Dietary therapy for acute enteritis

(1) Gruel of Agastache and Roasted Ginger
Ingredients: Herba Agastachis (Huoxiang) 6g, roasted ginger 6g, Radix Saposhnikoviae (Fangfeng) root 3g, round cardamom seed 3g, polished round-grained rice 100g.
Process: Decoct the first four ingredients in water and remove the dregs from the decoction; then make gruel with the rice and a right amount of water. When the gruel is done, pour in the decoction and cook them for a few minutes. To be taken hot so that the patients can perspire a bit, this will lead up to a best curative effect. It is applicable to diarrhea of cold-dampness type or wind-cold type.

(2) Gruel of Plantain Herb and Hyacinth-Bean
Ingredients: Plantain herb 15g, lophatherum 9g, dried lotus leaf 9g, white hyacinth-bean 30g, Job’s-tears seed 30g, polished round-grained rice 60g.
Process: Decoct the first three ingredients and remove the dregs from the decoction; make gruel with the last three ingredients and right amount of water; when the gruel is done, add the decoction to it and go on cooking for a white. To be taken twice on the same day. It is applicable to patients with diarrhea of damp-heat or summer-heat-dampness types.

(3) Get 30g of purslane and agrestal shepherd's purse respectively, 20g of dried turnip and 3 sliced gingers; decoct them in water for a drink. Take it 1-2 times a day. It can clear away heat and remove dampness and is applicable to the acute gastroenteritis of warm-heat type which is characterized with frequent vomiting and diarrhoea, sour and rancid puke, smelly stool, severe abdominal pain or fever and red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, wiry and rapid pulse.

(4) The Medicated Diet for the Prevention of Acute Enteritis: Gruel of White Gourd and the Seed of Job’s tears
Process: Wash the rice and the seed of Job’s tears clean respectively; peel the white gourd, take out the seeds of it and wash it clean; cut it into pieces and add the rice, the seed of Job’s tears and moderate water to cook with strong fire; remove the floating foam and then cook the gruel with slow fire until it is done.

(5) The Medicated Diet for the Prevention of Acute Enteritis: Balsam pear and Pork ribs Soup
Process: Put the pork ribs in the pot and add the sliced ginger, shallot, yellow wine and moderate water to cook with low fire until the meat is done; add the chopped balsam pear and cook with high fire for another 3-5 minutes; season with the salt, chicken essence for serving.

How to prevent acute enteritis

1) Pay attention to the hygiene and install the window screen in the room; stamp out the fly and the cockroach. 

2) Pay attention to the dietary hygiene and avoid eating cold and impurity food; eat moderate garlic while taking meals; eat less fatty, spicy, irritating food and have a bland diet; take more gruels and soups during the attack period; avoid cold drinks and food.

3) Take warm boiled water at dawn, 5 to 7 pm and half or an hour before sleeping.

4) Avoid bringing the children to the public places.

5) Pay attention to the cleaning and safety of the eating implement for the children.

6) Insulate the patients and deal with their excretion carefully. 

7)Pay attention to the personal hygiene and health education; for the people who take care the children, they should wash the hands frequently especially after they change the diapers or contact the children’s excretion that would be helpful to prevent the children from the bacterial infection.

8) Pay attention to have a good rest and increase the nutrition, eat more digestible food; keep a diet to promote the absorptive function of the spleen and stomach.

9) Strength the exercise and enrich the constitution to prevent the spleen from the pathogenic factors.

10) Keep a smooth mood and the balance of the stomach and intestine function.

Classification of Internal Diseases in TCM

For the convenience of clinical application, internal diseases are usually classified in the light of their etiology and pathogenesis. In terms of etiology, internal diseases are divided into two categories: exogenous diseases that are caused by six exogenous pathogenic factors, and endogenous diseases that are caused by seven abnormal emotional factors, improper diet, overstrain, disturbance of distribution of qi, blood and body fluids, and the pathological product secondary to the disturbance.

