Severe Hepatitis
Severe hepatitis refers to chronic hepatitis with severe manifestations, including severe chronic hepatitis, the pre-liver-failure stage, and liver failure.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Yellowing of the body and eyes; fatigue and lack of energy; nausea, vomiting, and poor appetite, or fullness and distension in the epigastrium and abdomen; dry, bitter mouth; constipation; a red, deep-red, or dusky-purple tongue, sometimes with stasis spots or patches; a dry yellow or gray-black coating; and a wiry, slippery, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- The skin and whites of the eyes look yellow, with an obvious yellow discoloration.
- You may feel drowsy and fatigued, tire easily with even small tasks, and have little energy.
- You may feel nauseated, want to vomit, and have little appetite, or experience uncomfortable fullness and bloating in the upper abdomen and belly.
- Your mouth may feel dry and taste bitter, with a dry sensation when speaking or swallowing.
- Stools may be hard and difficult to pass, with more straining and less frequent bowel movements.
- The tongue may be red, deep red, or dark purple, and may have stasis spots or patches.
- The tongue coating may be yellow and dry, or appear parched; in more severe cases, it may look gray-black.
- On palpation, the pulse may feel taut like a stretched string, slippery, and rapid.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Cool the blood, resolve stasis, and detoxify.
In plain language:
- Cooling the blood is intended to clear heat from the blood and may help ease bleeding, skin rashes, or restlessness.
- Resolving stasis is intended to promote blood circulation and may help gradually ease purplish discoloration, stabbing pain, or lumps.
- Detoxifying is intended to clear pathogenic toxins and may help ease sores, sore throat, or redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Yellowing of the body and eyes; fullness and discomfort in the epigastrium and abdomen; nausea and aversion to greasy foods; abdominal distension; sticky stools; a yellow, greasy tongue coating; and a wiry, slippery, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- The skin and whites of the eyes look noticeably yellow.
- You may feel uncomfortable fullness or pressure in the upper abdomen and belly, as if things are blocked or not moving.
- You may feel nauseated and want to vomit, and may dislike or feel put off by greasy foods.
- The abdomen may feel bloated and full, with the sensation becoming more noticeable after activity or eating.
- Stools may feel sticky and difficult to pass completely, with bowel movements seeming prolonged.
- The tongue may be coated with a yellow, sticky-looking coating that appears thick and greasy.
- On palpation, the pulse may feel taut and straight, slippery, and relatively rapid.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and detoxify; transform dampness and reduce jaundice.
In plain language:
- Clearing heat is intended to ease manifestations such as fever, restlessness, or a sore throat.
- Clearing toxins is intended to help ease sores, redness and swelling, or discomfort associated with heat toxins.
- Transforming dampness is intended to help with drowsiness, a sticky feeling in the mouth, or difficulty urinating.
- Reducing jaundice is intended to help gradually lessen yellowing of the skin and eyes.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Yellowing of the body and eyes; distending pain in the ribs and flanks; low mood; loose stools; and a wiry pulse.
In plain language:
- The skin and whites of the eyes look noticeably yellow.
- The areas along both sides of the ribs may feel distended and painful, with more discomfort during movement or when pressed.
- You may often feel low or emotionally subdued, and tend to keep your distress to yourself.
- Stools may be loose and soft, and may not hold their shape.
- On palpation, the pulse may feel tense and straight, like a taut string, with little flexibility.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Soothe the liver and relieve stagnation; boost qi and strengthen the spleen.
In plain language:
- Smoothing the flow of liver qi is intended to ease chest tightness, distension along the ribs, or low mood.
- Addressing stagnation is intended to help lift the mood and gradually restore a sense of ease.
- Boosting qi is intended to help reduce fatigue and lack of energy and gradually improve stamina.
- Strengthening spleen function is intended to support digestion and absorption and help with poor appetite or abdominal bloating.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Yellowing of the body and eyes with a dull hue; aversion to cold and cold limbs; abdominal distension and loose stools; a deep, thin, or slow pulse.
In plain language:
- The skin and whites of the eyes look yellow, but the color is dull rather than bright.
- You may be sensitive to cold, with cold hands and feet that are slow to warm up and feel noticeably cold to the touch.
- The abdomen may feel full, bloated, and uncomfortable, with the sensation becoming more noticeable after activity or eating.
- Stools may be soft and loose and may not hold their shape.
- The pulse may be easier to feel with deeper pressure and may feel thin or relatively slow.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm the kidneys and strengthen the spleen; promote urination and resolve blood stasis.
In plain language:
- Warming and supporting kidney qi is intended to help with soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, and sensitivity to cold.
- Supporting spleen and stomach function is intended to help the body make better use of food, improve stamina, and ease drowsiness.
- Reducing excess dampness is intended to support urination and gradually ease swelling or a heavy feeling in the body.
- Resolving blood stasis is intended to help ease purplish discoloration, stabbing pain, or signs of localized stagnation.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Yellowing of the body and eyes with a dull hue; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; dry, irritated eyes; a red tongue with little coating.
In plain language:
- The skin and whites of the eyes look yellow, but the color is dull and lacks brightness or luster.
- The lower back and knees may feel sore, weak, or achy, and you may feel weak when walking or sitting for a long time.
- Your eyes may feel dry and irritated, especially after prolonged use.
- The tongue may look red, with little or no coating visible on its surface.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish the kidneys and liver; clear heat and resolve blood stasis.
In plain language:
- Nourishing the kidneys is intended to support vitality and gradually ease soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, as well as fatigue.
- Nourishing the liver is intended to support the blood and help ease dizziness, blurred vision, or emotional unease.
- Clearing heat is intended to ease restlessness, thirst, or a sore throat.
- Resolving blood stasis is intended to help gradually ease pain, purplish discoloration, or lumps.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
- Chinese Society of Hepatology and Chinese Society of Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, Chinese Medical Association. Prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis[J]. Chinese Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2001, 19(1): 56-62.
- Liver Failure and Artificial Liver Group of the Chinese Society of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Medical Association; Severe Liver Disease and Artificial Liver Group of the Chinese Society of Hepatology, Chinese Medical Association. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of liver failure[J]. Chinese Journal of Transplantation (Electronic Edition), 2013, 7(1): 48-56.
- Wang Yuming, Gu Changhai. The concept and diagnosis of severe hepatitis—historical changes, current status, and prospects[J]. Chinese Journal of Hepatology, 2000, 8(1): 5-8.
- Yan Guang. Classification, staging, and grading of severe hepatitis[J]. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine on Liver Diseases, 2011, 21(1): 55-57.