Eating Disorders—

Chinese Medicine and Breaking the Cycle of Deprivation

Eating disorders ravage the body mercilessly. This “mind over matter” pits the body against the effects of slow starvation. However, when the individual finally finds footing on a path to emotional wellness, most clinicians assume that healthy eating will cure years of malnutrition and deprivation. Perhaps this is common sense; still, there is a subtler, more insidious pathology at work, which can prevent ED sufferers from reaching true physical health, regardless of how well they eat later. Frequently, these sufferers continue to present what looks like low-level malnutrition, sometimes for months or years after medical test results return to normal.

The Cycle of Deprivation

Chinese medicine offers a number of ways to both understand this problem and address it. As we will see, the most important question is, what is the body doing with the nutrition we give it? An ED sufferer may be underutilizing nutrition, simply passing some of it, undigested, into the stool. This is a natural consequence of starvation, in which the body, including the digestive system, stops functioning properly. The digestive system will perform at lower and lower levels of efficiency, lacking important resources necessary to functioning. We might say that giving strong, nutrient rich food to a weakened system is like giving a marathon to a person on crutches. The ED sufferer cannot digest, and she cannot get the nutrition that would ultimately improve her digestion, either. The result is continued starvation. One might call this the Cycle of Deprivation.

The cycle of deprivation may persist for years as the digestion tries to “pick itself up” but must supply its own resources to do so. It is a challenging circumstance, especially in the long run, as it will continue to impact those in ED recovery. Simply put, a weakened digestion is a barrier to healing. In some ED cases, physical debilitation diminishes and disappears with healthy eating; in other cases, it lingers indefinitely.

The Constellation of Symptoms

Most clients presenting with Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa have a basic, general constellation of physical symptoms. In Chinese Medicine, we refer to this constellation as a detrimental insufficiency of qi and blood¹. Symptoms include heart palpitations, insomnia, diminished appetite, fatigue, a sallow facial complexion, poor memory, dizziness, poor concentration, dry skin and hair, and others. The menstrual cycle is usually effected, too, often in the form of amenorrhea (no periods); although, the situation sometimes presents in different ways, such as a shortened cycle, depending on whether it is qi or blood that is relatively weaker.

This is the Cycle of Detriment in action. While the ED population is diverse, the results of starvation are more specific. How can we help alleviate these symptoms, in the short term and with an eye towards real long-term health?

Basic Treatment

Chinese medicine offers a number of treatments to break the cycle of deprivation. Herbs are generally more effective than acupuncture, since acupuncture lacks the ability to nourish, which is what most ED sufferers physically need. Herbs, on the other hand, are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body’s systems. Among the classical herbal formulations, one can utilize a formula called Gui Pi Tang. It is easy to administer in pill form and will work well for the symptoms listed above. Taken at the recommended dosage, Gui Pi Tang will have a slow yet steady effect. It guides the sufferer towards health in a way that food alone cannot.

Gui Pi Tang addresses the Cycle of Deprivation from a number of angles—including nourishing the body, strengthening digestion, promoting appetite, and reducing anxiety. It also has a mild cleansing function, not through the stool but through the urine. Altogether, these various functions help break the Cycle of Deprivation in a harmonious and effective way.

Besides being the focus of numerous research studies in China, Gui Pi Tang has a thousand year history of common use in Asia and is considered safe for long-term consumption.³ It can sometimes cause bloating, nausea, and cramping in clients who are particularly weakened. Chinese Medicine refers to this as “deficiency resisting supplementation.” In this case, it is recommended that another formula be added, called Bao He Wan (Protect Harmony Pills), for a short period of weeks or months. The dosages of these two formulas can be adjusted so that clients are able to get the nourishment they need from Gui Pi Tang and digest it comfortably with Bao He Wan. With this strategy in mind, these formulas can be started day 1 of a treatment program and, in cases that respond positively, safely recommended for continuation 6-12 months.

Mental Health Components

Our digestion is a sensitive system. It is easily disrupted by emotional distress, and conversely, improving one’s digestive strength leads to improvements in related mental-emotional symptoms. We might call this “matter over mind.” Chinese Medicine practitioners frequently refer to digestion as the center. This name isn’t referring to anatomical location but to a useful mind-body cross over worth mentioning here.

When our digestion is strong and functioning properly, we feel centered. The converse of being centered is anxiety, worrying, over-thinking, and being easily influenced by people and external events. The feeling of not-being-centered, on a continuous basis, often leads to a sense of vulnerability, fear, and a need for control. You may recognize some of these symptoms among the ED population because they are the basic emotional states of debilitated digestion.

Since Gui Pi Tang helps to break the Cycle of Deprivation it can be used to treat these difficult emotional states, too. The implicit message here is that it is best if we are emotionally in our bodies. This is the best of mind-body medicine and well worth considering in the case of ED.

Concluding Notes

In conclusion, Chinese Medicine offers a unique perspective on the treatment of Eating Disorders. The information presented here was chosen because it is useful in a wide variety of cases. Certainly, there is more that Chinese Medicine can contribute to the treatment of ED, both in terms of perspective and practical medications. While everyone is aware that Eating Disorders present both mental and physical problems, our cultural background inclines us to separate these issues, often dividing them among different practitioners. The Chinese Medicine model suggests tremendous overlap. Immeasurable debility may be directly contributing to the ED problem. While therapists work to help untie emotional, cognitive knots, there are other, more physical knots lying in a different place of hiding but of equal consequence to treatment success.

Dr. Jesse Hoover

¹qi and blood are basic concepts in the Chinese Medicine model. Blood, here, does not refer to blood specifically, but actually to a group of functions related to nourishment and lubrication. If a client is malnourished and dry, we say that their blood has been damaged.

²Spleen here does not refer simply to the organ but also to a series of digestive systems well beyond the anatomical role of the spleen.

³There has been much guessing and minimal conclusive testing regarding the safety of Chinese herbs. I would encourage anyone administering or taking this formula to speak with a doctor and to research the individual herbs and read about their possible side effects. However, the accumulated properties of individual herbs are not equal to the combined properties of a formulation. Long-term use, by millions of people, makes this formulation a safe bet, certainly safer than most prescription drugs, which lack such a history. In my private practice, I have never seen a negative herb-drug interaction with this formula and do not expect to.

Copywrite 2012 Jesse Hoover