Myasthenia gravis belongs to the category of “impotence” in Chinese medicine. According to the clinical manifestations and the different stages of the disease, combined with the traditional Western medicine typology, it can belong to different diseases: in the ocular muscle type, simple ptosis belongs to the Chinese medicine “lid wasting” and “ptosis”; in the ocular muscle type, double vision belongs to the Chinese medicine “In the generalized muscle weakness type, those with neck weakness and head lifting are “head tilting” in TCM; in the Western medicine type, those with respiratory difficulty to respiratory muscle paralysis are “atmospheric subsidence” in TCM. In Western medicine, those with respiratory difficulty to respiratory muscle paralysis belong to Chinese medicine.
The etiology of myasthenia gravis is extremely related to the deficiency of spleen and kidney. The spleen and kidney are often repeatedly damaged, resulting in the imbalance of qi and blood in the five viscera, or phlegm obstructs the ligaments, and the qi and blood do not run smoothly, followed by the corresponding lesions in the lungs, heart, liver and other internal organs.
I. Commonly used herbs
1.Beneficial qi medicine
Astragalus membranaceus – replenishes qi and enhances yang, benefits qi and fixes the surface, detoxifies and generates muscle, promotes water retention and reduces swelling
Ginseng – tonifies the vital energy, nourishes the spleen and benefits the lung, generates fluid to quench thirst, calms the mind and increases intelligence
Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae – tonifies the middle and nourishes the qi, generates fluid and nourishes the blood
Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng – benefits the qi and nourishes the yin, clears fire and generates body fluid
Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng – strengthens the spleen, tonifies the qi, moistens the lung and generates body fluid
Atractylodes macrocephala – tonifies the qi, strengthens the spleen, dries dampness, relieves sweating and calms the fetus
Licorice – tonifying the spleen, nourishing Qi, moistening the lung, relieving cough, relieving urgency and pain, and moderating medicinal properties
Yam – benefits Qi and nourishes Yin, tonifies the spleen, lung and kidney
Ganoderma lucidum – benefits Qi, nourishes blood, nourishes the heart and calms the mind
Jujube – tonifies the middle and nourishes the qi, nourishes the blood and calms the mind
2, nourishing Yin medicine (antagonize the side effects of adrenal cortical hormone)
Female chasteberry – nourishes the liver and kidney, clears heat and brightens the eyes
Mo dry lotus – nourishes Yin, benefits the kidney, cools the blood and stops bleeding
Mai Dong – clearing the lung and lowering fire, nourishing Yin and moistening dryness
Yellow essence – nourishes the lung and nourishes the yin, nourishes the spleen and benefits the qi
Fructus Lycii – nourishes the liver and kidney, brightens the eyes and moistens the lung
Mulberry – nourishes yin, nourishes blood, nourishes body fluid, moistens intestines
Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata – nourishes Yin, generates body fluid, clears heat and cools the blood
Zhi Mu – nourishes Yin, moistens dryness, clears heat and removes fire
Bei Sha Shen – nourishes Yin and enhances Qi, moistens the lung and relieves cough, benefits the stomach and generates body fluid
Black sesame – nourishes liver and kidney, benefits essence and blood, moistens intestinal dryness
3, warming Yang medicine (with pro-adrenocorticotropic hormone-like effect, maintain the body hormone level, control the disease, prevent hormone withdrawal rebound)
Epimedium – tonify the kidneys and strengthen Yang, dispel rheumatism
Ba Ji Tian – tonifies the kidneys, helps Yang, dispels wind and dampness
Cuscuta sinensis – tonifies yang, strengthens qi, fixes sperm and urine, brightens eyes and stops diarrhea
Boneset – tonifies the kidneys, strengthens the Yang, fixes the essence and reduces urination, warms the spleen and stops diarrhea (regulates intestinal function)
Eucommia globulus – tonifies the liver and kidneys, strengthens the muscles and bones, and calms the fetus (for pregnant patients)
