Stomach Pattern Differentiation in Chinese Medicine

• Stomach Qi Deficiency
• Stomach Qi Deficiency and Cold
• Cold Invasion of the Stomach
• Stomach Yin Deficiency
• Stomach Fire
• Rebellious Stomach Qi
• Food Accumulation in the Stomach
• Blood Stagnation in the Stomach

Etiology of Stomach Patterns

1. Diet
   1. Excessive consumption of foods that are too cold, too hot or too dry.
      1. "Excessive" depends on constitution, time of year, type of work done, climate.
      2. Hot foods: cause Heat in the stomach
         Cold foods: cause Cold in the stomach
      3. Dry foods (e.g. baked and broiled foods) can make Stomach too dry and eventually cause Stomach Yin Deficiency
   2. Regular food intake
      Best not to eat when Stomach has least energy (7-9 PM)
      Irregular eating can produce disorders. We should eat at regular times not overeat (prevents good digestion: food stagnates) not under-eat (or malnourish ourselves: causes Deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach)
      
      

      Eat breakfast	Stomach has maximum energy 7-9 AM
      Not snack Eat too fast	Stomach has no time to digest well: Retention of Food/Stagnation of Qi in the Spleen and Stomach
      Not eat late at night	Yin time of day: Stomach is obliged to deplete its Yin, causing Yin Deficiency

      
      
   3. Circumstances around eating
      
      

      Negative emotions	Stomach will not digest, and its Qi will stagnate causing Food Retention
      Reading & eating:	Depletes Stomach Qi (mental activity)

      
      
2. Emotions
   Stomach is affected by excessive thinking and worry.
   These can cause stagnation of Qi in the Stomach: signs include belching, nausea and irritation or burning pain in Stomach.
   Excessive mental activity over a long time causes Stomach Qi Deficiency
   Anger and frustration affect the Liver and cause Stagnation of Liver Qi. Liver then invades Stomach, causing belching, nausea, pain.
   
   
3. Climate
   Cold can invade the Stomach directly causing acute pain and vomiting.
   

Stomach Qi Deficiency

Signs:

ANALYSIS: The Stomach begins the Qi production process. Food enters the Stomach and the Spleen extracts the pure essences which are sent onwards as Food Qi. If the Stomach is weak, Qi will be Deficient and other Organs may become affected (especially the Spleen, which is closely interrelated)

Etiology/Pathology:

1. Diet lacking in nourishment/protein, or under-eating.
2. Aftermath of chronic disease that weakens the Qi.

Treatment Principles:

• Tonify Stomach Qi

Points:

Stomach Qi Deficiency and Cold

Signs:

Etiology/Pathology:

1. Dietary: faulty nourishment, lack of protein in diet accompanied by excessive consumption of cold foods and beverages, salads, ice water and ice cream.
2. Result of prolonged illness which damages Spleen and Stomach Yang or any other cause of Stomach and Spleen Qi Deficiency, in conjunction with dietary irregularities
3. Invasion of Exterior Cold

Treatment Principles:

• Tonify and warm Stomach and Spleen Yang

Points:

NOTE: This is a chronic interior deficiency (Empty Cold) condition. A more severe version may present following exposure to cold or excessive consumption of cold food and drinks.

Cold Invasion of the Stomach

Signs:

Etiology/Pathology:

This is an Interior EXCESS cold condition and requires different points, specifically to dispel EXCESS cold in acute conditions.

Treatment Principles:

• Expel Cold, warm the Stomach

Points:

Stomach Yin Deficiency

Signs:

Treatment Principles:

• Nourish Stomach Yin and Fluids

Points:

Etiology/Pathology:

Usually irregular diet and eating habits: eating late at nights, eating too quickly, worrying while eating, rushing back to work to soon. These habits deplete Stomach Qi. Over time they damage Stomach Yin.

Stomach Fire (Phlegm Fire in Stomach)

Signs:

Treatment Principles:

• Clear Stomach Heat, Stimulate Stomach descending function.

Points:

Etiology/Pathology:

Excessive consumption of hot energy foods and smoking.
If Phlegm present, this can be caused by excessive consumption of hot and greasy foods
(e.g. deep fried foods).

Rebellious Stomach Qi

Signs:

Treatment Principles:

• Subdue rebellious Qi, stimulate descending of Stomach Qi

Points:

Food Accumulation in the Stomach

Signs:

ANALYSIS: Interior Excess pattern - may be associated with either Cold or Heat (tongue coating either white or yellow)

Etiology/Pathology:

Overeating, eating too fast or while worrying.

Treatment Principles:

• Remove retention of food, stimulate the descending of Stomach Qi

Points:

Blood Stagnation in the Stomach

Signs:

Etiology/Pathology:

May be a chronic condition.
May be associated with Stomach Fire, Liver Qi invading Stomach or Retention of Food. May be caused by the above patterns or by long-standing Stagnation of Liver Qi from long term emotional problems involving anger and frustration.

Treatment Principles:

• Removes stasis, stimulate the descending of Stomach Qi

Points: