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Chinese Herbal Footbath for Diabetic Foot abstracted & translated by Keywords: Chinese medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, diabetic foot, footbath Diabetic foot refers to ulcers and recurrent or nonhealing sores on the feet and lower extremities of patients with diabetes mellitus. Such sores and ulcers are an important cause of morbidity in patients with diabetes. They can and often do lead to acromelic gangrene and amputation. Bai Ying-tuo published an article titled, “The Treatment of 40 Cases of Diabetic Foot with Chinese Medicinal Steaming & Washing,” in issue #2, 2002 of Ji Lin Zhong Yi Yao (Jilin Chinese Medicine & Medicinals) on page 38. A precis of that article appears below. Cohort description: Of the 40 patients in this study, 18 suffered from type 1 diabetes and 22 suffered from type 2. The course of disease (for diabetic foot) had lasted from 10 days to three years. No further description of these patients was given. Treatment method: The Chinese medicinal footbath consisted of: Herba Tougucao (Tou Gu Cao), 30g, Caulis Milletiae Seu Spatholobi (Ji Xue Teng), 30g, Herba Lycopodii (Shen Jin Cao), 30g, Radix Rubrus Paeoniae Lactiflorae (Chi Shao), 15g, Flos Carthami Tinctorii (Hong Hua), 15g, Lignum Sappan (Su Mu), 15g, Radix Phytolaccae (Shang Lu), 15g, Radix Et Rhizoma Notopterygii (Qiang Huo), 15g, and Radix Ligustici Wallichii (Chuan Xiong), 15g. One ji of these medicinals was decocted in water per day. First it was used to steam and then it was used to wash (or soak) the affected area. This was done once each morning and night for 40 minutes each time. During this treatment, patients were forbidden to eat acrid, peppery foods or to drink alcohol. Treatment outcomes: Twenty cases were judged cured after 10 ji, 12 were cured after 15 ji, and three were cured after one whole month of treatment. Five cases did not persist in doing the washes and soaks resolutely. Discussion: According to Dr. Bai, the basic pathophysiology of diabetes in terms of Chinese medicine is yin vacuity with dryness and heat. Because fluids and blood share a common source, yin vacuity with dryness and heat resulting in fluid depletion and reduction in humors must also cause disruption in the smooth and easy circulation of the blood. If dryness and heat burin internally, cooking and boiling the constructive and blood, this can lead to blood stasis. In that case, the vessels and network vessels become nonfreely flowing. This leads to pain and also to diabetic foot. Therefore, this protocol mainly uses blood-quickening, stasis-dispelling medicinals in order to re-establish the circulation of blood in the feet, thus increasing and strengthening their construction and nourishment. Although Chinese medicinals soaks and washes for diabetic foot are time-consuming and take some time to get their effect, they have no side effects and their treatment effects are considered good by Dr. Bai. Copyright © Blue Poppy Press, 2002. All rights reserved. For more information on the Chinese medical treatment of diabetes and its complications, see Bob Flaws, Lynn Kuchinski & Robert Casañas’s The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus with Chinese Medicine available from Blue Poppy Press in late Spring-early Summer, 2002. |