Cistanches – nourishes the kidneys and strengthens the yang, tonifies the blood, moistens the bowels and opens the bowels (lowering blood pressure)
Continua – nourishes the liver and kidney, strengthens the tendons and bones, consolidates the fetus
4.Blood tonic
Angelica sinensis – nourishes the blood and invigorates the blood, regulates menstruation, relieves pain, moistens the bowels
Radix Rehmanniae – nourishes the blood and nourishes the Yin, tonifies the marrow
He Shou Wu – nourish the liver and kidney, benefit the essence and blood, nourish the heart and calm the mind
White peony – nourishes blood, astringes yin, softens liver, relieves pain, calms liver yang
Longan meat – tonifies the heart and spleen, nourishes the blood and calms the mind (palpitations, sweating, insomnia, forgetfulness)
Colla Corii Asini – tonifies the Blood and stops bleeding, nourishes Yin and moistens dryness (protects bone marrow hematopoietic function)
5.Anti-epidemic (epiglottis)
Radix Bupleurum–reconciling and reducing fever, relieving depression in the liver, raising the Yang and lifting the sockets
Sheng Ma – publish to penetrate the rash, clear heat and detoxify, elevate Yang Qi
Pueraria Mirifica – relieves muscle and fever, penetrates measles, generates body fluid to quench thirst, and elevates Yang to stop diarrhea
Chrysanthemum – disperses wind-heat, calms the liver and brightens the eyes, clears heat and detoxifies the body
6.Heat-clearing herbs
Gypsum – clearing heat and fire, relieving irritation and thirst, astringent and muscle building
Xia Ku Cao – clearing liver fire, dispersing depression (MG combined with hypertension)
Forsythia – clearing heat and detoxifying, dispersing canker sores and dispersing wind-heat (glucocorticoids cause acne on the chest and back and face)
Phellodendron Bark – Clearing heat and dampness, removing fire and toxins, reducing heat and removing steam
Fishy grass – clear heat and detoxify, eliminate carbuncles and drain pus, diuretic and laxative (antibacterial effect, easy to catch a cold MG)
7, phlegm medicine (cough and cough phlegm)
Semen – dry dampness and resolve phlegm, reduce rebellion and vomiting, disperse knots and swelling (toxic, need to boil water for 30 minutes before taking)
Radix Platycodon grandiflorus – promotes the lung and dissolves phlegm, facilitates pharyngeal drainage of pus (expectorant effect)
Aster – moisten the lung, resolve phlegm and stop cough
Qian Hu – lowering phlegm, dispersing wind-heat
8, dispel blood stasis drugs (centipede, leeches, throughanax, scorpion and other insects are prohibited)
Panax notoginseng – resolving blood stasis and stopping bleeding, invigorating the blood and fixing pain
Salvia miltiorrhiza – invigorates the blood to regulate menstruation, cools the blood to stop pain, calms the mind and nourishes the blood
Phellodendron – Promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, astringent and stopping bleeding (with the effect of contracting the uterus, therefore not to be used by pregnant women)
Niubizi – dispersing blood stasis and relieving pain, invigorating blood circulation, tonifying the liver and kidneys, inducing blood flow (for those with prolonged weakness and impotence of both lower limbs)
9.Relief of Qi
Chen Pi – regulates Qi, strengthens the spleen, dries dampness and dissolves phlegm
Aromatic Herb – de-stimulates Liver and Qi, regulates menstruation and relieves pain (MG with depression, sullenness, pessimism and sighing)
Mullein – Promoting Qi and relieving pain, strengthening the spleen and stomach
Buddha’s Hand – relieving depression in the liver, regulating Qi and harmonizing the middle, drying dampness and resolving phlegm (MG with distention and fullness in the abdomen)
10, tranquilizers
Sour date seed – nourishes the heart and calms the mind, generates body fluid and astringent sweat (sleeplessness and hypnotic effect)
Phellodendron – nourishes the heart and calms the mind, moistens the bowels, nourishes Yin and stops sweating (MG with insomnia, palpitations, constipation)
Shou Wu Tang – nourishes the heart and tranquilizes the mind, nourishes the blood and promotes blood circulation (insomnia and dreaminess, restlessness)
