Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the body is no longer able to use insulin effectively and gradually becomes resistant to its effects. It is a slowly progressing disease that goes through identifiable stages. In the early stages of diabetes, both insulin and glucose levels are elevated (conditions called hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, respectively). In the later stages, insulin levels are reduced, and blood glucose levels are very elevated. Although few people are aware of this crucial distinction, therapy for type 2 diabetes should be tailored to the stage of the disease.Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include aging, obesity, family history, physical inactivity, ethnicity, and impaired glucose metabolism.
As a Chinese herbal medicine doctor I often use herbal formula to treat patients with such condition and here I introduce two herbal formula as reference for patients and medical doctors:
1. Dryness-Heat in the Lung and Stomach
- Main symptoms:
Restlessness, polydipsia, polyphagia with tendency to hunger; dryness of the mouth and tongue, polyuria; red tongue with yellowish coating; slippery and rapid pulse. - Therapeutic principle:
Nourishing yin and clearing away pathogenic heat - Herbal medicine formula:
Modified Gypsum Decoction in combination with Nourishing the Stomach Decoction.
gypsum, Gypsum Fibrosum 25g
anemarrhena rhizome, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae 12g
glehnia root, Radix Glehniae 20g
ophiopogon root, Radix Ophiopogonis 15g
dried rehmannia root, Radix Rehmanniae 20g
fragrant solomonseal rhizome, Rhizoma Polygonati Odorari 15g
trichesanthes root, Radix Trichosanthis 30g
wolfberry bark, Cortex Lycii Radicis 12g
scrophularia root, Radix Scrophulariae 12g
licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae 6g - Administration:
All the drugs are to be decocted in water for oral administration. Two times each day.
2. Deficiency of the Kidney-Yin
- Main symptoms:
Polyuria with turbid discharge, soreness and debility of the lumbus; dryness of the mouth and tongue, dysphoria with feverish sensation in the chest, palms and soles; red tongue; deep, thready and rapid pulse. - Therapeutic principle:
Nourish yin and supplement the kidney. - Herbal medicine formula:
Modified Bolus of Six Drugs( including Rehmannia )
dried rehmannia root, Radix Rehmanniae 15g
prepared rehmannia root, Radix Rehmannia Praeparata 15g
Chinese yam, Rhizoma Dioscoreae 20g
poria, Poria 10g
dogwood fruit, Fructus Corni 10g
moutan bark, Cortex Moutan Radix 10g
schisandra fruit, Fructus Schisandrae 10g
arisaema tuber, Rhizoma Arisaematis 12g - Administration:
All the drugs are to be decocted in water for oral administration. Two times each day.
