Addressing Acquired Obesity: Gypsum, Sugarcane, and Imperata Root Decoction for Clearing Stomach Heat and Reducing Appetite, and Rehmannia Decoction for Nourishing Yin
Obesity that is present at birth is called "congenital obesity," caused by genetic factors and not attributable to any individual. Obesity that develops gradually after birth is called "acquired obesity." The factors leading to acquired obesity are quite complex, related to diseases, endocrine disorders, and other factors. However, some people's obesity is not caused by disease or endocrine disorders, but rather by their own efforts-specifically, their increased eating habits. Eating too much leads to a relative increase in the intake of fat, protein, and sugar, resulting in calories far exceeding the body's needs and thus causing obesity. Obesity caused by excessive calorie intake is called "acquired obesity."
The amount of calories consumed directly affects whether a person is fat or thin. Under normal physiological conditions, when calorie intake and calorie expenditure are roughly equal, a person can maintain a stable weight. If calorie intake exceeds calorie expenditure, weight will gradually increase; if calorie intake is lower than calorie expenditure, weight will gradually decrease. Therefore, long-term excessive calorie intake will lead to "acquired obesity".
Traditional Chinese people consider waste a bad habit and thrift a virtue. Approaching food with this attitude will undoubtedly yield great benefits. Whether eating alone, having a banquet with friends, or dining at home with family, there are always leftovers. It seems a waste to throw them away. At such times, some people urge others to eat them, while others refuse to eat them, and still others, not wanting to waste anything, diligently "devour" each dish of leftovers. These people with large appetites naturally gain weight.
Don't assume that people with acquired obesity necessarily have large appetites. Even if their appetite isn't large, frequent and excessive eating can still lead to weight gain. Generally speaking, our main meals provide sufficient nutrition and calories. However, frequently snacking on treats and miscellaneous foods between meals, such as ice cream, potato chips, peanuts, dried mango, preserved plums, chocolate, and candy, can significantly increase calorie intake. Eating these foods occasionally is fine; however, if you eat them constantly, or even become addicted to them to the point that you can't concentrate on work without them, you should know that this kind of psychological addiction is the hardest to cure.
Therefore, eating anything edible that's readily available will inevitably lead to weight gain over time. Some people don't eat much and don't like snacks, but unfortunately, life in the workplace often forces them to follow the path of acquired obesity, especially salespeople, managers, public relations professionals, chairpersons, and so on. Their busy schedules and frequent meals, often involving lunch meetings, afternoon tea, cocktail parties, followed by dinner and late-night snacks, lead to a life of excessive eating and drinking, naturally resulting in weight gain and obesity.
While it's true that "don't waste food" and "eating is a blessing," one needs a strong spleen and stomach to eat more. If the spleen and stomach are weak, leading to indigestion, bloating, and a feeling of fullness, even dragon meat will be unpalatable. Therefore, patients with acquired obesity may have an overactive spleen and stomach, allowing them to eat more and gain weight.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the stomach is responsible for receiving and digesting food," meaning that food intake is controlled by the stomach. People with strong stomach heat tend to have a stronger appetite or larger food intake than others. Traditional Chinese medicine also states that "the spleen governs transformation and transportation" and "the spleen governs muscles," meaning the spleen has functions such as transformation, digestion, and distribution. Therefore, people with strong spleen and stomach function can eat more and are more likely to gain weight. To prevent acquired obesity, one should start with diet. Reducing food intake and regulating appetite requires regulating spleen and stomach function. Simply clearing away excess heat in the spleen and stomach will slightly decrease appetite. With less food intake, calorie intake will also decrease accordingly, naturally preventing acquired obesity.
Acquired obesity and corresponding herbal formulas:
(1) Gypsum, Sugarcane, and Imperata Root Soup. Serves: 4. Ingredients: 1-2 taels of gypsum, half a catty of sugarcane, 4 taels of imperata root, 1 piece of lean pork. Preparation: Simmer in 12 bowls of water for 2 hours. Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and clears heat, benefits the stomach and promotes the production of body fluids.
