Chronic Diarrhea — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach
In TCM, the basic mechanism of diarrhea is spleen deficiency with exuberant damp: the spleen fails in healthy transportation, clear and turbid are not separated, and water-damp pours downward.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns
In TCM, this concern is differentiated into several patterns, each with a classical herbal formula:
Spleen-Stomach Deficiency (Spleen deficiency with exuberant dampness)
Formula: Shenling Baizhu San (Ginseng, Poria and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) — from *Formulary of the Bureau of the People's Welfare Pharmacies*
Debilitation of kidney yang (Dawn Diarrhea, Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency)
Formula: Sishen Wan (Four Spirits Pill) — from *Standards of Diagnosis and Treatment*
These formulas are for reference under TCM syndrome differentiation and should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
Food Therapy & Diet
Dietary Therapy Recipes
- Chinese Yam, Coix Seed and Gorgon Fruit Porridge: equal parts Chinese yam, coix seed and gorgon fruit (qianshi) with rice; simmer for 1 hour into porridge.
- Lotus Seed and Gorgon Fruit Porridge: lotus seed, gorgon fruit and rice. Cook into porridge.
- Lotus Seed Soup: 250 g lotus seed, rock sugar, water starch. Simmer slowly and thicken.
Dietary Principles
- Favor a light, warm, easily digested diet with small, frequent meals.
- Favor foods that fortify the spleen, transform damp and astringe to check diarrhea (Chinese yam, coix seed, lotus seed, gorgon fruit, poria, white hyacinth bean, jujube, glutinous rice).
- For prolonged diarrhea with spleen-kidney yang deficiency, favor warming supplementation aided by fresh ginger and pepper.
- Avoid raw, cold, greasy, rich, sweet and acrid foods.
- Avoid overeating and excessive rich and sweet foods.
- Avoid unclean or spoiled food.
Understanding the Condition
In TCM, the basic mechanism of diarrhea is spleen deficiency with exuberant damp: the spleen fails in healthy transportation, clear and turbid are not separated, and water-damp pours downward. Contributing factors may include contracting external pathogens, dietary injury, emotional disturbance, spleen-stomach deficiency, and decline of kidney yang. Chronic diarrhea is mainly due to spleen deficiency; when prolonged diarrhea reaches the kidney, it may become spleen-kidney yang deficiency with early-morning (fifth-watch) diarrhea.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.