Treatment of diabetes with Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture or Chinese herbal
formulas)
How is diabetes approached in Traditional Chinese Medicine?
People around the world continue to search for complementary ways to treat and manage medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used to heal the human body for thousands of years, including the condition known in the West as " diabetes& quot;. As one of the most prevalent and problematic diseases in the world, TCM
offers a coherent form of diabetes treatment based on thousands of years of rich tradition.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is also known as diabetes mellitus, a complex group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world and it is increasingly prevalent in the western world. This condition develops when the pancreas is unable to produce enough
insulin. It also develops when cells in the body are unable to respond to the insulin being produced.
Possible symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, acute complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis, and chronic complications such as cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Diabetes mortality rates are high due to vascular complications from persistent hyperglycemia.
There are three general forms of diabetes, all of which involve different symptoms and potential complications.
• Type 1 diabetes results from a lack of insulin due to a loss of beta cells. It is caused by an autoimmune response.
• Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance, with a lack of insulin possibly developing over time. This type is
often caused by excessive body weight and insufficient exercise.
• Gestational diabetes results from high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
What is TCM?
TCM is a holistic and diverse collection of medical principals and treatment elements from China. While TCM has been around for thousands of years, it is still growing in popularity in the West. TCM includes a variety of treatment elements, including but not limited to acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet therapy, mind/body therapy, and massage therapy. TCM treats the human body in a holistic fashion, which can differ considerably from the reductionist scientific methods used in Western medicine.
TCM proposes a vital energy field in the human body, which circulates through channels known as meridians. These channels connect to bodily organs and functions via a number of branches. Acupuncture and other treatment methods can be used to locate and manipulate these branches in order to affect the flow of energy throughout the body. Due to the coherent and holistic nature of TCM, most existing conditions can be treated or managed under a Chinese medical framework.
The two most important mapping systems used in TCM are binary yin-yang theory and elemental five phase theory. While there is a single unified form of energy found throughout the human body, most useful diagnoses involve mapping this energy through meridian pathways and giving it context through yin-yang and five phase theory. While diabetes and other conditions present themselves in very different ways, specific symptoms are always classified according to the underlying principles of TCM.
The application of TCM for diabetes
There are two distinct names for diabetes in China: Xiao-ke or "wasting and thirsting", and Tang-niao-bing or "sugar urine illness". The disease is defined according to its symptoms, with direct correlations between symptoms, organs,
and yin-yang and/or five-element theory. While Western medicine attempts to find a particular cause and cure through the process of investigation, TCM attempts to develop a coherent, overall picture in order to uncover insights and heal associated symptoms.
There are three types of Xiao-ke, with the upper type characterized by excessive thirst, the middle type by excessive hunger, and the lower type by excessive urination. These types correspond to the lungs, stomach, and kidneys respectively. All three forms of diabetes are associated with a yin deficiency, which is a prerequisite for pathogens and heat syndromes. While TCM has no cure for diabetes, there are multiple ways to treat and manage the condition based on the underlying patterns of disharmony.
Different elements of TCM can be used to manage diabetes, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and diet therapy:
• According to a paper by Keji Chen, acupuncture and moxibustion have both traditionally been used to reduce blood glucose levels and normalize endocrine function in diabetes patients. Studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of these therapies in lowering serum glucose levels.
• Some of the herbs employed to enhance carbohydrate utilization for diabetes patients include Korean ginseng, balsam pear, and bottle gourd. According to a study by Ao Yu et al., Chinese herbal medicine for diabetes is associated with decreased glycated hemoglobin, blood glycemic levels, and blood lipid profiles, along with a reduced body mass index.
• Diet therapy also plays an important role in traditional Chinese diabetes treatment, with cooling foods used to enhance internal yin and manage excessive body heat. Examples of popular "cooling" foods include spinach, grains,
pumpkin, tomato, soybeans and many others.
• In addition, Qigong and other mind-body exercises may also help to promote healthy body weight and cardiovascular fitness.
TCM offers a holistic and complementary form of medicine for diabetes and other medical conditions. While traditional Chinese treatments such as acupuncture and herbs are not a cure for diabetes or a replacement for conventional treatment, TCM can support the body’s natural healing response and enhance its ability to function at optimal capacity.