Diabetes

Ancient and Modern Figures On Diabetes  -Karen Ko

Modern diabetes was referred to as “Xiaoke Syndrome” in ancient China. Diabetes has long been a common ailment. In ancient times, without insulin or various oral hypoglycemic drugs, people relied on traditional Chinese medicine, with many cases of successful treatment. It is said that in her later years, Empress Dowager Cixi suffered from diabetes. After various ineffective treatments

She issued an edict seeking a renowned formula. A scholar-doctor named Bai Hezi from Jiangnan responded, bringing a royal formula used over two thousand years ago to treat Emperor Wu of Han’s diabetes. He treated Cixi meticulously with this formula, and she indeed experienced significant improvement. This formula was then recorded in the Qing imperial medical archives and became a prescribed treatment for diabetes among royals and high officials. The ingredients include Morinda Root, Human Placenta, Gecko, Seahorse, Sea horse, Goji Berries, Jin Qian Ban, Deer Antler, Prepared Rehmannia Root, Powdered Ginseng, Jin Qi, Angelica, Raspberry, Ligustrum, Cynomorium, Polygonatum, Rising Grass, and Bat Pancreas. Based on its composition, it focuses on kidney tonification, suggesting that both Emperor Wu and Empress Dowager Cixi likely suffered from kidney deficiency, making this formula effective for them. However, for those with diabetes caused by lung and stomach heat, this formula could worsen the condition.

Other Cases of Successful diabetes Treatment with TCM

Dr. Hu Shizhi, a scholar of the Republic era, also recovered from diabetes using traditional Chinese medicine. His condition had progressed to complications like proteinuria and hematuria, and Western medicine declared it untreatable. Following a friend’s suggestion, he sought treatment from the renowned TCM physician Lu Zhong’an, who prescribed a formula centered on Astragalus, with additional ingredients like Poria, Alisma, Papaya, Codonopsis, Wine-processed Scutellaria, Pinellia, White Peony, Fried Atractylodes, Cornus, Notoginseng, Licorice, and Fresh Ginger. After three months, Hu was cured, leading him to view TCM with newfound respect, and Lu Zhong’an’s reputation spread widely.

The revolutionary leader Xie Juezai of the Chinese Communist Party also successfully managed diabetes with TCM. Xie, who suffered from diabetes, found relief through a recommended formula and wrote a poem about his journey: “For years I have suffered from thirst; finding relief was like finally discovering a spring during a drought.” He noted that Western medicine had limited him to small portions of rice and wheat, while TCM recommended ginseng slices before bed to ease thirst, but neither were very effective. He then tried a formula from Ye Tianshi’s collection, *Yuquan Powder*, which included Kudzu Root, Trichosanthes Root, Ophiopogon, Raw Rehmannia, Schisandra, Licorice, and Glutinous Rice. This brought significant relief, confirming the saying: “After countless remedies, finally finding the right one.”

Conclusion

These cases illustrate the effectiveness of TCM for diabetes, but the choice of treatment varies greatly. Approaches include tonifying the kidneys, boosting qi, strengthening the spleen, or nourishing yin and generating fluids, each yielding positive outcomes. This underscores that diabetes cannot be universally treated with a single formula. It’s essential to tailor treatment to individual conditions rather than adopting others’ remedies without considering personal needs. Just like all TCM treatments, the key to managing diabetes lies in accurate diagnosis and seeking experienced TCM practitioners who can provide individualized treatment based on the principles of syndrome differentiation.