In terms of pathogenesis, internal diseases can usually also be divided into two categories: exogenous diseases and miscellaneous diseases. This book mainly discusses the miscellaneous diseases, which are chiefly caused by internal damage. Some diseases caused by exogenous pathogenic factors, such as cough, diarrhea, and stranguria, are conventionally discussed under the category of endogenous diseases. This is because most of their manifestations are similar to those of endogenous diseases.

Although the endogenous diseases are varied in types and complicated in pathological changes, their pathogenesis is always limited to the dysfunction of zang-fu organs, disturbance in the production and distribution of qi, blood and body fluid, and the dysfunction of meridian system. To descend to particulars, the lung controls qi and respiration; disorders such as cough and asthma caused by the impaired dispersion of lung qi and dysfunction of respiration belong to diseases of the lung. The heart dominates blood and vessels, and rules the spirit; diseases such as arrhythmia, coronary heart disease and epilepsy are the result of disturbance of blood circulation and abnormality of emotional and mental activities and belong to diseases of the heart. 

The spleen rules transportation and transformation, and the stomach functions in receiving and digesting food; the dysfunction of the spleen and stomach may lead to gastritis, enteritis and constipation. The liver is a resolute organ, attributed to wood element and responsible for maintaining smooth circulation of qi; the dysfunction of the liver and gallbladder in maintaining smooth circulation of qi may lead to diseases such as hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis and cholecystitis. And endogenous wind due to hyperactivity of liver yang may disturb the head and eyes and lead to dizziness and headache. 

The kidneys store essence, dominate the development and reproduction, and control water metabolism; therefore diseases affecting the urinary and reproductive systems such as impotence, spermatorrhoea, nephritis and urinary infections can be ascribed to diseases of the kidneys. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout are caused by the invasion of pathogenic factors into the meridian system, and should be classified into diseases of the meridian system. By taking the five-zang-organ system as the key link, associating it with the systems of six-fu-organs, meridian, and qi, blood and body fluids, endogenous diseases may be categorized into different patterns. Some diseases such as "xulao" (consumptive disease) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may affect two or more organs and should be ascribed to the category of systemic disease.

Decoction of Pinellia, Bighead Atractylodes and Gastrodia

Source: Yixue Xinwu (A Summary on Medicine from Clinical Practice).

Ingredients:
No. 1 Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) 9 g;
No. 2 Tianma (Rhizoma Gastrodiae) 6 g;
No. 3 Fuling (Poria) 9 g;
No. 4 Jupi (Exocarpium Citri Grandis) 6 g;
No.5  Baizh (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 9 g;
No. 6 Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) 3 g.

Administration:
Decoct the above drugs in water for oral application after adding to it 2 slices of fresh ginger and 3 pieces of Chinese dates.

Actions:
Drying dampness, resolving phlegm, calming the liver and subduing wind.
 
Clinical Application:
This recipe is indicated for the syndrome of upward attack of wind-phlegm, marked by vertigo, headache, nausea, vomiting, chest fullness, greasy whitish fur, taut and smooth pulse. It is applicable to aural vertigo, neurotic vertigo, and others, which are chiefly manifested as vertigo, nausea and greasy whitish fur and ascribed to upward disturbance by wind-phlegm.

In case of excessive dampness-phlegm with glossy whitish fur, add Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis) and Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) to induce diuresis and remove phlegm. In case of dizziness and distending pain of the head due to hyperactivity of the liver-yang, addGouteng (Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis) and Daizheshi (Ochra Haematitum) to suppress the hyperactive yang and subdue the endogenous wind. If concomitant with weakness due to deficient qi, add Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae) and Huangqi (Radix Astragali seu Hedysari) to supplement qi and build up strength.

Elucidation:
The syndrome is caused by dysfunction of the spleen in transportation and transformation, thus phlegm is formed from accumulated dampness and accompanied by internal stirring of liver wind and disturbance of wind-phlegm on the head. It should be treated by eliminating dampness and phlegm and subduing the liver-wind. No. 1 is capable of removing dampness and phlegm and descending qi to relieve vomiting, while No. 2 has the function of subduing the liver-wind and relieving pain and vertigo. Both are used as monarch drugs and effective in treating vertigo and headache due to wind-phlegm.

