Regulating sugar metabolism and preventing thirst: Kudzu root and Adenophora root soup and American ginseng and Dendrobium soup, which clear heat and promote fluid production.
For many, the term pancreatic obesity may seem unfamiliar and rarely heard of. However, this type of obesity is actually quite common; it's just that people don't pay attention to it. To put it another way, it's easier to understand. Diabetes is an endocrine disorder characterized by impaired glucose metabolism. Pancreatic obesity is closely related to diabetes. It may be an indicator or an early symptom of diabetes. Clinical data shows that obese diabetic patients have significantly elevated plasma insulin levels. Even obese individuals with normal blood sugar levels often have excessive plasma insulin levels, sometimes several times higher than normal.
Furthermore, many obese individuals develop diabetes in middle and old age. Obesity is already a major concern; however, the situation worsens if diabetes is also present, as it may require long-term treatment or even lifelong medication. To avoid developing diabetes and needing medication for life, it is crucial to actively prevent pancreatic obesity.
The pancreas is an important digestive organ in the human body. The pancreas secretes pancreatic juice, which plays a crucial role in digestion and absorption. In addition, the pancreas also has endocrine functions. Within the pancreas is a tissue called the "islets of Langerhans," which secrete insulin. Insulin is an important hormone that promotes anabolism. Insulin is the only hormone in the human body that can lower blood sugar. It is an important hormone for glucose metabolism. It promotes the uptake, storage, and utilization of glucose by all tissues in the body. It also promotes the synthesis of glycogen from glucose, which is stored in the liver and muscles, and inhibits gluconeogenesis. Furthermore, insulin promotes the synthesis and storage of fat and inhibits fat breakdown. Therefore, excessive insulin secretion leads to increased absorption and storage of sugar in the body. When there is too much sugar, it is easily converted into fat, causing weight gain. "Pancreatic obesity" refers to a type of obesity caused by elevated insulin levels, leading to disordered glucose metabolism and vigorous fat synthesis.
Sugar is primarily obtained through diet. A fondness for sweets, such as candy, chocolate, sugary drinks, and other high-sugar foods, will cause blood sugar levels to rise. This leads to a significant increase in insulin secretion, causing glucose to enter cells and be converted into fat. A long-term preference for sweet foods not only easily leads to weight gain but also results in higher insulin levels than normal. Prolonged elevated insulin levels can cause two adverse health consequences. First, excessive insulin secretion over a prolonged period may lead to pancreatic exhaustion or decreased function, resulting in absolute or relative insulin deficiency. Second, insulin deficiency causes a rapid rise in blood sugar levels and can potentially develop into diabetes.
Typical diabetic patients exhibit the "three highs and one low" symptoms: increased thirst, increased appetite, increased urination, and progressive weight loss. However, some diabetic patients are obese, a condition known as "type 2 diabetes" or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. This is related to poor insulin quality or decreased cellular sensitivity to insulin. Prolonged elevated insulin levels overload the pancreas, potentially leading to abnormal insulin quality, insensitivity of cells to insulin, or inconsistent insulin levels. Receptors may be sensitive at times and insensitive at others. Therefore, individuals with pancreatic obesity may experience weight instability, sometimes fluctuating between being overweight and underweight.
Pancreatic obesity is associated with excessive consumption of sweet foods, leading to elevated blood sugar levels and, if left untreated, potentially developing into diabetes. This was recorded as early as the *Suwen* (Plain Questions) chapter on unusual diseases: "Sweet foods cause fullness in the middle, thus the qi overflows upwards and transforms into thirst." This "thirst disease" is what modern medicine refers to as diabetes. Therefore, it is evident that traditional Chinese medicine knew more than two thousand years ago that excessive consumption of sweet foods could lead to diabetes.
Pancreatic obesity and corresponding herbal formulas:
(1) Kudzu Root, Adenophora Root, and Anemarrhena Soup. Serves: 4. Ingredients: 1.5 jin of kudzu root, 1 liang of adenophora root, 1 liang of anemarrhena rhizome, 1 old duck (skin removed). Preparation: Simmer in 12 bowls of water for 2 hours. Efficacy: Nourishes yin and clears heat, nourishes yin and generates fluids.
