Appetite Loss According toTraditional Chinese Medicine
Very rarely is loss of appetite a sign of a serious medical problem. In most cases, appetite loss is caused by a digestive disorder known as spleen deficiency. This does not in any way indicate a problem with the organ you know as your spleen. In traditional Chinese medicine, the term 'spleen' refers to the intellegent part of the digestive system where decisions are made about which enzymes, acids, and digestive fluids are made, and in what quantity. The term 'spleen deficiency' really means poor digestion.
Injury to the spleen can, most commonly, originate with irregular or unbalanced eating habits, drug ingestion, or emotional distress.
Eating at irregular intervals is a burden to the digestion. When the body expects to be fed, it begins the process of manufacturing the chemicals needed for digestion and absorbtion. This takes energy. If the expected food does not arrive, the energy is wasted. When food finally does arrive, the process must be repeated. Thus irregular eating patterns consume much more energy than does habits of eating at regular intervals. This often leads to a condition known as spleen qi (energy) deficiency. Loss of appetite is just one symptom of spleen qi deficiency. Others may include bloating, loose stools, fatigue, and a weakened immune system. Herbal medicines used to treat spleen deficiency are listed below.
Drugs, both legal and illegal, can also injure the spleen causing these and other symptoms. Often, drugs will injure the digestion by attacking the liver. Once again, the term 'liver' in TCM, does not mean exactly the same thing as just the organ called the liver.
Emotions, such as prolonged sadness or worry, can directly effect the spleen and cause digestive problems like loss of appetite. Other emotions, such as anger or frustration, can injure the liver and thus injure the spleen as well. Besides loss of appetite, these emotions can cause acid reflux, belching, and stomach ulcers. Herbal medicines used to treat liver related digestive problems are mentioned below.
Besides injury to the spleen, appetite loss can be caused by poor movement of the digestate or stool through the digestive tract. Thus constipation or food stagnation can also cause loss of appetite. Herbal medicines used to relieve constipation are also listed on this page.
Herbal Medicines Used for Appetite Loss
The following herbal medicines are best used over a period of at least one month. Do not anticipate immediate results. If lifestyle habits are the cause of appetite loss, they must be taken together with a change in lifestyle. Though they are considered safe to use, Chinese herbs are best taken under the advisment of a trained practitioner.
