01 Introduction: The Enigma of Persistent Loose Stools

Many people experience persistent loose stools. While some are diagnosed with conditions like enteritis or colitis, others receive no diagnosis despite ongoing symptoms. Traditional herbal medicine refers to loose stools as “mud under the pool,” a description remarkably similar to the condition itself. This perspective views abnormal stools as a classic sign of spleen deficiency, indicating excessive coldness and dampness within the body.

02 Understanding the Root Cause: Spleen Deficiency

While constipation often stems from dampness and heat in the large intestine, loose stools represent the opposite: kidney deficiency and insufficient vital yuanqi (vital energy) leading to coldness and dampness. This excess water results in soft, watery stools. Traditional herbal medicine identifies spleen deficiency as a primary cause of loose stools. Although the spleen and stomach are often discussed together due to their close relationship, their functions differ. The spleen’s primary role is transportation and transformation, while the stomach’s is storage.

Stomach health dictates appetite and food intake. A weak stomach leads to reduced food intake and subsequent weakness. Conversely, some individuals may eat heartily yet remain weak, puffy, or thin. This occurs when a healthy stomach fails to collaborate with a deficient spleen. The spleen’s inability to convert nutrients into vital yuanqi results in weakness despite adequate food intake.

01 The Impact of Undigested Food

In cases of loose stools, the stool is often unformed, watery, or even contains visible undigested food particles like vegetable leaves or rice grains. This indicates a failure in digestion and nutrient absorption, rendering the consumed food useless for generating vitality. Consequently, the body lacks strength.

02 The Spleen and Stomach: The Foundation of Vitality

The spleen and stomach are crucial, serving as the source of vital yuanqi and blood. Deficiency syndromes like qi and blood deficiency, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency often originate from spleen deficiency. When the spleen is deficient, food cannot be transformed into vital yuanqi and blood. This means food is neither digested nor absorbed, and nutrients are excreted.

03 Loose Stools: A Sign of Deeper Imbalance

Loose stools manifest when spleen deficiency impairs the body’s water absorption function. This inability to absorb water hinders the absorption of other nutrients, making loose stools a significant concern. Traditional herbal medicine considers constipation the source of all poisons, while loose stools are seen as the root of all deficiencies. Coldness, dampness, and heat toxins can cause congestion throughout the body, leading to qi stagnation and blood stasis. Addressing constipation is crucial for detoxification. Loose stools serve as a signal: your spleen is deficient, and nutrient absorption is compromised.

03 Case Study: The Link Between Loose Stools and Heart Problems

The following case study illustrates the connection between loose stools and heart issues. A previously healthy 72-year-old woman experienced episodes of panic, shortness of breath, and near-fainting after exertion. Despite extensive testing, Western medicine found no cause. These episodes recurred, prompting her to seek traditional herbal medicine.

01 Diagnosis: Sinking of Middle Qi

Dr. Guo Yaning found a weak pulse on the patient’s right hand, indicating a “sinking of middle qi.” In traditional herbal medicine, this signifies spleen deficiency, preventing vital yuanqi from rising to the liver and subsequently the heart. The heart, lacking sufficient vital yuanqi, weakens, causing the observed symptoms. This case highlights how the root of a problem may lie outside the area where symptoms manifest.

02 The Importance of Addressing the Root Cause

Dr. Guo diagnosed spleen deficiency leading to insufficient vital yuanqi and inquired about loose stools, which the patient confirmed she had experienced for many years. The doctor prescribed wu-xing-jian-pi-san to strengthen the spleen-stomach subsystem and support the kidneys.

(To be continued in part two)