Kudzu root is a common and delicious ingredient in soups. However, it's relatively difficult to extract its flavor, generally requiring three to four hours of simmering. In addition, kudzu root is also a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, known as "Ge Gen" in Chinese. It has a sweet and pungent taste and is cool in nature. It possesses the effects of relieving exterior syndromes, promoting yang and relieving rashes, clearing heat and generating fluids, and stopping diarrhea. It is commonly used for colds, fever, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, thirst, damp-heat diarrhea, and measles with poor eruption. In recent years, kudzu root has been frequently used for diabetes, as studies have shown it has a good hypoglycemic effect.
Adenophora stricta has a sweet and slightly cold nature. It possesses the effects of nourishing yin and reducing internal heat, moistening the lungs and relieving cough, and nourishing the stomach and promoting the production of body fluids. Clinically, it is often used for lung deficiency with heat, dry cough with little phlegm, chronic cough with hoarseness, red tongue with thirst, and sore throat. Modern research indicates that Adenophora stricta has good therapeutic effects on the respiratory system and is also effective in preventing and treating lung cancer. In addition, Adenophora stricta also has a hypoglycemic effect and can be used to prevent and treat diabetes. Northern Adenophora stricta excels at nourishing the stomach and promoting the production of body fluids, and is more commonly used in clinical applications.
Anemarrhena asphodeloides has a bitter taste and cold properties. It possesses the effects of clearing heat and purging fire, nourishing yin and moistening dryness. It is commonly used for febrile diseases, fever, irritability, thirst, lung heat cough, bone steaming fever, stomach heat, yin deficiency with fire excess, and diabetes. "Diabetes" refers to diabetes mellitus. Some reports indicate that Anemarrhena asphodeloides can be used for diabetes. In fact, the ancients had already applied Anemarrhena asphodeloides to diabetes. The Compendium of Materia Medica also records that Anemarrhena asphodeloides can treat "diabetes with internal heat."
(2) American Ginseng, Dendrobium, and Polygonatum Soup. Serves: 4. Ingredients: 5 mace of American ginseng, 3 mace of Dendrobium officinale, 1 tael of Polygonatum odoratum, 1 pig pancreas, 3 jujubes. Preparation: Simmer in 12 bowls of water for 2 hours. Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and clears heat, replenishes Qi and promotes body fluid production.
Among the many types of ginseng, American ginseng is known for its cooling properties. Also known as "Western ginseng," it has a sweet and slightly bitter taste and a cooling nature. It possesses the effects of clearing heat, replenishing qi, promoting body fluid production, and quenching thirst. Studies have indicated that it has anti-hypoxia, anti-fatigue, anti-shock, anti-stress, and sedative effects. In folk medicine, American ginseng tea is often brewed to clear heat; it is also frequently combined with Dendrobium nobile to treat diabetes.
Dendrobium officinale is a precious traditional Chinese medicine, prized for its remarkable efficacy. It nourishes without causing dryness or feeling greasy. It has a sweet taste and slightly cold nature. It nourishes yin, strengthens the stomach, and promotes the production of body fluids. It is commonly used for conditions such as yin deficiency due to febrile diseases, dry mouth and thirst, deficiency heat, fluid depletion, red tongue and dry lips, and diabetes. Studies indicate that it can boost immunity. The Compendium of Materia Medica also states that it can "nourish the five internal organs and treat weakness and emaciation," and long-term use can even have the effect of "lightening the body and prolonging life."
Polygonatum odoratum is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. It has a sweet taste and neutral properties. It nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, nourishes the stomach and promotes the production of body fluids. It is often used for dry cough due to lung dryness, dry cough with little phlegm, thirst due to fluid depletion, excessive hunger, and diabetes. Polygonatum odoratum has a good hypoglycemic effect and can be used to prevent and treat diabetes. In addition, it has a cardiotonic effect. Honey dates are a common ingredient in soups. Adding a few honey dates when making soup makes it especially delicious. Honey dates are made from black dates processed with honey, and are nourishing without being drying.