While Western medicine generally focuses on symptoms and their underlying cause, Chinese medicine views the body as a whole. Practitioners of Chinese medicine (including acupuncturists) aim to discover the overall pattern of disharmony within the body. The goal of acupuncture is to treat this disharmony and bring the body into a state of balance.
The theory behind Chinese medicine (at its most basic) revolves around the concepts of Yin and Yang, which are polar opposites. Every part of the body is described in these terms, and levels of Yin and Yang are constantly changing. Therefore, all states of imbalance are described as either excessive Yin or Yang or deficient Yin or Yang. Generally, an excess of one results in a deficiency of the other.
Additionally, 12 of the internal organs (as defined by Chinese medicine) correspond to 12 major meridians that run through the body. The body’s life force, or ‘Qi’ moves along these meridians. If an internal organ is unbalanced, the Qi of that organ is also unbalanced.
The spleen, liver, kidney, and large intestine are all related to disorders that cause diarrhea. For example, the spleen is held responsible for regulating digestion. Patients suffering from diarrhea may be experiencing a deficiency in spleen Qi, which can lead to abdominal pain, gas, and bloating.
