What is the traditional Chinese medicine name for ulcerative colitis?

Jun 10, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

I've recently had some diarrhea and suspect it might be ulcerative colitis. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor said it's dysentery. What is the TCM term for ulcerative colitis?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Jingxiang
Ulcerative colitis does not have an exact corresponding disease name in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, based on its clinical manifestations and pathological characteristics, it is generally classified under categories such as "dysentery" or "diarrhea." 1. **Dysentery**: In TCM, dysentery typically presents with symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, tenesmus, and bloody stools—symptoms that resemble certain features of ulcerative colitis. Dysentery is further categorized into different types, such as damp-heat dysentery, epidemic-toxic dysentery, cold-damp dysentery, and yin-deficient dysentery, each corresponding to distinct clinical presentations. 2. **Diarrhea**: Diarrhea is another TCM diagnosis characterized by increased frequency of bowel movements and changes in stool volume and quality, which closely resembles the diarrheal symptoms seen in ulcerative colitis. Although ulcerative colitis does not have a precise disease name in TCM, it can be categorized under conditions like dysentery or diarrhea according to its symptom profile, allowing for pattern differentiation and treatment accordingly.