Eating Disorders (Bu Shi)
Bu Shi means “no eating”, though this condition may include excessive or compulsive eating disorders
Relevant Western Diseases:
Can be found in anorexia nervosa, bulimia, psychogenic vomiting, depression disorder, schizophrenia, and
bipolar mood disorder, psychoneurosis, psychogenic psychosis
Diagnosis:
A. Constant or extreme bulimic/anorexic behavior
B. Accompanied or aggravated by depressed mood and emotional activities
C. Dramatically losing or gaining more than 25% of normal body weight
D. Malnutrition status, especially disturbance of reproductive functions
E. Clear Zang Fu disharmony and dysfunction symptoms
F. Diagnosis of eating disorder in Western medicine
Should have A, then refer others to confirm diagnosis
Prognosis:
Chronic and recurrent patterns are commonly seen in the clinic; lingering type disorders with severe Zang
Fu disharmony and Shen injury will take a long time of medical care o resolve. Most patients, if treated in
earlier stages will recover to be normal. However some patients with severe disorders may die from evil Qi
attack, Yin Yang collapse, or suicide
TCM Etiology & Pathogenesis:
“Emotional disharmony causes Zang Fu disharmony and injures Zang Shen and brain Shen. Generally
eating disorders are caused by Liver, Heart, Spleen and Stomach, and later the Kidneys. Liver Qi overacting
on the middle burner, Heart Shen weakness and irritability, Spleen Qi deficiency or Stomach Qi rebellion are
the most common Zang Fu disharmony patterns; in addition, long-term disease exhaustion affects Kidney
Qi, or generates dampness, phlegm or blood stagnation. Evil Qi invasion can also create eating disorder
problems”2
TCM Pattern Differentiation:
Liver Qi Overacting on Spleen & Stomach Affecting Brain Shen2
Desire to eat first, followed by eating big meals when feeling anxious and moody. May have binge eating,
nausea, vomiting after eating, gaining weight quickly. Otherwise may reject eating, have anorexia, dislike
food smells, extremely sensitive to body image. Anorexia produces low energy, extreme fatigue, tendency to
lie down, desire to stay alone, dislike for talking with people or socializing. Abdominal bloating, no bowel
movement for a few days, dry stool or loose, amenorrhea,
Tongue: pale tongue, thin or no coat
Pulse: weak, deep
Acupuncture Treatment: LR-3, LR-14, SP-3, CV-6, CV-12, ST-36, Yintang, HT-7, PC-6
Herbal Treatment: [Huang Qi, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Fu Ling, Bai Zhu, Chai Hu, Xiang Fu, Yu Jin, Chen Pi,
Mu Xiang, Da Zao, Gan Cao, Fo Shou, Shan Zha, Mai Ya, Ji Nei Jin]
Heart Blood and Spleen Qi Deficiency Injures Brain Shen2
Patient is constantly eating, and eats at irregular mealtimes, prefers sweets and snacks, has poor digestion,
extreme loss or gain of weight, may vomit food after eating, fells extremely weak and low energy, sleepy
during the daytime, retardation, depression, heavy body sensation, dizziness, prefers lyig down, dislikes
socializing or contact with others, dramatic weight changes, low social or working skills, disturbed learning or
working abilities, may lose job or quit school
Tongue: pale tongue, thin coat
Pulse: weak, deep
Acupuncture Treatment: HT-7, SP-3, SP-10, ST-36, BL-15, BL-17, BL-20, BL-43, GV-20, Si Shen Cong
Herbal Treatment: [Ren Shen, Dang Shen, Huang Qi, Long Yan Rou, Suan Zao Ren, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Mu
Xiang, Dang Gui, Yuan Zhi, Mai Ya, Shen Qiu, Gan Cao]
Stomach Yin Deficiency, Shen Weakness2
Patient feels hunger but doesn’t eat anything, feels moody, depressed, and constantly complains of ugly
body image, talkative and has low energy at daytime and some energy at night, insomnia, dry mouth
especially at night, wakes up at night to drink, stomach region painful and upset, may eat a little bit then
vomit it out, acid reflux, urine is scanty and dark, constipation, feeling of warm in the body and hands, night
sweats and hot flashes, Shen weak and irritable
Tongue: red tongue, thin or no coat
Pulse: thready, rapid
Acupuncture Treatment: ST-36, ST-44, SP-6, CV-12, PC-6, PC-7, LI-4, LI-6, GB-15, Yintang
Herbal Treatment: [Sha Shen,Mai Dong,Yu Zhu, Sheng Di, Shi Hu, Bai He, Zhi Mu, Ren Shen,Jing Mi, Da
Zao,Mai Ya,Shen Qiu]
Phlegm Heat Stagnation Obstructing Brain Shen2
Patient eats less or over eats in an irregular manner, becomes extremely overweight then loses weight,
prefers junk and greasy foods, even fatty foods, tends toward binge eating, has nausea, may have vomiting,
depression and low energy, heavy head and body, sleepy in the daytime and takes a long time to fall asleep
at night, chest suffocating and abdominal bloating, clouded mind, body lassitude and retardation, low
motivation and libido, prefers staying alone, eating many times a day but no physical activity, phlegm sound
and snoring at night
Tongue: puffy and swollen tongue w/ teeth marks, wet and greasy coat
Pulse: slippery, wiry, deep
Acupuncture Treatment: ST-12, ST-40, SP-6, SP-9, GV-20, HT-7, PC-6, GB-13, GB-40, Yintang
Herbal Treatment: [Huang Lian, Ban Xia, Zhu Ru, Zhi Shi, Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Gan Cao, Dan Nan Xing, Gua
Lou, Zhi Zi, Hou Zao, Pang Da Hai, Ji Nei Jin]
Phlegm Heat Stagnation Obstructing Brain Shen2
Patient not eating and no appetite, weak w/ no energy to eat, lose weight continually, may sip soup and
some drinks, totally exhausted body and weak mental activities, extremities feel a little warm, night
sweats/flushes, scanty urine, constipation.
Overweight type: almost all occur after middle age, feels hungry all the time, eat large amounts of food,
moody, irritable, sensitive and nervous, easily angered, low back sore and soft legs and knees, amenorrhea
or menopausal situation
Tongue: red tongue, thin or no coat
Pulse: thread, weak
Acupuncture Treatment: KI-3, KI-6, KI-15, LR-3, LR-8, SP-6, ST-25, GV-20, BL-23, BL-18
Herbal Treatment: [Shu Di Huang, Gui Ban Jiao, Gou Qi Zi, Shan Yao, Bie Jia, Bai Shao, Zhen Zhu Mu,
Suan Zao Ren, Ye Jiao Teng, Di Gu Pi, She Qiu, Mai Ya]
Liver Qi and Blood Stagnation Causing Shen Disharmony2
Not eating and has no appetite, extreme weight loss, moody and depressed, dry skin & itching, scaly skin
that flakes off, body pains and aches, weak digestion, constipation or diarrhea, symptoms change with
emotions, easily cry and get angry, may have long term & recurrent eating or depression disorder, thirsty
w/out drinking, purplish lips and complexion, dark circles around eyes, insomnia, dream frequently
Tongue: purplish tongue, thin white coat
Pulse: choppy, wiry
Acupuncture Treatment: LR-3, LR-14, TW-6, GB-34, SP-6, SP-10, HT-7, GB-15, GB-41, Yintang
Herbal Treatment: [Tao Ren, Hing Hua, Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, Chuan Xiong, Chi Shao, Chuan Niu
Xi, Ji Geng, Chai Hu, Zhi Ke, He Shou Wu, Huang Jing, Ji Nei Jin]
