IBS

In Western medicine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized as a functional bowel disorder presenting with symptoms like gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and irregular bowel habits, but is not categorized as a disease (Longstreth et al., 2006, Gastroenterology). It is further subdivided into four subtypes, including IBS-D, IBS-C, IBS-Mixed, and an undefined subtype, each having specific manifestations like diarrhea or constipation (Chey et al., 2015, American Journal of Gastroenterology).

In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) associates IBS with two principal patterns of disharmony: Qi-Phlegm, which is often mood-dependent and originates from emotional disturbances, and Spleen Qi deficiency, a central pattern in spleen disharmonies that impacts the organ's transformative and transportive functions, particularly under emotional and mental stress (Xu et al., 2015, World Journal of Gastroenterology). Both approaches provide nuanced frameworks for understanding and treating IBS.