In Chinese medicine, chronic pancreatitis may be caused by dysfunction in the liver, spleen, and stomach. In fact, Chinese medicine practitioners do not consider the pancreas to be a distinct organ from the rest of the GI system. Instead, the pancreas’ functions are delegated to other GI organs, and Gao Liang Jiang and Xiang Fu can help with chronic pancreatitis.
When treating chronic pancreatitis, the goal for practitioners is to identify what is causing the inflammation and then bring any dysfunctional organs back into balance.
How Chinese Medicine Practitioners Treat Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is painful for most patients and can be life-limiting. In Chinese medicine, the condition is often caused by excessive heat building up in the liver while the stomach suffers from a heat deficiency. This heat-cold dynamic is pathological from a Chinese medicine perspective and damages the body’s ability to maintain adequate qi flow.
Practitioners seek to restore qi flow and quality of life through treatment, which may include the use of beneficial herbs. One proven formulation is a combination of Gao Liang Jiang and Xiang Fu, which target the spleen, liver, and stomach.
Gao Liang Jiang targets the spleen and stomach channels and is able to warm those organs in the process. This can help resolve epigastric and abdominal pain due to excessive cold.
Xiang Fu targets the liver and is used to resolve liver qi stagnation and restore harmony between the liver and spleen. Together, these herbs can resolve dysfunction in the organs most often responsible for chronic pancreatitis.
The Difference Between Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is a short-lived inflammatory episode that affects the pancreas. It may occur without any health-related warning signs, though behavioral and dietary risk factors play a role. Some of those risk factors include:
- Alcohol use
- Smoking
- Autoimmune disorders
- Cystic fibrosis
- Certain genes
Chronic pancreatitis is a recurring form of inflammation that may be initially caused by an acute attack. The same risk factors that feed into acute pancreatitis can also cause chronic pancreatitis, though other chronic diseases, including cancer, may also cause the condition.
Working with a reputable Chinese medicine practitioner may result in relief of the sometimes-debilitating pain that accompanies chronic pancreatitis.