Understanding Ulcerative Colitis: A Chinese and Western Medicine Perspective

Gentle, Root-Level Care for Chronic Inflammation

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulceration in the lining of the colon and rectum. It often develops gradually and can lead to long-term digestive discomfort, nutritional deficiencies, and emotional stress.While Western medicine focuses on reducing inflammation through drugs or surgery, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views ulcerative colitis as a sign of deeper organ disharmony and immune imbalance. Treatment aims to calm inflammation, strengthen digestion, and support long-term healing.

🔹 What Are the Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?

Frequent, urgent diarrhea (often with blood or mucus)Abdominal cramping or pain

Fatigue and weakness

Loss of appetite or weight loss

Low-grade fever during flares

Emotional distress, anxiety, or mood changes

In Western medicine, UC is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, biologic agents, and in severe cases, surgery to remove parts of the colon.

🔹 How TCM Understands Ulcerative Colitis

In TCM, UC falls under the categories of “Chang Pi” (intestinal ulcer) or “Xie Tong” (painful diarrhea). It reflects a disharmony between the Spleen, Stomach, Liver, and Kidney systems, often due to constitutional weakness, emotional strain, or diet.Common TCM patterns include:

Damp-Heat in the Intestines → Urgent diarrhea, mucus or blood in stool, abdominal pain, foul odor, yellow tongue coating

Spleen Qi Deficiency → Chronic loose stools, fatigue, poor appetite, pale tongue, weak pulse

Kidney Yang Deficiency → Early-morning diarrhea, cold limbs, back soreness, incontinence

Liver Overacting on the Spleen → Diarrhea worsened by stress, irritability, bloating, alternating constipation and loose stool

Blood Stasis → Persistent pain, dark blood in stool, purple tongue, sharp cramping

TCM treatment is focused on clearing inflammation, tonifying the organs, stopping bleeding, and restoring intestinal integrity.

🌿 How Chinese Medicine Helps Ulcerative Colitis

✅ Acupuncture

Acupuncture helps:

Regulate the immune system

Calm inflammation and pain

Improve bowel motility and function

Relieve stress and emotional tension that worsen flares

✅ Herbal Medicine

Herbal formulas are personalized based on your specific TCM diagnosis. Herbs may be used to:

Clear Damp-Heat and reduce urgency

Strengthen Spleen and Kidney function

Stop bleeding and repair the intestinal lining

Calm the Liver and soothe digestion

✅ Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations

TCM emphasizes digestive preservation. Recommendations may include:

Warm, cooked meals (avoid raw, cold, greasy foods)Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods during flares

Eat at regular times and chew thoroughly

Rest during flares and manage stress through breathing, meditation, or gentle movement

✅ ZiQia Self-Consistent Medicine System

At our clinic, we use Dr. Pan Xiaochuan’s ZiQia System, which combines pulse-based diagnosis with personalized morning and evening herbal formulas. This system helps:

Identify the root deficiency or excess

Restore organ harmony

Prevent flare-ups and promote lasting remission

💬 Long-Term Relief Is Possible

Ulcerative colitis is a complex condition, but with the right care, healing is possible. Chinese medicine offers a drug-free, individualized path to reduce inflammation, rebuild digestive strength, and improve your quality of life.Whether you’re looking for an alternative to medication, recovering from a recent flare, or seeking to prevent recurrence, we’re here to help you heal—from the inside out.