#3 For Women Who Suffer from Recurrent Stress-Induced Diarrhea | Traditional Chinese Medicine Self-Care to Balance the Liver and Spleen
In this series, we explore the theme of "stress and bodily reactions" from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
gently deciphering everyday ailments such as coldness, insomnia, digestive issues, and skin problems.
Rather than being swayed by each individual symptom,
I hope you can receive tips to balance your entire body.
1. Getting diarrhea when stressed...
When you are tense from work, housework, or relationships,
or when you get diarrhea the moment your tension suddenly relaxes.
Many women suffer from such "stress-induced diarrhea."
Even if doctors say there is nothing wrong,
it becomes unsettling when it happens repeatedly.
Many people refrain from going out, thinking, "What if I get diarrhea again?"
or feel discouraged,
fearing that their body is weak.
However, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is not an unusual reaction.
2. The true nature of stress-induced diarrhea in Traditional Chinese Medicine | The concept of Liver-Spleen Disharmony
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the organ deeply involved with stress is called the "Liver," and the organ responsible for digestion and absorption is called the "Spleen."
The Liver circulates Qi (energy), and the Spleen nourishes the body from food.
When stress continues, the Liver becomes tense,
and the flow of Qi easily becomes disrupted.
When that influence reaches the Spleen,the digestive system weakens, which can manifest as diarrhea or abdominal pain.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is called "Liver-Spleen Disharmony."
3. [Solution 1] Dietary therapy to balance your stomach and mind at the same time
For the Liver-Spleen Disharmony type of stress-induced diarrhea,
"circulating Qi while not cooling the digestive system"dietary therapy is recommended.
Ginger, shiso, onions, and Chenpi (dried mandarin orange peel) help support digestion while assisting the circulation of Qi.
Adding a small amount to porridge or soup is sufficient.
On the other hand, cold drinks and eating too quickly can easily burden the digestive system, so being mindful of eating slowly and warmly is also an important form of self-care.
4. [Solution 2] Daily care to release tension | Tips to break free from a stress-prone constitution
For daily care, try to practice "not trying too hard."
Exhale deeply once before eating.
Drink a little warm water in the morning to wake up your body.
Place your hand on your stomach and rub it slowly.
Even just doing that can help ease the tension in your Liver.
Not overpacking your schedule and intentionally creating "time to do nothing" is also important self-care to avoid repeating stress-induced diarrhea.
5. From "Oh no, diarrhea again..." to "My body is telling me something"
Getting diarrhea from stress does not mean your body is weak.
Rather, it is a reaction telling you, "You don't have to push yourself anymore."
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we consider ailments not as enemies, but as hints for balancing ourselves.
By understanding the cause and learning how to balance yourself little by little,
the anxiety of "Oh no, diarrhea again..."
will turn into the peace of mind of "I'll rest now."
Your body will respond properly.
Ailments are important signs from your body.
In this note, I gently convey stress and bodily reactions from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
If you'd like, please follow me
and come back to receive more tips for balancing yourself.
Stress-related ailments do not always appear in just one symptom.
I also have an article that summarizes the reasons why various physical ailments overlap from the perspective of the whole body.
Please use this as a reference if you'd like.