Can Proprietary Medicines Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is equivalent to the category of abdominal pain and diarrhea in traditional Chinese medicine, and proprietary Chinese medicines can be used to treat the corresponding type of IBS. Clinically, it is common to see spleen deficiency and dampness type, liver depression and qi stagnation type, etc., which can be treated with Chinese patent medicines such as Ginseng Ling Bai Zhu San and Mu Xiang Shun Qi Pill, etc., which need to be used under the guidance of professional doctors. 1. Spleen deficiency and dampness type: the patient will have abdominal pain and diarrhea, loose stools after eating greasy food, poor mental health, feeling heavy and sleepy, loss of appetite, white and greasy tongue, etc. Ginseng Ling Bai Zhu San can be used to strengthen the spleen and dispel dampness (by tonifying the spleen to make the dampness discharge). Discontinue the medicine if there are any adverse reactions such as vomiting or skin rash after taking the medicine. Avoid eating greasy food while taking the medicine. 2. Liver depression and qi stagnation type: patients may have diarrhea after mood swings, like to sigh, belching (hiccups), acid swallowing (swallowing the acid that rushes up from the stomach to the oropharynx) and other symptoms, and can use Mu Xiang Shun Qi Pills to move qi and eliminate dampness, strengthen the spleen and stomach (restore the function of the spleen and stomach). Pregnant women as well as patients with Yin deficiency should be cautious. Do not eat spicy food while taking the medicine. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome should choose appropriate proprietary Chinese medicines under the diagnosis of a Chinese medicine practitioner, and should not buy and use them blindly.