Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a unique advantage in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, focusing not only on the surface of the disease, but also on the overall health of the patient.
We have summarized 8 TCM methods for treating diabetes, no injections and no medicine, so that you can spend less money.
01
Diet
Since ancient times, Chinese medicine has had the theory of "medicine and food are of the same origin".
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that according to each person's physique, choosing the appropriate dietary therapy method can adjust the condition of the whole body and make the human body achieve a healthy state of yin and yang balance. For example[1]:
- Yin deficiency and heat: choose mulberry leaves, cassia seeds, lotus seeds, etc., which have the effect of nourishing yin and clearing heat;
- Qi and Yin Deficiency: Choose mulberry, wolfberry, kudzu, etc., which have the effect of nourishing qi and nourishing yin;
- Yin and Yang Deficiency: Choose yam, poria, cinnamon, etc., which have the effect of nourishing yin and replenishing yang.
Diabetic diet should be close to the "four blacks" and far from the "four whites", that is, eat black rice, black beans, black fungus, black sesame, and eat less sugar, white salt, white fat, and white monosodium glutamate.
When eating, be focused, "eat without words", and chew slowly.
02
Traditional Chinese Medicine Exercises
The biggest difference between traditional Chinese medicine exercise and modern exercise is that it can not only consume energy and lower blood sugar, but also nourish the heart, temperament, and mind, which is more beneficial to sugar friends who are depressed, anxious, or have poor sleep [2].
Recommend 5 traditional Chinese medicine exercises suitable for sugar lovers:
(Click on the image to enlarge it)
03
Five elements of music
Five Elements Music Therapy can improve depression and anxiety, improve sleep quality, and can also help lower blood sugar levels and improve quality of life. Among them, the palace tone and the horn tone are preferred[2]:
- Gong tune: the melody is melodious and quiet, thick and solemn, as generous and inclusive as "soil", and the representative musical instruments are Xun, Sheng, etc. (representative repertoire: plum blossom three lanes, etc.), suitable for listening to during or after meals.
- Horn tune: the melody is full of vitality, the tune is fresh and refreshing, which makes people feel comfortable and optimistic, and the representative instruments are the flute, bamboo flute, etc. (representative repertoire: Jiangnan Hao, etc.), suitable for listening to before going to bed.
04
Medicinal tea
When it comes to tea, people generally think of green tea, black tea, oolong tea, etc., but did you know that there is also a special kind of tea in Chinese medicine - tea medicine.
Recommend 3 medicinal teas suitable for sugar lovers[3]:
- Three flower teas: 30 grams of reed root, 15 grams of kudzu root, 15 grams of white grass root, 30 grams of smallpox pollen, boiled water instead of tea. The effect is to nourish yin and nourish the body. It is suitable for elderly people with type 2 diabetes and thirst.
- Chrysanthemum Sanzi Tea: 15 grams of chrysanthemum, 30 grams of wolfberry, 30 grams of mulberry seeds, 30 grams of cassia seeds, boiled water instead of tea. The effect is to nourish yin and nourish the kidneys, benefit the liver and brighten the eyes. It is suitable for elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and dry eyes.
- Yiqi Tongmai Tea: 15 grams of honey astragalus, 15 grams of salvia, 15 grams of chicken blood vine, 15 grams of Jiuchuanxiong, boiled water instead of tea. The effect is to invigorate qi and clear the pulse. It is suitable for elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and neurological and vascular diseases.
05
Massage acupuncture points
Massage can promote blood circulation in the body, stimulation of acupuncture points can regulate the flow of qi and blood in the body, and the combination of the two can help improve insulin secretion and lower blood sugar.
It is advisable to choose acupoints such as Spleen Yu, Stomach Yu, Kidney Yu, Quchi, Shousanli, Neiguan, Hegu, Yanglingquan, Xuehai, Zusanli, and Sanyinjiao [4].
It is best to massage with rubbing, acupoints, and abdominal vibrating, each massage for 15 minutes (local soreness, swelling, and slight pain is appropriate), 5 times a week [4].
06
moxibustion
Moxibustion is a unique treatment of traditional Chinese medicine that can improve physical fitness and regulate metabolism [3].
It is recommended that sugar friends choose lung Yu, spleen Yu, kidney Yu, middle navel, Dazhu, Zusanli, Guan Yuan, Shenque and other acupoints, and use mild moxibustion or ginger moxibustion, with the temperature and redness of the skin.
Moxibustion can be done once a day, 20~30 minutes each time, and 2 weeks is 1 course of treatment[3].
Moxibustion should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor, and should not be explored at home.
07
Medicine pillow
Sleeping with a pilled pillow every night can stimulate the meridians and acupoints of the head and neck and help you sleep.
The medicine pillow often uses Chinese medicinal materials that calm the nerves, such as nightshade, mother-of-pearl, cocoon, sour jujube kernel, etc.
It is best to change the medicine pillow every 15 days.
The pillow should be used under the guidance of a Chinese medicine practitioner or Chinese herbalist.
08
Traditional Chinese medicine foot bath
Soaking your feet with Chinese herbal medicines can stimulate the meridians and vascular nerves, improve blood circulation, and prevent diabetic foot.
Foot baths often use Chinese medicinal materials that invigorate blood circulation and dispel blood stasis, such as Shou Wu vine, chicken blood vine, acacia bark, etc.
The recommended water temperature for the foot bath is around 38°C [4] to avoid burns, and it is enough to feel that your back is damp or your forehead is slightly sweaty. The foot soaking time is controlled at 30 minutes[4].
Caution:
- It is not advisable to take a foot bath in a state of drunkenness, hunger, thirst, extreme fatigue, etc.
- For those with heart disease and physical weakness, the foot bath time should not be too long, generally no more than 10 minutes.
- If there is a skin ulcer, infection and venous thrombosis of the lower limbs, it is not contraindicated.
The above 8 traditional Chinese medicine sugar control methods, sugar friends may wish to try it. However, no matter which method is chosen, it is not a substitute for medication to treat diabetes.
Bibliography:
[1] Adult Diabetes Diet Guide (2023 edition)
[2] Ni Qing, Pang Qing, Yang Yanan, et al.Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in traditional Chinese medicine[J/OL].Global Chinese Medicine:1-14[2024-04-23].
[3] Chen Lihong, Chen Zhengtao, Gao Hong, et al.Guidelines for the management of chronic diseases of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the elderly[J].Research on Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine,2023,15(04):239-253.
[4] Yang Shuyu.National Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes at the Primary Level (2022)[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2022,63(24):2397-2414.
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