Behçet’s Disease
Behçet’s disease (BD), also known as Behçet disease or the oral-ocular-genital triad, is a chronic systemic inflammatory vasculitis. It is characterized primarily by recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, eye inflammation, and skin lesions. It may also affect the blood vessels, nervous system, digestive tract, joints, lungs, kidneys, epididymis, and other organs. Most patients have a favorable prognosis, while involvement of the eyes, central nervous system, or major blood vessels is associated with a less favorable prognosis.
TCM Pattern Identification and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Acute onset and short disease course; oral mucosal and vulvar ulcers with burning pain; yellow, greasy tongue coating; a soggy and rapid or wiry and rapid pulse
Plain-language explanation:
- The condition begins suddenly, and symptoms appear quickly.
- The course is short, and symptoms do not last long.
- Ulcers develop on the oral mucosa and vulva.
- There may be burning pain, with a sensation of heat and soreness.
- The tongue coating is yellow and greasy, giving the surface of the tongue an unclean appearance.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel soft and relatively rapid, or taut like a drawn bowstring and relatively rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat, detoxify, resolve dampness, and harmonize the middle jiao
Plain-language explanation:
- Clear heat: In TCM terms, reduce internal “heat” and ease discomfort such as redness, swelling, burning, sore throat, thirst, and irritability.
- Detoxify: Address inflammatory “toxic evils” in TCM terms, reduce redness, swelling, heat, pain, and pus associated with sores, and promote healing.
- Resolve dampness: Address dampness and turbidity in the body or affected area, easing heaviness, sticky sensations, swelling, discharge, and abdominal bloating or a greasy sensation.
- Harmonize the middle jiao: Support the TCM functions of the Spleen and Stomach, easing epigastric fullness, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort, and improving appetite and digestion.
|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 doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Oral ulcers, thirst, bad breath, epigastric and abdominal fullness, poor appetite, a red tongue, yellow coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse
Plain-language explanation:
- Oral ulcers may make speaking or eating uncomfortable.
- You may feel thirsty and have noticeable bad breath.
- The upper abdomen and abdomen may feel stuffy, full, and uncomfortable.
- Appetite may be poor, with little desire to eat.
- When the tongue is extended, it may appear red.
- The tongue coating may appear yellow.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel smooth and relatively rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat, drain dampness, relieve focal distention, and disperse nodules
Plain-language explanation:
- Clear heat → Reduce internal pent-up heat and ease redness, swelling, burning, sore throat, thirst, and irritability.
- Drain dampness → Promote the removal of dampness and turbidity, easing heaviness, sticky sensations, swelling, discharge, and difficulty urinating.
- Relieve focal distention → Address fullness and stagnation in the chest, epigastrium, or upper abdomen, easing discomfort such as bloating, belching, and poor appetite.
- Disperse nodules → Disperse firm masses and nodules and soften phlegm nodules and blood-stasis masses, easing lumps, pulling pain, and tenderness.
|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 doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Ulcers of the mouth, tongue, and vulva; irritability and a bitter taste; a red tongue, yellow coating, and wiry, rapid pulse
Plain-language explanation:
- Ulcers may develop in the mouth, on the tongue, and in the vulvar area, causing pain or discomfort when touched or rubbed.
- You may feel restless or irritable and notice a pronounced bitter taste in your mouth.
- When the tongue is extended, it may appear red overall.
- The tongue coating may be yellow, making the tongue surface appear yellow and less clean.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel taut like a drawn bowstring and relatively rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear the Heart, drain Stomach fire, and disperse fire and toxins
Plain-language explanation:
- Clear the Heart → In TCM terms, clear pent-up heat in the Heart, easing irritability, mouth and tongue sores, and restless sleep.
- Drain Stomach fire → Reduce heat in the Stomach, easing thirst, bad breath, swollen and painful gums, and dry mouth.
- Disperse fire → Disperse internal “excess heat,” easing redness, swelling, burning, sore throat, and facial flushing.