No. 5 and No. 3 possess the action of reinforcing the spleen and eliminating dampness so as to prevent regeneration of phlegm and function as minister drugs, which can enhance the effect of removing phlegm and treat both the superficial symptoms and the root cause of the disease when combined with No. 1. Used as adjuvant drug, No. 4 can strengthen the effect of the monarch and minister drugs on the one hand, and promote the easy flow of qi and the elimination of phlegm and dampness on the other because it has the function of eliminating dampness and phlegm and regulating the flow of qi and the middle-energizer. No. 6 plays the role of guiding drug, which supplements qi and regulates the middle-energizer as well as mediates the drug properties. The fresh ginger and Chinese dates are meant to regulate the spleen and stomach, further enhancing the effect of this recipe in regulating the middle-energizer and removing phlegm.

Cautions:
This recipe is contraindicated for vertigo and headache as the result of hyperactivity of the liver-yang due to yin deficiency of the liver and kidney.

Morning Glory used in the treatment of liver cirrhosis

As one of commonly used Chinese herbs, morning glory flower seeds are also known as Qian Niu Zi in mandarin. It is a key medicine traditionally used to get rid of edema, sputum, and stasis. Besides, it is great for reducing bloating too. Based on the coating colors, medicinally this herb is classified into 3 varieties – black (Hei Chou), white (Bai Chou), and black and white (Er Chou). In addition, morning glory seed based herbal remedies were also reported to be used in the treatment of a variety of other diseases, such as scrofula, Liver Cirrhosis, pinworm, Epilepsy, and so on.

Morning glories are native to American continent. But today there are more than 1,000 morning glory varieties distributed all over the world. However, medicinally it mainly refers to the dried mature seeds from Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy or Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt. They are members in the family Convolvulaceae. Therefore, other names of this herb include Semen Pharbitidis, Pharbitis Seed, Pharbitis nil seed, Hei Chou, Bai Chou, Er Chou, and so on. It grows in most of the regions in China and is usually collected in late autumn when the fruits are ripe but the husk doesn't crack yet. Used as a drug it still needs to be dried in the sun and used smashed in the raw or fried form.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MORNING GLORY FLOWER SEEDS 
Morning glory flowers are with good ornamental value thanks to their beautiful colors. The darker flowers, like purplish red, are generally with black seeds; the lighter flowers, like white and pink, are usually with white seeds. However, it is necessary to point out that seed colors have nothing to do with the species.

When it comes to physicians who are good at exerting morning glories seeds, Li Shizhen, the famous pharmacologist in Ming Dynasty, will be the best of the best. He is familiar with not only drug properties but also principles of medical science. And clinical practice told him that this herb could go to qiphase, unblock Triple Burner, arrive at life-gate, and enter essence tunnel. More than that, he also realized that it could be an amazing medicine for wind or stagnated qi induced constipation. Thus, it can be seen that this is a good purgative medicine.

Morning Glory Flower Seeds

MORNING GLORY FLOWER SEEDS RECIPES ON HERBAL REMEDIES 
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia says that it is bitter in flavor and cold and toxic in nature. It goes to meridians of lung, kidney, and large intestine. Principal functions are to increase the flow of urine, relax the bowels, dissolve phlegm and drain retained fluid, and kill parasites and remove retention. Basic indications and uses include swelling caused by fluid retention, retention of urine, constipation, accumulation of phlegm and retained fluid, cough and wheezing caused by reversed flow of qi, abdominal pain due to a parasitic infection, roundworm, and tapeworm. Recommended morning glory seeds dosage is from 3 to 6 grams.

1. Yu Gong San from Ru Men Shi Qin (Confucians' Duties to Serve Their Parents). It is used together with Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel Seed) or Mu Xiang (Costus) to treat retained fluid induced turgidity.

2. Zhou Che Wan from Jing Yue Quan Shu (Jingyue's Collected Writings). It is combined with Gan Sui (Euphorbia Kansui), Yuan Hua (Genkwa Flower), Jing Da Ji (Euphorbia pekinensis), Da Huang (Rhubarb), etc. to cure Edema, abdominal fullness and hardness,Constipation, retention of urine, and deep rapid powerful pulse.

