02/24/2020
Chinese Medicine has always treated mouth and gum disease as being directly influenced the health of the stomach and bowels
In modern times we now know the bacteria that causes gingivitis and other gum disease is part of a greater picture of our systemic bacterial ecosystem (the microbiome, much of which is in the large intestine)
Minor imbalances within our gut ecosystem can cause a variety of symptoms such as inflammation
In ancient times Chinese medicine did not have a word for inflammation, however after observing the signs of redness, swelling and pain. They described this as a type of pathological heat, either internally or externally generated
And this metaphorical concept extended into bacterial/ viral infection, autoimmune disease and even sports injury.
The herbal remedies they used to clear this concept of “heat” have been found in modern times to have anti inflammatory or antibacterial properties and in the context of this post can be used to treat gum disease which, in late stages have no curable treatment
Chinese Medicine and Periodontal Gum Disease 11/1/2006 by Marco Lam, L.Ac. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, “Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally m...