Jaundice – Huang Dan

A yellow discolouring of the skin, yellow mucous membranes, yellow eyes and yellow urine caused by too much bile in the blood. Jaundice may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, poor appetite and stomach pain. The primary factor in Jaundice in traditional Chinese medicine is damp heat due to internal or external disease.

Western medicine Causes of jaundice 

– acute or chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, gallbladder problems (stones, inflammation)

Chinese Medicine and Jaundice

- Damp/Heat in the Liver Gallbladder pushes bile out of it’s regular tract causing *yellowing of the eyes, skin, and sclera. Often caused by poor diet or alcohol which damages the Spleen Stomach then finally reaches the Liver Gallbladder.

Etiology (causes) of Jaundice:

1. Accumulation of Damp Heat -impairs liver soothing function pushing bile out of its tract.

2. Stagnated Heat in Liver and Gall Bladder - due t long term stress or sudden shock, bile turns to stones blocking bile tract.

3. Deficient Cold in Middle Jiao: Spleen Deficiency complicated with cold – can’t transform damp blocking bile tract

4. Spleen and Stomach Deficiency – can’t produce enough Qi and Blood

5. Toxic Heat Accumulation - invades Ying and Xue levels injuring Liver and

6. Kidney Abdominal Mass (Ji Ju) - stagnation in abdomen blocks Gall Bladder channel pushing bile out

Chinese Medicine Differentiation and Treatment

Yang Jaundice

Damp Heat With Superficial Symptoms Yellow eyes, yellow skin, yellow urine, aversion to cold, fever heaviness of head and body, fatigue, no appetite Tongue - thin, greasy coat Pulse - floating, wiry, rapid

Principle of Treatment: clear heat, transform dampness, relieve superficial area

Acupuncture points – foot jueyin and shaoyang, Bladder 19, Gall bladder 34, Liver 3, Small Intestine 4 (Yuan, separate clear from turbid, induce diuresis) - heat, fever – Du 14 - constipation – Bladder 25

Herbal Medicine Formula: Ma Huang Lian Qiao Chi Xiao Dou Tang + Gan Lung Xiao Du Dan  

Accumulation of Damp Heat (more heat) Yellow eyes, yellow skin, yellow scanty urine, fresh, bright yellow jaundice color, fever, thirst, nauseous, fullness in abdomen, poor appetite, dry stools Tongue - red, yellow greasy coat Pulse - soft, rapid, slippery

Principle of Treatment: induce diresis to eliminate damp and clear heat

Acupuncture points – foot jueyin and shaoyang, Bladder 19, Gall bladder 34, Liver 3, Small Intestine 4 (Yuan, separate clear from turbid, induce diuresis) - heat, fever – Du 14 - constipation – Bladder 25

Herbal Medicine Formula: Yin Chen Hao Tang

Accumulation of Damp (more damp) Heat Yellow eyes, yellow skin, yellow urine, recessive fever, heaviness and fullness of chest/abdomen, thirst with no desire to drink, soft sticky stool Tongue - mixed yellow/greasy Pulse - soft

Principle of Treatment: induce diresis to eliminate damp and clear heat

Acupuncture points – foot jueyin and shaoyang, Bladder 19, Gall bladder 34, Liver 3, Small Intestine 4 (Yuan, separate clear from turbid, induce diuresis) - heat, fever – Du 14 - constipation – Bladder 25

Herbal Medicine Formula: Yin Chen Si Ling Tang

Liver And Gall Bladder Heat Stagnation Yellow eyes, yellow skin, yellow scanty urine, hypochondriac pain, irritability, bitter taste in mouth, thirst, nauseous, vomiting, poor appetite, dry stools, fullness in abdomen Tongue - red, yellow/dry coat Pulse - wiry, slippery, rapid

Principle of Treatment: Clear Liver and Gall Bladder to transform dampness

Acupuncture points – Du, foot jueyin, Du 14, 26, Bladder 18, 19 and Gall bladder 34 (purge Liver Gallbladder toxic heat), Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3 (4 gates- purge heat, severe), Heart 9 (bleed)

Herbal Medicine Formula: Qing Dan Tang

Yin Jaundice

Accumulation of Damp Cold Yellow eyes, dark yellow skin, yellow urine, fatigue, poor appetite, bloating, aversion to cold, soft stools Tongue - swollen/pale, greasy white coat Pulse - deep, thin, retarded

Principle of Treatment: strengthen spleen and stomach to warm cold and transform damp  

Acupuncture points – foot taiyin and yangming, Liver 13 and Bladder 20, Ren 12 and Stomach 36,(warm and transform), Spleen 6, *SI 4 (empirical for jaundice) - more Yang deficiency – Ren 4, Du 4 Damp – neutral, Moxa, foot taiyin, yangming, *Du 9 (below T9- level with inferior scapular border), Ren 12 and Stomach 36 and Bladder 20 (damp), Bladder 19 and Spleen 6 (soothe Gallbladder, induce diuresis) - mid Jiao symptoms – Ren 4, Stomach 25

Herbal Medicine Formula: Yin Chen Zhu Fu Tang

Liver Blood Stasis Yellow eyes, dark yellow skin, yellow urine, distended pain in hypogastrium, spider veins Tongue - purple Pulse - wiry, thin, uneven

Principle of Treatment: promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis to soothe liver

Herbal Medicine Formula: Bie Jia Jian Wan

Blood Deficiency Yellow eyes, yellow skin, yellow urine, poor appetite, shortness of breath, fatigue, soft stools Tongue - pale, thin coat Pulse - thin, soft

Principle of Treatment: strengthen spleen, nourish Qi/Blood, warm middle jiao

Herbal Medicine Formula: Xiao Jian Zhong Tang

Severe Jaundice

Excess Toxic Heat Yellow eyes, yellow skin, yellow scanty urine, acute onset, turns to deep yellow with excessive fever, severe nauseous and vomiting, abdomen distension with pain, constipation, irritable Tongue - dry/red, yellow coat Pulse - wiry, rapid, surging

Principle of Treatment: Clear heat and detoxify

Acupuncture points – Du, foot jueyin, Du 14, 26, Bladder 18, 19 and Gall bladder 34 (purge Liver Gallbladder toxic heat), Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3 (4 gates- purge heat, severe), Heart 9 (bleed)

Herbal Medicine Formula: Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin

Toxic Heat Invades Ying And Blood Levels Yellow eyes, golden skin, yellow urine, retention of urine, excessive fever, bleeding, irritability, delirium, spasm of limbs Tongue - deep red, turbid coat Pulse - wiry/thin, rapid

Principle of Treatment: clear heat, detoxify, cool blood and rescue yin

Acupuncture points – Du, foot jueyin, Du 14, 26, Bladder 18, 19 and Gall bladder 34 (purge Liver Gallbladder toxic heat), Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3 (4 gates- purge heat, severe), Heart 9 (bleed)

Herbal Medicine Formula: Xi Jiao San

Alternative Treatment Methods for Jaundice 

Ear Acupuncture – GB, LR, SP, ST, mid ear, medium stimulation

injection – Ban Lan Gen (antiviral), vitamin B1, Dan Shen, Liver 14, Gall bladder 24, Bladder 18, 19, SJ 3 - 0.5.0 ml daily