3. Niu Huang Duo Ming San from Bao Ying Ji (Prescription Book for saving Babies). It is formulated with Rhubarb and Bing Lang (betel nut) to heal stagnated lung qi, cough and asthma caused by phlegm or retained fluid, and facial edema.

Celosia Seeds is for the treatment of painful swollen eyes

Celosia seeds, also called Qing Xiang Zi in Pinyin, is a popular medication in traditional Chinese medicine that is mainly for the treatment of painful and swollen eyes, high blood pressure, nose bleeds, and other complaints that are believed to be caused by flaring-up of liver fire. Celosia argentea is also known as "Taiwan’s lavender". Compared to lavender, this plant seems rougher in appearance. However, it is not second to lavender in terms of availability – the whole celosia plant is used medicinally and its tender shoot is also a tasty edible wild vegetable. As a common Chinese herb, it comes from the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica. And in Tang Ben Cao (Tang Materia Medica), it is named "Kunlun grass" and allegedly ever used as a fan by Nu Wa, a goddess in Chinese mythology.

Medicinally it mainly refers to the dried ripe seeds from Celosia argentea L., one of ornamental and edible plants in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. Other names of celosia argentea include the silver cock's comb and plumed cockscomb and celosia argentea seed is also known as Semen Celosiae in Latin. For ornamental purpose, people gather or buy celosia seeds for growing celosia from seed. In China it is produced in central and southern provinces. The plant is reaped or the ear is collected in autumn when the fruits are ripe. And then, it needs to dry them in the sun, gather celosia seeds, and remove the impurities. Medicinally it is used raw.

CELOSIA SEED HEALTH BENEFITS 
Clinical research confirms that this herb can be of great help in many diseases, especially on treating eye disorders and lowering high blood pressure.
(1). 5 cases of hypertension, an average of 160 to 230/100 to 135mmHg (21.28 to 30.59/13.3 to 17.955kPa), were ever treated with the decoction of 30 grams celosia seed, which was finished in 3 times daily. One week after the administration, blood pressure dropped to 125 to 145/78 to 90mmHg (16.625 to 19.285/10.374 to 11.97kPa).

(2). 156 cases of pinkeye were ever treated with the celosia seed-based formulas, 1 dose each day. And the results were fairly satisfactory.

Celosia Seeds

CELOSIA SEED RECIPES ON HERBAL REMEDIES 
In line with the Chinese Materia Medica, it is bitter in flavor and cold in nature. It covers liver meridian. Primary functions are eliminating wind-heat, clearing liver-fire, and improving vision by removing nebula. Common celosia seeds uses and indications include red painful swollen eyes, slight corneal opacity, blurred vision, high blood pressure, nose bleeding, wind-heat skin itch, sores, and ringworm. Recommended dosage is from 3 to 15 grams in decoction.

1. Qing Xiang Wan from Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng (The Level-line of Patterns and Treatment). It is combined with Jue Ming Zi (Cassia Seed), Chong Wei Zi (Fructus Leonuri), Ling Yang Jiao (Antelope Horns), etc. to treat red painful swollen eye, nebula, blurred vision, and other eye problems that is caused by flaming up of the liver-fire.

2. Qing Xiang Wan from Yi Zhong Jin Jian (Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition). It is formulated with Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia), Che Qian Zi (Plantain Seeds) to cure blurred vision due to the combination of liver deficiency and blood heat.

3. Lu Feng Huan Jing Wan from Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition. It is joined with Tu Si Zi (Cuscuta), Rou Cong Rong (Fleshy Stem of Broomrape), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), etc. to heal blurred vision and dry eyes.

4. Qing Xiang Tang from Zhong Yi Lin Chuang Ying Yong (TCM clinical application). It is coupled with Yuan Ming Fen (refined mirabilite), Suan Zao Ren (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae), Mi Meng Hua (Butterfly Bush), Cassia Seed, Fu Ling (Poria), and Bai Bian Dou (Hyacinth Bean) to treat chronic uveitis.

