Chinese Medicine for Diarrhea

In Chinese medicine, diarrhea reflects an imbalance in the body’s energy and organs—especially the spleen, stomach, liver, and kidneys. It can come from cold, dampness, heat, poor digestion, or internal weakness. Each type shows distinct signs and requires a specific treatment approach to restore balance and stop diarrhea.

Cold–Dampness

Common Signs

  • Loose, watery stools with foul odor

  • No sweating even in hot weather

  • Cold sensations in the lower abdomen or genitals

  • Cough or sputum discharge

  • Edema in the limbs

  • Headache or movement difficulty

  • Stomachache and body pain

  • Scant, clear urine

Treatment Principle
Remove dampness using aromatic herbs, disperse cold, and dry dampness to strengthen digestion.

Herbal Formula: Huo-Xiang-Zheng-Qi-San

Helpful Foods: Cayenne pepper, dill seed, fennel, fresh ginger, mustard seed, prickly ash, star anise, mustard, wine, carp, celery, horse bean, jellyfish skin, Job’s tears, hyacinth bean, oregano, sweet basil, adzuki bean, bamboo shoot, soybean sprouts, rosin

Superficial Dampness–Heat

Common Signs

  • Diarrhea with burning or itching in the anus or genitals

  • Yellowish, foul-smelling stools

  • Low fever and excessive sweating

  • Pain and swelling in the joints or limbs

  • Red, scant urine or difficulty urinating

  • Thirst and fatigue

  • Yellow tone to the skin

Treatment Principle
Clear heat, remove dampness, and regulate the stomach and intestines.

Herbal Formula: Ge-Gen-Qin-Lian-Tang

Helpful Foods: Carp, celery, horse bean, jellyfish skin, Job’s tears, prickly ash, hyacinth bean, oregano, sweet basil, adzuki bean, bamboo shoot, soybean sprouts, rosin, banana, bitter endive, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, cucumber, beet leaf, mung bean, peppermint, purslane

Indigestion

Common Signs

  • Abdominal pain relieved after bowel movement

  • Diarrhea with strong odor

  • Belching with bad breath

  • Fullness in chest and stomach

  • Poor appetite or nausea

  • Hot palms, mild fever, or bad-smelling stools

  • Alternating constipation and diarrhea

Treatment Principle
Promote digestion, regulate the stomach and intestines, and relieve food stagnation.

Herbal Formula: Mu-Xiang-Bing-Lang-Wan

Helpful Foods: Asafoetida, buckwheat, castor bean, jellyfish, peach, radish, water chestnut, cardamom seed, cayenne pepper, coriander, grapefruit, jackfruit, malt, sweet basil, tea, tomato

Liver Offending the Spleen

Common Signs

  • Diarrhea occurring right after abdominal pain

  • Chronic or stress-related diarrhea

  • Bloating or abdominal distention

  • Fatigue and poor appetite

  • Hunger without desire to eat

  • Thirst without desire to drink

Treatment Principle
Soothe the liver, regulate energy, harmonize the stomach, and strengthen the spleen.

Herbal Formula: Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang

Helpful Foods: Brown sugar, kumquat, mandarin orange, apple cucumber, bog bean, gold carp, carrot, chestnut, corn cob, horse bean, hyacinth bean, Job’s tears, Irish potato, royal jelly, string bean, whitefish, yam

Spleen–Dampness

Common Signs

  • Chronic or recurring diarrhea with watery stools

  • Feeling heavy, tired, or sluggish

  • Jaundice or puffiness in the body

  • Chest fullness and poor appetite

  • Sweet or sticky taste in the mouth

  • Preference for warm drinks

  • Nausea and mild vomiting

Treatment Principle
Strengthen spleen energy, help dampness drain, and stop diarrhea.

Herbal Formula: Shen-Ling-Bai-Zhu-San or Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang

Helpful Foods: Gold carp, corn cob, horse bean, Job’s tears, prickly ash, adzuki bean, bamboo shoot

Spleen–Kidney Yang Deficiency

Common Signs

  • Early morning or “before dawn” diarrhea

  • Cold hands, feet, and loins

  • Weakness or fatigue after bowel movement

  • Watery, sticky, or muddy stools

  • Frequent urination with clear urine

  • Fear of cold, low voice, and lethargy

  • Whole-body edema in severe cases

Treatment Principle
Warm and strengthen the spleen and kidneys, solidify the intestines, and stop diarrhea.

Herbal Formula: Si-Shen-Wan

Helpful Foods: Shark air bladder, chicken, cayenne pepper, fennel, nutmeg, black and white pepper, prickly ash, mutton, sword bean, mustard seed, kidney, lobster, sardine, shrimp, sparrow, clove, dill seed, pistachio, sparrow egg, crab apple, raspberry, walnut

In Chinese medicine, diarrhea comes from disruption of the body’s energy flow—whether from cold, dampness, heat, poor digestion, or weakness of the spleen and kidneys. Restoring balance through herbs, warming or cooling foods, and strengthening digestion helps stop diarrhea at its source and restore internal harmony.