It refers to the increased defecation, loose stool or even watery stool, usually due to the dysfunction of lower digestive tract. The disorder usually indicates acute or chronic enteritis and intestinal neurosis.

Clinical Manifestations
 

Diarrhea

(1) Acute diarrhea
1) Attack of dampness
      Abrupt onset, loose stool or mixed with mucus, several times or more than 10 times of defecation every day, abdominal pain with borborygmus, aching pain of the extremities, white greasy or yellow greasy tongue coating,  soft or rapid,  slippery pulse. Sometimes, accompanied by chills, fever, and other signs of exterior syndrome.

2) Intake of improper food
A history of over-eating and over drinking or intake of unhygienic food, abdominal distending pain, diarrhea with rotten egg smell, foul belching, acid regurgitation, thick greasy tongue coating, rapid slippery pulse.

(2) Chronic diarrhea
1) Weakness of spleen and stomach
Intermittent loose stool, poor appetite, pale tongue with white coating, and deep thready pulse. The diarrhea usually occurs after intake of greasy, oily food, or other food which is difficult to be digested.

2) Yang-deficiency of spleen and kidney
Since it is a kind of diarrhea accompanied by pain around the umbilicus appearing at dawn, happened after borborygmus, and relieved after diarrhea, it is called Wu Geng Xie (morning diarrhea). The other symptoms may include cold feeling in abdomen, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, pale tongue with white coating, deep and thready pulse.

3) Attack on the spleen by liver qi
It is often induced by drastic emotional changes, accompanied by  abdominal  pain,  borborygmus,  full sensation in  the  chest  and  hypochondriac  regions, belching, thin tongue coating and tense pulse.

Diagnosis
(1) Increased defecation.

(2) Loose stool, even watery stool.

(3) Ruling out dysentery and other intestinal organic diseases.

Tuina Treatment
(1) The patient is asked to have a supine position. Apply Yi Zhi Chan Tui Fa (pushing method with the thumb) on Zhongwan (CV 12) Qihai' (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Shenque (CV 8).

(2) Apply An Rou Fa (pressing-kneading method) on Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Pishu (BL 20), Weishu (BL 21) and Dachangshu (BL 25).

(3) Apply Mo Fu (rubbing method in circles on the abdomen) counterclockwise.

(4) The patient is in a prone position. Apply Gun Fa (rolling method) along both courses of the Bladder Meridian on the back. (See Fig. 80) 

(5) Manipulations determined according to differentiation
1) Retention of damp-cold in the spleen: add Na Fa (grasping method) on Fengchi (GB 20), Jianjing (GB 21), Hegu ( LI 4) ; Ca Fa ( backward-forward rubbing method) on Dazhui (GV 14), Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21). Do Mo Fu (rubbing method in circles on the abdomen) for longer time until it is warm in the abdomen.

2) Retention of damp-heat: add Rou Fa (kneading method) on Ouchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Zusanli (ST 36), and Shangjuxu (ST 37).

3) Injury due to retention of food: add Mo Fu (rubbing method in circles on the abdomen) clockwise, and An Rou Fa(pressing-kneading method) on Zusanli (ST 36).

4) Weakness of spleen and stomach: add An Rou Fa (pressing-kneading method) on Zusanli (ST 36).

5) Yang-deficiency of spleen and kidney: add An Rou Fa on Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Mingmen (GV 4), and Ca Fa (backward-forward rubbing method) along the Governor Vessel vertically; and also do Ca Fa (backward-forward rubbing method) on Shenshu (BL 23 ), Mingmen ( GV 4 ) transversely. Nie Ji Fa (pinching method along the spine) or Pai Fa (patting method) on the back could be also used.

6) Attack on the spleen by liver qi: add An Rou Fa on Danzhong (CV 17), Zhangmen (LR 13), Ganshu (BL 18), Danshu (BL 19), Taichong (LR 3); Cuo Fa (rubbing methods with two hands) on the sides of trunk; Fen Tui Yin Yang (separating yin-yang method on abdomen) as well as Shu Fa (combing method).