What Are the Three Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Preparations for Chronic Colitis?

For the treatment of chronic colitis, the following three traditional Chinese patent medicines are recommended: 1. **Guben Yichang Pian (Guben Yichang Tablets)**: Composed of ingredients such as *Codonopsis pilosula* (Dangshen) and stir-baked *Atractylodes macrocephala* (Baizhu), this preparation functions to strengthen the spleen, warm the kidneys, astringe the intestines, and arrest diarrhea. It is especially suitable for diarrhea caused by deficiency-cold of the spleen and kidney, manifesting as dull, persistent abdominal pain and loose, watery stools—sometimes with mucus. 2. **Bupi Yichang Wan (Bupi Yichang Pills)**: Formulated with *Astragalus membranaceus* (Huangqi), *Codonopsis pilosula* (Dangshen), and other herbs, this medicine tonifies the middle jiao, augments qi, strengthens the spleen, harmonizes the stomach, astringes the intestines, and arrests diarrhea. It demonstrates marked efficacy in cases of spleen-deficiency diarrhea, commonly presenting with symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, distension, and intestinal gurgling. 3. **Fufang Xianhecao Changyan Jiaonang (Compound Agrimonia Pilosa Enteritis Capsules)**: Composed of *Agrimonia pilosa* (Xianhecao), *Coptis chinensis* (Huanglian), and other herbs, this preparation clears heat, dries dampness, strengthens the spleen, and arrests diarrhea. It is indicated for diarrhea due to spleen deficiency complicated by internal accumulation of damp-heat, typically characterized by urgent, forceful diarrhea with incomplete evacuation. All three of these traditional Chinese patent medicines demonstrate certain therapeutic effects in treating chronic colitis; however, selection and use must be individualized according to the patient’s specific clinical presentation and guided by the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). During treatment, patients should strictly follow their physician’s instructions, closely monitor changes in their condition, and adjust the treatment regimen promptly as needed.