- Detoxify → Address inflammatory “toxic evils” in TCM terms, reduce redness and swelling in sores and pus formation, and promote healing.
|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 doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Deep, extensive ulcers with severe pain, accompanied by fever and generalized body aches; a dark-purple tongue, thick yellow greasy coating, and slippery, rapid pulse
Plain-language explanation:
- The ulcers may be large and deep, covering a broad area rather than being limited to small spots.
- The pain may be severe and difficult to tolerate.
- Fever and generalized body aches may occur.
- When the tongue is extended, it may appear dark purple.
- The tongue coating may be yellow, thick, and greasy, giving the tongue surface an unclean appearance.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel smooth and relatively rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat, dispel dampness, resolve blood stasis, and detoxify
Plain-language explanation:
- Clear heat → Reduce internal pent-up heat and ease redness, swelling, burning, sore throat, thirst, and irritability.
- Dispel dampness → Address dampness and turbidity in the body or affected area, easing heaviness, sticky sensations, swelling, discharge, and joint heaviness.
- Resolve blood stasis → Address blood stasis and impaired flow, easing stabbing pain, fixed pain, swelling, and purplish discoloration.
- Detoxify → Address inflammatory “toxic evils” in TCM terms, reduce redness and swelling in sores and pus formation, and promote healing.
|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 doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Recurrent ulcers, heat in the palms and soles, frequent dreaming during sleep, dry and bitter mouth, a red tongue with little coating, and a fine, rapid pulse
Plain-language explanation:
- Ulcers recur, with periods of improvement followed by flare-ups.
- The palms and soles may feel hot.
- You may have frequent dreams at night and restless sleep.
- Your mouth may feel dry and bitter, causing discomfort when speaking or swallowing.
- When the tongue is extended, it may appear red.
- There may be little coating on the tongue, which may be very thin or barely visible.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel fine and somewhat rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish the Liver and Kidneys, nourish yin, and clear heat
Plain-language explanation:
- Nourish the Liver and Kidneys → Enrich the Liver and Kidney essence, blood, yin, and yang in TCM terms, addressing signs such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and fatigue.
- Nourish yin → Replenish yin fluids and moisten dryness, easing dry mouth and throat, hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability with a tendency to feel hot.
- Clear heat → Reduce internal pent-up heat (“excess heat”), easing redness, swelling, burning, sore throat, thirst, and restlessness.
|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 doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Recurrent, persistent ulcers; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; cold intolerance; a pale tongue with a thin coating; and a deep, fine pulse
Plain-language explanation:
- Ulcers may recur and persist, often improving for a while before returning.
- The lower back and knees may feel sore, weak, or lacking in strength, and movement or exertion may feel difficult.
- You may feel cold and be sensitive to cold, with cold environments causing noticeable discomfort.
- When the tongue is extended, it may appear pale.
- The tongue coating may be thin and sparse, rather than thick or greasy.
- On pulse examination, greater pressure may be needed to feel the pulse clearly, and it may feel fine.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm yang and disperse fire
Plain-language explanation:
- Warm yang → Support yang qi and the body’s warming and activating functions in TCM terms, easing signs such as sensitivity to cold, cold limbs, fatigue, and loose stools.
- Disperse fire → Disperse excessive internal heat, easing discomfort such as irritability, thirst, dry mouth, sore throat, and facial flushing, while aiming to avoid injuring yin fluids in TCM terms.
|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 doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Rheumatology Society of the Chinese Medical Association. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Behçet’s disease[J]. Chinese Journal of Rheumatology, 2011, 15(5): 345-347.
- Li Jian, Luo Ying, Liu Chunna, et al. Clinical symptoms, imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis in neuro-Behçet’s disease[J]. Chinese General Practice, 2014(15): 1798-1800.
- Zhang Daqian. Diagnosis and treatment of Behçet’s disease[J]. China Medical Herald, 2007(35): 12-14.
- Zhang Yu, Wu Xiaoping. Differential diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and intestinal Behçet’s disease[J]. Journal of Internal Intensive Medicine, 2015(1): 7-8.