Diarrhea after the recovery from a disease is mostly chronic and of repeated recurrence.

Syndrome differentiation and treatment

Asthenia of the spleen and stomach

It manifests loose stool with undigested food, increased frequency of defecation in the case of ingestion of slight greasy food, poor appetite, epigastric and abdominal distension and oppression, sallow complexion, lassitude, hypodynamia, pale tongue with white fur, thready and weak pulse. It is advisable to strengthen the spleen and stomach. The prescription used is the modified Shenling Baizhu Powder (Powder of Ginseng, Poria and Bighead Atractylodes). In the case of concurrent food stagnation, add Shenqu ( Massa Fermentata Medicinalis ), Maiya (Fruztus Hordei Germinatus ) and Shanzha (Fructus Crataegi); in the case of splenogastric yang deficiency, complicated by abdominal cold and pain, cold hands and feet, use Fuzi Lizhong Decoction (Decoction of Radix Aconiti for Regulating Middle Energizer) with additional ingredients; in the case of lingering chronic diarrhea, sunken qi of the middle energizer and concurrent proctoptosis, use Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (Decoction for Reinforcing Middle Energizer and Replenishing Qi).

Residual dampness and heat

It manifests diarrhea accompanied by abdominalgia, simultaneous onset of pain and diarrhea with scanty amount of stool and urgent defecation, perianal calor aggravated by depression and anger with concurrent thoracic and hypochondriac distension and tightness, eructation, poor appetite, yellowish and thin fur, taut, thready and slightly rapid pulse. It is advisable to eliminate the residual pathogenic factors, strengthen the spleen and check the liver. The prescription used is the combined application of Gegen Qinlian Decoction (Decoction of Pueraria, Scutellaria and Coptis) with Tongxie Yaofang Prescription (Important Prescription for Diarrhea with Pain). Fuling (Poria) and Muxiang (Radix Aueklandiae) may be added. In the case of red tongue tip without fur due to concurrent gastric yin deficiency, add Huaishanyao (Rhizoma Diosoreae), Yuzhu (Rhizoma Poly9onati Odorati) and Shihu (Herba Dendrobii).

Deficiency of the kidney yang

It manifests occasional diarrhea with undigested food, abdominal cold and pain relieved by warming and pressing, or diarrhea immediately after abdominalgia and borborygmus before dawn relieved by defecation, cold body and limbs, soreness and flaccidity of the waist and knees, pale tongue with white fur, deep and thready pulse. It is advisable to warm and strengthen the spleen and kidney, stop diarrhea with astringents. The prescription used is Sishen Pill (Pill of Four Miraculous Drugs) with additional ingredients. Besides, Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Praeparata) and Paojiang (baked ginger) may be accordingly added. In the case of old age and weak constitution, chronic diarrhea and sunken qi of the middle energizer, add Renshen ( Radix Ginseng), Huangqi ( Radix Astragali seu Hedysari ) and Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), or the prescription is used in combination with Taohua Decoction (Pink Decoction).