The Treatment of Modern Western - Biblio.nhat-nam.ru

18CHRONIC PANCREATITISChronic pancreatitis refers to chronic inflammation of thepancreas. In the United States, the most common cause ofthis condition is alcoholism. The main symptom of chronicpancreatitis is severe epigastric pain which may last for hoursor even days. This pain may radiate straight through to theback in 50% of patients. The pain usually develops suddenlyand reaches maximal intensity within minutes. Its qualityis steady and boring, and it is not relieved by pressure orchanges in position. However, coughing, deep breathing, orvigorous movement may accentuate this pain. Most patientsalso experience nausea and vomiting to the point of dryheaves. While chronic pancreatitis is usually characterized byrecurrent attacks of symptoms identical to acute pancreatitis,some few patients may not experience any pain. Other symptomsinclude diarrhea, anorexia, emaciation, jaundice, andabdominal lumps.The Western medical diagnosis of this condition is made byfirst ruling out all other causes of severe paroxysmal epigastricpain. It is then confirmed by x-ray, ultrasound, CT scan,and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Inaddition, tests of pancreatic function assess endocrine andexocrine function. The Western medical treatment of chronicpancreatitis begins with abstinence from alcohol. Episodessimilar to acute pancreatitis are treated in the same way asthat disease, i.e., primarily by fasting and infusion of IV fluids.The Western medical treatment of chronic pancreaticpain is frequently unsatisfactory. Antacid and H 2 receptorblockers are often administered as well as narcotics to relievepain. However, often increasing amounts of narcotics arerequired, and there is the very real danger of the patientbecoming addicted to these. Surgery is sometimes resorted tofor pain relief in cases of pancreatic pseudocyst or other causesof compression of the pancreatic duct. Unfortunately, suchsurgery is effective in relieving pain in only 40-70% of cases.Chronic pancreatitis often coexists with diabetes mellitus. Inthat case, oral hypoglycemics are rarely effective, whileinsulin must only be used cautiously since the pathophysiologyof pancreatitis means that the hypoglycemic effects ofinsulin are unopposed.CHINESE DISEASE CATEGORIZATION: Based onthis condition’s main clinical symptoms, it is mainly categorizedin Chinese medicine as fu tong, abdominal pain, xietong, rib-side pain, xie xie, diarrhea, huang dan, jaundice, nadai, torpid intake, xiao xue, emaciation (literally, dispersionand whittling), and zheng jia, concretions and conglomerations.In addition, nausea is e xin and vomiting is ou tu.DISEASE CAUSES: Unregulated eating and drinking,internal damage by the seven affects, roundworms internallyharassing, and habitual bodily vacuity weaknessDISEASE MECHANISMS: Over-eating fatty, sweet,thick-flavored foods or drinking too much alcohol mayresult in damage and detriment to the spleen and stomach,further resulting in the internal engenderment of accumulationand stagnation. If this endures, it may brew dampnessand transform heat. In that case, dampness and heat andfood and drink may mutually bind in the center, obstructingand stagnating the qi mechanism and causing loss of normalcyin upbearing and downbearing. This then results inepigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, torpid intake, diarrhea,emaciation, and jaundice. It is also possible that, due to eatingunclean foods, dampness and heat brew worms. Ifroundworms obstruct the intestines, there will be pain, nausea,vomiting, torpid intake, diarrhea, and jaundice.Either unfulfilled desires or anger may damage the liver,while worry and anxiety damage the spleen. If the liver isdamaged, coursing and discharge will lose their normalcy. Ifthe spleen is damaged, movement and transformation willlose their normalcy. If this endures for days, qi stagnationmay result in pain, while inhibition of upbearing and down-