | Radix Astragali |
|
| Du Zhong | Cortex Eucommiae |
|
| Yin Yang Huo | Herba Epimedii |
|
| Xian He Cao | Herba Agrimoniae |
|
| Gou Qi Zi | Fructus Lycii |
|
Full Deficient (Cold Type)
Clinical manifestation: sore back & knee, cold limbs, cold abdominal, shortness of breath, nocturnal urination.
| Herbs | Latin Name | How it Works |
| Chai Hu | Radix Bupleuri |
|
| Gui Zhi | Ramulus Cinnamomi |
|
| Sheng Jiang | Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens |
|
| Mai Dong | Radix Ophiopogonis |
|
| Shan Yao | Rhizoma Dioscoreae |
|
| Di Huang | Radix Rehmanniae |
|
The list above are for informational purpose only. Please consult a professional for a custom formula that address each case individually.
Takeaway
Depend on the exact imbalance of one’s diabetes, one will need a different treatment composition (formula/acupuncture therapy) to address it individually.
Diabetes and diet
“Proper nutrition (carbohydrate, protein, and fat), especially sugar, are necessity of human survival. The reduced sugar availability in diabetics cause gradual decline of the body’s function. The more lacking of sugar, the more decline in the organ functions… The conventional practice of cutting down sugar in a diabetic’s diet is plain wrong. It is like shut down a house’s water supply solely for the purpose of stopping a leaking tap. It is like trying to crunch thirst with liquor; Not only the cause of original sugar availability issue wasn’t addressed, it further strip the body`s nutrient source, thus speed up the decline of the body. Therefore, diabetics should adapt a healthy, balance, nutrition rich diet while properly addressing the underlying cause that raised his/her blood sugar.” (Handbook to Cure Diabetes, 2007, P.176-177)
Complication of Sugar Deficiency:
Early state and mild symptoms:
- Blurred vision
- Sore knees and back
- Stuffy chest
- Shortness of breath
- Tremor
- Spasm
- Skin itchiness
Development and more severe symptoms:
- Fundus hemorrhage
- Optic atrophy
- Edema of the face
- Edema of the limbs
- Dysuria
- Sharp pain of the chest
- Cadrio vascular diseases
- Cerebral vascular diseases
- Spontaneous sweating
- Night sweating
- Cold limbs
Late stage and significant body damages:
- Retinal detachment
- Uremia
- Heart failure
- Skin ulcers
- Osteoporosis
Disclaimer: The above info is base on an opinion of Dr Yang. It may contradict with other information you receive from your physicians. Our website do not provide medical advise, diagnosis, or treatment. All the information here is for informational purpose only. We will not be held liable for anything that happens from the use of the content here.
Takeaway
Healthy eating is recommended for diabetics. Specific diet with restricted sugar intake may lower the blood sugar level thus mask the actual cause of diabetic. The prolong use of such diet will reduce the nutrition available for the body thus gradually develop other side effects. It is most importantly to have proper early intervention to correct the imbalance that cause the raised sugar level in the blood stream. A health, balance, nutrition rich diet is the best choice of recovery.
Diabetes diagnosis
The following blood tests are the most common way to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes:
- The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test
- The A1C test
As Dr Yang has such controversial opinion about treating diabetes (correct the root cause rather than manipulating the disease indicating parameters) It is recommended to get tested early/regularly. Conventional medicine are more flexible in dealing with pre-diabetics compare to diabetes. The earlier one detected the potential of any problem, the more option one got to properly addressing it.
Diabetes prevention
Many diabetes causes aren’t under your control (genes or age) However, it is widely accepted that a healthy life style (dietary choices and exercise) and living a happy life can make a difference.