In China, the disability and mortality rates of brain diseases are relatively high. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the principle of holism and has outstanding effects in the treatment of brain diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine has found that treating brain diseases through the stomach, spleen and intestines has good therapeutic effects.
What is the connection between brain disease and the stomach?
1. Physiological connection
The five internal organs are closely connected. The meridian system connects the organs. Through the effects of qi, blood, and body fluids, a unified whole is formed. The brain is related to the large intestine meridian and stomach meridian in terms of meridian structure. That is, the stomach qi rises to the lungs and finally enters the brain meridian. Functionally, the brain is the master of the mind and controls life activities. It coordinates the five internal organs, muscles, tendons and limbs. The mind depends on the qi, blood and body fluids of the body. The spleen and stomach are the source of the generation of qi and blood. The food eaten is digested and absorbed in the stomach, and the spleen transports and transforms it into qi and blood. Abundant qi, blood and body fluids nourish the brain and mind.
2. Pathological mutual influence
The spleen and stomach generate qi, blood and body fluids. After injury to the spleen and stomach, qi, blood and body fluids cannot be generated sufficiently, unable to nourish all internal organs. This leads to insufficient nourishment of the brain, manifested as dementia, dizziness and headache. The spleen and stomach control the ascent and descent of qi. Dysfunction of the spleen and stomach’s transporting and transforming functions can hinder the ascent and descent of qi. Over time, phlegm and dampness accumulate and obstruct the circulation of qi and blood, unable to nourish the brain. Phlegm turbidity rising can affect the mental state. Over time, phlegm fire is generated, causing mental disorders. In addition, dry heat in the stomach and intestines accumulates in the body, obstructing fu qi, and dry heat carries turbid qi upwards, causing dysfunction of brain functions and inability to control and coordinate various organs, causing pathological changes in multiple organs.
How to discuss and treat common brain diseases?
1. Discuss and treat stroke
The lung meridian and large intestine meridian are in a superficial and deep relationship. Dysfunction of the large intestine can obstruct the functions of the lungs and affect the generation of zong qi, unable to nourish the brain, leading to stroke. Stroke can damage the brain and affect its controlling functions, affect the transformation of the large intestine, and then cause constipation. Constipation will cause turbid qi not to descend, and turbid qi will rise upwards into the brain, further affecting brain function and aggravating the stroke problem. The treatment principle is to relax the passage and guide the heat downwards, and correct the reverse flow of qi and blood.
2. Discuss and treat dementia
Dementia is common in the elderly, with decreased functions of internal organs, especially the spleen and kidneys; in addition, eating too much greasy, sweet and heavy food and lack of exercise can damage the spleen and stomach, affecting the ascent and descent of qi, resulting in blood stasis and phlegm turbidity, affecting qi regulation and organ functions, unable to nourish the brain, leading to dementia. The treatment principle is to invigorate the qi and strengthen the spleen, awaken the brain and open the orifices.
A warm reminder
It can be seen that the treatment of brain diseases is based on the stomach, but it needs to be discussed and treated according to syndrome differentiation under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to stomach diseases, the functions of the spleen and stomach should be focused on nurturing in many systemic diseases to help the body resist disease.