Traditional Chinese Medicine's understanding of obesity and its methods of weight loss with Chinese herbal medicine.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine understand obesity?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recognized the harmful effects of obesity on health long ago. The earliest extant Chinese pharmacopoeia, the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, equates "lightness of body" with "longevity," demonstrating that the importance of weight loss for human health was recognized two thousand years ago. TCM's understanding of obesity is based on its theoretical system, utilizing methods such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, qigong, massage, and dietary therapy to treat obesity, achieving weight loss while simultaneously restoring a healthy body.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that the main causes of obesity are: ① Congenital endowment, also known as genetic factors. ② Improper diet: Excessive consumption of rich and fatty foods leads to the accumulation of excess fat and phlegm. Therefore, ancient TCM texts refer to obese people as "fat people," "abundant people," or "fat people." ③ Spleen and kidney deficiency: Insufficient spleen qi prevents the normal production of essence and blood to nourish the body, resulting in the conversion of ingested food into fat, phlegm, and dampness, which accumulates in the skin, leading to obesity. Insufficient kidney qi, due to congenital deficiency, old age, or premature aging, can also cause impaired qi transformation and water metabolism, leading to internal dampness and turbidity that overflows to the skin, exacerbating obesity. This is what is commonly referred to as "puffy obesity." ④ Internal injury from the seven emotions: Excessive changes in the seven emotions-joy, anger, worry, pensiveness, grief, fright, and fear-affect the functions of the five internal organs, especially the spleen, kidneys, liver, and gallbladder, and can also cause obesity. ⑤ Prolonged lying down, sitting, and lack of physical activity lead to qi deficiency and stagnation, resulting in impaired digestion and transportation, causing fat accumulation and obesity. In summary, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that obesity is mostly a case of deficiency in the root and excess in the branch. The root deficiency is mainly due to Qi deficiency, which may also be accompanied by Yin deficiency and Yang deficiency. The primary location of the disease is the spleen, followed by the kidneys, liver, and gallbladder. The branch excess is mainly due to phlegm and dampness, which may also be accompanied by blood stasis and Qi stagnation.

Based on the causes and symptoms of obesity, traditional Chinese medicine classifies obesity into five types:

(1) Spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction type: The main symptoms are obesity, edema, fatigue, heaviness of limbs, oliguria, loss of appetite, abdominal distension, deep and thready pulse, thin and greasy tongue coating, and pale red tongue.

(2) Stomach heat and dampness obstruction type: mostly caused by spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction, which transforms into heat over time. Symptoms include obesity, headache and dizziness, excessive hunger, heaviness and lethargy in the limbs, thirst and preference for drinking, slippery and slightly rapid pulse, greasy and slightly yellow tongue coating, and red tongue body.

(3) Liver Qi stagnation type: obesity, fullness and discomfort in the chest and ribs, fullness and discomfort in the stomach, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, insomnia, dreaminess, thready and wiry pulse, white or thin and greasy tongue coating, and dark red tongue body.

(4) Spleen and Kidney Deficiency Type: Obesity, fatigue, weakness, weak waist and legs, weak and thready pulse, thin tongue coating, and pale red tongue.

(5) Yin deficiency and internal heat type: obesity, dizziness, headache, back pain and weak legs, five-center heat, low fever, thready, rapid and slightly wiry pulse, thin tongue coating, red tongue tip.

Obese individuals often experience a range of systemic symptoms, some mild and some severe, and these symptoms may not perfectly align with the above classifications. However, a diagnosis can be made based on the patient's tongue and pulse characteristics, identifying which type they match, and if two or more of their symptoms are consistent with the description. Traditional Chinese medicine treatments for obesity rely on these diagnostic classifications; therefore, accurate classification is crucial for achieving good results.

What are the characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) weight loss?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treats obesity like any other disease, following its unique theoretical system. It views the human body as an organic whole, considering obesity an external manifestation of visceral dysfunction. This means that by observing the symptoms and signs of obese individuals, the cause, location, and mechanism of the disease are inferred, allowing for targeted treatment. Therefore, in TCM weight loss, it's common to see different methods used on obese individuals, or even when using the same method, significant differences in medications or acupoints, yet all achieving excellent results. This is a characteristic of TCM weight loss: diagnosis and treatment based on syndrome differentiation. A suitable weight loss method is designed for each individual based on their specific condition, simultaneously promoting healthy bodily regulation. Another characteristic of TCM weight loss is its use of natural and beneficial methods. For example, Chinese herbal medicines are derived from natural plants, animals, and minerals, with minimal side effects. Traditional acupuncture, massage, and qigong are also highly beneficial. Therefore, TCM weight loss is safe and rarely produces adverse consequences. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an empirical medicine, and its theories are profound and difficult to understand, and cannot be mastered overnight. Therefore, if you want to use TCM for weight loss, it is best to find a TCM specialist.

What are some common Chinese herbal weight loss methods?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) weight loss primarily focuses on regulating organ function, reducing fat and eliminating phlegm. It often uses herbs or formulas that strengthen the spleen, tonify the kidneys, promote qi circulation, invigorate blood, resolve phlegm, and eliminate dampness. Commonly used medications for preventing and treating simple obesity fall into the following categories:

(1) Laxatives and digestive aids: rhubarb, senna leaves, morning glory seeds, hawthorn, germinated rice, malt, medicated leaven, and radish seeds.

(2) Expectorant and turbidity-resolving drugs: Pinellia ternata, white mustard seed, tangerine peel, magnolia bark.

(3) Blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs: Chuanxiong, Danshen, Yimucao, Niuxi.

(4) Diuretic and dampness-removing herbs: lotus leaf, alisma, poria, coix seed, plantain seed, fangji, artemisia capillaris, gardenia, cuscuta, prunella vulgaris.

(5) Spleen-strengthening and qi-tonifying herbs: Astragalus membranaceus, Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Atractylodes lancea.

(6) Blood-nourishing and Yin-tonifying herbs: Angelica sinensis, Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Polygonum multiflorum, and Lycium barbarum.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be taken internally or applied externally. Internal administration is similar to that of regular decoctions and prepared medicines. Some TCM herbs can also be added to food for long-term consumption, such as medicinal cuisine or teas. Sometimes, based on TCM meridian and acupoint theories, herbs can be applied to specific acupoints to treat obesity. Another method involves preparing lipid-lowering herbs into creams or oils for external application to areas with excess fat, such as the abdomen or buttocks, and massaging repeatedly to allow the medicine to penetrate and break down local fat. There are many methods of using TCM for weight loss, but each herb has its own specific effects. While side effects may be minor, prolonged use can still have adverse effects on the body, especially if used improperly, which can be harmful to health. Therefore, using TCM for weight loss should be done under the guidance of a doctor. It should be noted that most commercially available weight loss products contain TCM herbs; whether they are suitable for you should always be determined by consulting a doctor.