Acacia bark – tranquilizes the mind and relieves depression, activates blood circulation and subdues swelling (insomnia caused by emotional depression or anger)
11.Astringent medicine
Wu Wei Zi – astringent and astringent, benefit the Qi, nourish the kidney and calm the heart (palpitations, night sweats)
nutmeg – warming the middle and moving Qi, astringent intestines to stop diarrhea (MG loss of appetite, abdominal pain and intestinal tinnitus, prolonged diarrhea)
Cornus officinalis – tonifying the liver and kidney, astringent essence fixation (diplopia is more stubborn and heavy use, the role of ascending white blood cells)
Gorgonian – for the spleen to stop diarrhea, benefit the essence, dispel dampness and stop the belt
12.Dampness dispelling herbs
Pendula – dampness, remove yellow, clear heat and detoxify (reduce alanine aminotransferase, reduce serum bilirubin)
Plantago Asiatica – diuresis, dampness and diarrhea, clear the liver and eyes, clear the lung and phlegm
Job’s Tears – benefit the stomach and strengthen the spleen, remove paralysis and overcome dampness, clear heat and drain pus
Dioscorea Z – relieves dampness and eliminates turbidity, dispels wind and paralysis (MG shows impotence and weakness of lower limbs, pain in the waist and knees)
Poria – diuresis and percolation of dampness, strengthening the spleen and tranquilizing the mind
13.Warm internal medicine
Radix et Rhizoma Pseudostellariae – returning Yang to rescue the rebellion, helping Yang to tonify fire, dispersing cold and removing dampness, clearing ligaments and relieving pain (MG critical shock)
Cinnamon – tonifying fire to help Yang, inducing fire to return to its original source, dispersing cold and relieving pain, activating blood circulation (MG with cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, hyperventilation and palpitations, cold extremities, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees)
Dried ginger – warming the middle and dispersing cold, returning Yang to the arteries, warming the lungs and dissolving drinks (MG with cold pain in the epigastrium, vomiting and diarrhea)
Second, MG drug contraindications and dietary contraindications
1, drug contraindications
Antibiotics: kanamycin, gentamicin, streptomycin, neomycin, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, lincomycin, tobramycin, ampicillin, vancomycin, polymyxin B and polymyxin E
Cardiovascular drugs: lidocaine, procainamide, propranolol, verapamil, metoprolol, atenolol, etc.
Narcotics: morphine, dulcolax, chloroform, ether, arrow poison. If required for surgery, available anesthetic drugs include nitrous oxide (laughing gas), halothane, cyclopropane, succinylcholine, etc.
Antipsychotics: lithium carbonate, phenelzine, chlorpromazine, etc.
Anti-epileptic drugs: phenytoin sodium, ethosuximide, trimethoprim, etc.
Sedative-hypnotics: barbiturates
2.Dietary contraindications
1, eat more warm tonic
Myasthenia gravis patients with spleen and stomach deficiency, it is advisable to eat more sweet and warm tonic products.
Meat: mutton, dog, beef, chicken, pork, silver carp, eel, sea shrimp, sea cucumber, etc.
Cereals: japonica rice, glutinous rice, corn, corn, sorghum, etc.
Legumes: soybeans, lentils, soybeans, broad beans, etc.
Melon: pumpkin, winter melon, etc.
Vegetables: heart of vegetables, leeks, ginger, lotus root, tomatoes, bok choy, cilantro, carrots, potatoes, wood ear, mushrooms, etc.
Fruits: lychee, apricot, prune, apple, orange, grape, pomegranate, peach, pomelo, hawthorn, jujube, black date, longan, cinnamon, etc.
Fruits: chestnuts, walnuts, peanuts, etc.
Spices: pepper, fennel, pepper, herb nuts, chili, cinnamon, etc.
Others: eggs, milk, goat’s milk
2, eat less bitter cold
Bitterness can diarrhea heat, easy to hurt the stomach and intestines, cold can defeat stomach gas, easy to cause spleen deficiency diarrhea.
Meat: rabbit meat, mealybug, crab, horse meat, turtle meat, etc.
Cereals: barley, buckwheat, etc.
Melons: bitter melon, watermelon, watermelon, loofah, cucumber, etc.
Vegetables: mustard, celery, water chestnut, purple cabbage, watercress, yellow flower, sword flower, fishy grass, eggplant, seaweed, etc.
Fruits: pear, banana, persimmon, kiwi, etc.
Others: cold dishes and cold drink products, etc.