In the clinic, we often hear patients say, “My stomach feels unsettled every summer,” or “I have had loose stools repeatedly for a long time.” Diarrhea can be easy to think of as a symptom that will pass quickly, but if it continues for more than 3 weeks or the number of bowel movements per day increases significantly, the body’s digestive absorption and energy can both decline. In particular, chronic diarrhea may not show a clear cause on testing, so it is important to look not only at bowel movement patterns but also at constitution and daily rhythm.
Why Does Chronic Diarrhea Keep Coming Back?
There is not just one set cause. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, medication effects, inflammatory bowel disease, postoperative changes, malabsorption, infections, and other factors may be related, and stress or lack of sleep may also increase the bowel’s hypersensitive response. In Korean medicine, long-lasting diarrhea is viewed as guseol (久泄), and we place importance on conditions such as spleen-stomach qi deficiency, in which the strength to move and absorb through the digestive organs has weakened.
Diarrhea When the Body Feels Cold and Drained
When diarrhea continues for a long time, eating may not restore strength, the abdomen may feel cold, the lower abdomen may often feel uncomfortable, and even mildly irritating foods may send you to the bathroom. In this situation, rather than simply trying to stop the bowels, an approach may be considered that supports spleen-stomach qi, warms the abdomen, and helps reduce weakness of the intestines. Ginseng, astragalus root, atractylodes rhizome, poria, dried ginger, cinnamon bark, Chinese yam, and hyacinth bean are herbs that have been used for this type of pattern identification.
Herbal Medicine Treatment Starts With Checking Your Constitution
In a past study that followed 123 patients with chronic diarrhea, symptom improvement was reported after herbal medicine treatment aimed at supporting and warming the spleen-stomach and helping bowel function. However, because the cause of diarrhea and the body’s condition are not the same for everyone, taking the same prescription uniformly is not appropriate. The treatment direction should be decided after checking the pattern of abdominal pain, stool condition, weight changes, eating habits, current medications, and existing diseases.
Irritants to Reduce First in Daily Life
- Reduce greasy foods and very spicy or cold foods until symptoms stabilize.
- Alcohol, smoking, and excessive coffee can make the bowel more sensitive, so regulate them.
- Rather than drinking cold beverages quickly, sip warm water little by little.
- On days when diarrhea is frequent, prioritize rest and sleep recovery over strenuous exercise.
- If you are taking any medications, do not stop them on your own, and be sure to tell us during your visit.
When We Recommend Medical Care
We recommend seeking care if diarrhea continues for more than 3 weeks, if you wake at night to go to the bathroom, or if bloody stool, fever, weight loss, or severe abdominal pain occurs together. If dehydration is severe enough that there is almost no urination, you are too dizzy to stand, consciousness becomes unclear, or paralysis symptoms appear, call 119 or go to the emergency room first.
The longer you endure chronic diarrhea, the more it can affect eating, going out, and even sleep. Along with lifestyle adjustments that help the bowel feel more comfortable, looking at the areas where your body has become weakened may help you find a path toward recovery. If repeated loose stools have become part of daily life, we recommend checking the causes and setting up a treatment plan that fits your body.