Gypsum has a pungent and sweet taste, and is extremely cold in nature. It possesses the effects of clearing heat and purging fire, as well as astringing and promoting tissue regeneration. It is a powerful traditional Chinese medicine for clearing heat and can be used for persistent high fever, excessive heat in the lungs and stomach, thirst and irritability, febrile rashes, or headaches, swollen and painful gums, and toothaches caused by stomach heat. It can also promote the healing of ulcers or wounds. Because gypsum can clear stomach heat and reduce appetite, it is very suitable for people with dryness and heat, stomach heat, or excessive appetite. However, this medicine has a strong effect in clearing heat and purging fire, so it is not suitable for people with a weak constitution or weak spleen and stomach. Taking it may cause general weakness, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Occasionally taking it to reduce appetite or lightly clear stomach heat is also acceptable.
Sugarcane has a sweet and delicious taste. Although it is slightly cooling in nature, it is generally acceptable and is a common ingredient in medicinal soups. It has the effects of nourishing yin and clearing heat, quenching thirst and promoting body fluid production, moistening the lungs and relieving dryness, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, benefiting the stomach and regulating qi, and promoting urination and defecation. In addition, sugarcane also has the effect of relieving nausea and vomiting, making it suitable for nervous vomiting or morning sickness. Excessive appetite is often related to stomach heat, which is also related to insufficient stomach yin. Since sugarcane can nourish yin and promote body fluid production, it also helps clear stomach heat. Although sugarcane is delicious, it should not be eaten in excess, as excessive consumption can generate phlegm and heat.
Imperata cylindrica root has a sweet taste and cold properties, and is effective in clearing heat and promoting the production of body fluids. It is especially suitable for those suffering from stomach heat, lung dryness, dry throat, and thirst. Imperata cylindrica root also has hemostatic properties, and is suitable for nosebleeds, bleeding gums, hematuria, rectal bleeding, and hemorrhoidal bleeding. In addition, it can promote urination, reduce swelling, and draw heat downwards. Imperata cylindrica root is available in dried and fresh forms. Dried imperata cylindrica root is sold in pharmacies, while fresh imperata cylindrica root is purchased in markets. Sugarcane and Imperata cylindrica root are usually sold together; that is, wherever sugarcane is sold, Imperata cylindrica root can usually be found as well.
(2) Rehmannia glutinosa, Trichosanthes kirilowii, and Polygonatum sibiricum Soup. Serves: 4. Ingredients: 5 qian of Rehmannia glutinosa, 5 qian of Trichosanthes kirilowii, 5 qian of Polygonatum sibiricum, 1 piece of lean pork. Preparation: Simmer in 12 bowls of water for 2 hours. Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and clears heat, nourishes Yin and generates fluids.
Rehmannia root has a sweet taste and cold properties. It has the effects of nourishing yin, clearing heat, cooling blood, stopping bleeding, and promoting body fluid production. It is often used for symptoms such as a red tongue with internal heat, dry throat and lips, dry mouth and thirst, skin rashes, nosebleeds, and vomiting blood. Because Rehmannia root has a hypoglycemic effect, it can be used for diabetes mellitus. However, Rehmannia root is very sticky and difficult to digest. After consuming it, one may feel full and bloated. To avoid this, a slice of ginger or dried tangerine peel can be added when consuming Rehmannia root. However, people who want to lose weight may like these symptoms, because feeling full and bloated naturally reduces appetite, thus aiding in weight loss.
Trichosanthes kirilowii root has a sweet, slightly bitter, and sour taste, and is slightly cold in nature. It has the effects of clearing heat and promoting body fluid production. It is suitable for dry cough due to lung dryness and thirst due to yin deficiency. It also has cosmetic effects because it has the effect of reducing swelling and draining pus. It is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in surgery or sores, and has a good effect on treating acne. Trichosanthes kirilowii root is also often used to treat diabetes because it also has a good blood sugar lowering effect.
Polygonatum has a sweet taste and neutral properties, and is believed to nourish yin and moisten the lungs, as well as tonify the spleen and replenish qi. Ancient people held Polygonatum in high regard. According to the *Compendium of Materia Medica*, it is said to "tonify the middle jiao and replenish qi, dispel wind and dampness, soothe the five internal organs, and with prolonged use, lighten the body, prolong life, and relieve hunger; replenish the five weaknesses and seven injuries, strengthen muscles and bones, withstand cold and heat, benefit the spleen and stomach, and moisten the heart and lungs." The phrase "with prolonged use, lighten the body" means that long-term consumption of Polygonatum can have a weight-loss effect. Modern research indicates that Polygonatum has the effects of lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, and lowering blood pressure. It can also improve blood flow and has a certain effect on preventing coronary heart disease and cerebral arterial diseases.