Treatment of ringing in the ears, dizziness by Cinnamon Sticks

Medicinally Cinnamon Sticks mainly refers to the dried bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl, which is a member in the family Lauraceae. Since it is native to China, it is also known as Chinese cinnamon and Chinese cassia too. But sometimes it may also mean any of its close relatives – Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon), Cinnamomum burmannii (Indonesian cinnamon), and Cinnamomum loureiroi (Vietnamese cinnamon, Saigon cinnamon). Hence, it is also called cinnamon bark or Cortex Cinnamomi in Latin name. In addition, bastard cinnamon is another nickname given by the English speaking world because of its cheaper price, compared to other types of cinnamon.

In China, it is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Yunnan provinces. It is usually peeled in autumn. After that, it still needs to scrape off the cork and placed in the shade to dry. After gone through the above-mentioned process, it will curl into a role and look like a stick, which thus earn its name as "cinnamon stick". A variety of different specifications can be divided based on the stripped parts and quality. As a drug, it is usually used raw.

CINNAMON BENEFITS 
The Weekly World News, a famous Canadian magazine, ever published a piece of writing talking about the honey and cinnamon cures on January 17, 1995. Beatrice Dexter, the writer of this article, thought highly of this therapy and introduced in details how to use this mix to help a variety of complaints, such as arthritis, hair loss, bladder infections, toothache, cholesterol, colds, infertility, upset stomach, indigestion, heart disease, immune system problem, influenza, aging, acne, skin infections, overweight, cancer, fatigue, bad breath, hearing loss, high blood pressure, sore throat, influenza, etc. And its pharmacology has already offered a range of solid supports to such a claim.

CINNAMON STCKS RECIPES ON HERBAL REMEDIES 
The Chinese Materia Medica says that it is acrid and sweet in flavor and hot in nature. It covers meridians of kidney, spleen, heart, and liver. Basic functions are tonifying fire and helping yang, Guiding fire back on track, eliminating cold to stop pain, and warming meridian to unclogged arteries and veins. Main indications and uses for cinnamon sticks include kidney-yang deficiency, decline of vital gate fire, intolerance of cold, cold limbs, bower back pain and knee weakness, Impotence, Nocturnal Emission, difficult urination or urination frequency, shortness of breath, Asthma, Edema, a scanty production of urine, floating yang, feverish upper body and cold lower extremity, dizziness, ringing in the ears, etc.

Recommended dosage is from 2 to 5 grams in decoction. And please keep in mind that don't decoct it for too long or it will lose the active ingredients. Besides, it can be used in other forms, such as cinnamon tea, tablets, capsules, powder, extract, pills, and so on.

1) Shen Qi Wan from Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer). It is combined with Mu Dan Pi (Tree Peony), Fu Ling (Poria), Ze Xie (Water Plantain Root), Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni), and Fu Zi (Aconite) to treat ED (erectile dysfunction), cold uterus, feeling cold and pain in lower back and knees, frequent urination at night, spermatorrhea, enuresis, and others that are caused by kidney-yang deficiency and decline of vital gate fire.

2) Da Yi Han Wan from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Formulas of the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary). It is formulated with Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger Root), Gao Liang Jiang (Galangal Root), Bi Bai (fructus piperis longi), etc. to cure abdominal pain and hernia pain.

3) Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang from Qian Jin Fang (Thousand golden essential prescriptions). It is matched with Du Huo (Angelica Root), Sang Ji Sheng (Mulberry Mistletoe Stem), Du Zhong (Eucommia Bark), etc. to heal wind-cold-damp pain or numbness, especially arthritis aggravated by cold weather and low back pain.

4) Gui Fu Wan from Shou Shi Bao Yuan (Protection of Vital Energy for Longevity). It is joined with Aconite, Dried Ginger Root, Hua Jiao (Sichuan Peppercorns), etc. to treat angina pectoris and cardiac pain due to the invasion of pathogenic cold and low chest yang.