There are a lot of formulas in Chinese medicine (TCM) for every illness, according to your constitution. In this article, however, one of the formulas will be selected and explained in order to make you understand how the formula works. This is an article, not a TCM treatment. We hope you will understand our purpose. The web sites concerned will be shown later for those who would like to get additional information about modern medicine.

NOTE

The theory of Chinese herbal medicine is the one which has made an independent development of modern medicine and science. Therefore it may be seen bizarre by those who get used to modern medicine. In fact, I was often confused by the mysterious oriental way of thinking, when I started to study Chinese medicine(TCM). Understanding this system of thought is, however, indispensable to effective use of medicinal herbs. So we recommend that you put your scientific viewpoints and knowledge aside at least during your study of Chinese medicine(TCM), and listen to the oriental way of thinking with an open mind.

Chronic Gastritis

Herbal Medicine is effective !

Introduction

Gastritis is inflammation of the mucous membrane of your stomach. Symptoms are :

1. upper abdominal discomfort

2. stomach pain

3. loss of appetite

4. nausea

5. vomiting

6. a feeling of fullness

When these symptoms exist for more than a couple of weeks, the gastritis is referred to as "chronic gastritis". However, some people experience no signs or symptoms.

It's very important here that you see your doctor and determine the cause if you experience the symptoms for longer than a week.

If your doctor diagnoses your symptoms as chronic gastritis after some examinations, then medication should start. We guarantee Chinese herbal medicine will be a best alternative for the treatment of chronic gastritis.

Case

36 y.o. male

Occupation : accountant

He has been feeling discomfort in his stomach since last year, such as nausea and a feeling of fullness. He sometimes has dull pain in his stomach, but strangely enough, it subsides after drinking with his colleagues. He went to a hospital last month, and was examined and diagnosed as having chronic gastritis. He has been taking pills since, but in vain.

Alcohol : He says he restricts himself to two bottles of beer.

His pain is relieved by something warm in his stomach.

He is not thirsty.

Physical Findings on Chinese medicine

Pulse : deep, slow, thready

Tongue : pale, white coating

Analysis of Symptoms and Signs ( Pattern Identification )

Lingering of cold temperature in stomach

Therapeutic Principle

Dispelling the cold temperature in the stomach to relieve pain

Formula

Anchuu-San

TJM (Traditional Japanese Medicine ) created Anchuu-San by modifying an original formula.

A) warming the middle-burner to dispel cold

B) arresting vomiting

C)alleviating pain

D) regulating qi

E) promoting blood

F) functioning as antacid

G) removing dampness to improve appetite

H) moderating the property of other herbs

		A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Cinnamomum cassia : cinnamon bark , cassia bark	Cortex	+		+
Alpinia officinarum : Lesser galangal rhizome	Rhizoma	+	+	+
Foeniculum vulagare : fennel	Fructus	+		+	+
Corydalis bulbosa : corydalis tuber	Rhizoma			+	+	+
Ostrea gigas : oyster shell	Concha						+
Amomum villosum : amomum fruit,grains-of-paradise	Fructus				+			+
Glycyrrhiza uralensis : Liquorice(UK),Licorice(USA)	Radix								+

Differentiation and Treatment

In Chinese medicine, there is no pattern identification for chronic gastritis.