Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. In severe cases, complications such as intestinal obstruction and fistulas may occur. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that Crohn’s disease is often related to factors such as spleen and stomach deficiency, internal damp-heat, and qi stagnation with blood stasis. The Hengyang Bailuo Decoction (衡养百络汤) therapy, as one of the classic TCM treatments, focuses on strengthening the spleen and stomach, clearing heat and dampness, and activating blood circulation. Through syndrome differentiation and treatment, it gradually alleviates symptoms and restores intestinal function. The following sections elaborate on the application of Hengyang Bailuo Decoction in terms of etiology, pathogenesis, treatment principles, and specific therapies.
The etiology of Crohn’s disease is complex. TCM considers its main pathogenesis to be spleen and stomach deficiency and internal damp-heat. The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal life, responsible for the transformation and transportation of nutrients. If the spleen and stomach are weak, their function is impaired, leading to the accumulation of dampness and, over time, the formation of internal heat. Damp-heat accumulation in the intestines can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea; if damp-heat persists, it can damage the intestinal collaterals, leading to blood stasis and further worsening the condition. Additionally, emotional disturbances and irregular eating habits can also trigger or exacerbate Crohn’s disease.
The treatment principles of Hengyang Bailuo Decoction focus on strengthening the spleen and stomach, clearing heat and dampness, while also addressing blood activation and emotional harmony. The specific therapies can be divided into the following aspects:
Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, Restoring Transformation
Spleen and stomach deficiency is the core pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease. Hengyang Bailuo Decoction emphasizes strengthening the spleen and stomach to restore their transformative functions. By tonifying the spleen and stomach, it enhances their ability to transform and transport, allowing dampness to be resolved and heat to be eliminated, thereby alleviating symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. This phase focuses on “strengthening the spleen and stomach, restoring transformation,” supplemented by “tonifying qi and nourishing blood to enhance physical constitution.” Once the spleen and stomach functions are restored, the generation of qi and blood is ensured, enhancing the body’s resistance to disease.
Clearing Heat and Transforming Dampness, Eliminating Pathogenic Factors
Internal damp-heat is a significant cause of Crohn’s disease. Hengyang Bailuo Decoction emphasizes clearing heat and transforming dampness to eliminate pathogenic factors. By clearing heat and promoting dampness elimination, it expels damp-heat from the intestines, thereby alleviating symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. This phase focuses on “clearing heat and transforming dampness, eliminating pathogenic factors,” supplemented by “unblocking the bowels and relieving heat to alleviate symptoms.” Once damp-heat is eliminated, intestinal function gradually recovers, and symptoms are relieved.
Activating Blood and Resolving Stasis, Repairing Intestinal Collaterals
Prolonged damp-heat can damage the intestinal collaterals, leading to the formation of internal blood stasis, which further exacerbates the condition. Hengyang Bailuo Decoction emphasizes activating blood and resolving stasis to repair the intestinal collaterals. By activating blood circulation and resolving stasis, it improves intestinal microcirculation and promotes the repair of damaged mucosa, thereby alleviating symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. This phase focuses on “activating blood and resolving stasis, repairing intestinal collaterals,” supplemented by “unblocking collaterals to relieve pain and promote healing.” Once blood stasis is resolved, the intestinal collaterals become unobstructed, and mucosal repair accelerates.
Harmonizing Emotions, Relieving Stress
Emotional disturbances are significant triggers for Crohn’s disease. Hengyang Bailuo Decoction emphasizes harmonizing emotions to relieve stress. By soothing the liver and relieving depression, it promotes emotional balance and smooth qi flow, thereby reducing the frequency of symptom flare-ups. This phase focuses on “harmonizing emotions and relieving stress,” supplemented by “calming the spirit and soothing emotions.” Harmonizing emotions can effectively reduce symptom exacerbation due to emotional fluctuations, enhancing treatment efficacy.
Strengthening the Foundation and Cultivating Vitality, Enhancing Physical Constitution
Crohn’s disease often has a prolonged course, and patients frequently experience physical weakness. Hengyang Bailuo Decoction emphasizes strengthening the foundation and cultivating vitality to enhance physical constitution. By tonifying the liver and kidneys, it boosts the body’s righteous qi and improves resistance to disease, thereby reducing recurrence. This phase focuses on “strengthening the foundation and cultivating vitality,” supplemented by “nourishing yin and blood, harmonizing yin and yang.” With an enhanced constitution, the condition stabilizes, and quality of life improves.
The advantage of Hengyang Bailuo Decoction lies in its holistic approach and syndrome differentiation treatment characteristics. By employing multiple methods such as strengthening the spleen and stomach, clearing heat and dampness, activating blood and resolving stasis, harmonizing emotions, and strengthening the foundation, it gradually alleviates the symptoms of Crohn’s disease and restores intestinal health. Although the treatment process may be slow, its effects are lasting, and side effects are minimal, reflecting the unique advantages of TCM’s “preventive treatment” and “holistic perspective.” Furthermore, Hengyang Bailuo Decoction also emphasizes individualized treatment, flexibly adjusting treatment plans based on the patient’s specific condition and constitution to achieve optimal efficacy.
In summary, Hengyang Bailuo Decoction possesses a unique theoretical system and rich clinical experience in treating Crohn’s disease. Through the application of multiple methods, it can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life, providing new ideas and methods for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. In the future, with the continuous development of TCM theory and in-depth clinical research, Hengyang Bailuo Decoction is expected to demonstrate its unique therapeutic value in more fields.
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