Eating | Effect |
Eat a good breakfast | Stomach has maximum energy 7-9 AM |
Don't eat too fast | Stomach has no time to digest well: Retention of Food/Stagnation of Qi in the Spleen and Stomach |
Don't eat late at night | Yin time of day: Stomach is obliged to deplete its Yin, causing Yin Deficiency |
Eating with... | Effect |
Negative emotions | Stomach will not digest, and its Qi will stagnate causing Food Retention |
Reading & eating: | Depletes Stomach Qi (mental activity) |
Signs/Symptoms | Due To |
Epigastric Discomfort | Deficient Stomach Qi fails to descend. |
Mild pain | Deficiency |
Lack of appetite, lack of taste, loose stools, | Spleen Qi affected by Stomach Qi Deficiency |
Fatigue Especially in the Monring | 7-9AM is Stomach time on Horary cycle |
Weak limbs | Food Essences not transported to the limbs |
Tongue: Pale | Deficiency of Qi |
Pulse: Empty Pulse, Esp. Stomach position | Deficiency of Qi |
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)
Points: | Notes: |
ST-36 (Zusanli) | Moxa especially effective |
REN-12 (Zhongwan) | Tonifies Qi of Stomach and Spleen |
BL-21 (Weishu) | Back Shu point of Stomach: moxa useful. Tonifies Stomach Qi |
REN-6 (Qihai) | "Sea of Qi" especially good if condition is chronic and accompanied by loose stools |
Needling Method: | Tonify. Moxa is applicable. |
Signs/Symptoms | Due To |
Discomfort in the Epigastrium: Worse after bowel movements | Deficient type pain Stomach and Large Intestine related |
Better After Eating, or with massage. No appetite. |
Deficient Cold condition Stomach Deficient |
Prefers warm drinks & foods Vomiting of clear fluid Loose stools Lack of thirst Cold limbs, fatique |
Internal Empty Cold (Yang of Spleen Deficient) |
Tongue: Pale, swollen | Deficient Yang |
Pulse: Deep, weak, ESP Stomach position | Internal Cold |
Points | Actions |
ST-36 (Zu san li) | Tonifies Stomach Qi |
REN 12 (Zhong wan) | Tonifies Stomach and Spleen Qi |
BL-20 (Pi shu) | Tonifies Spleen Qi |
BL-21 (Wei shu) | Tonifies Stomach Qi |
REN 6 (Qi hai) | Tonifies Qi. Moxa ideal. |
Method: | Tonification. Moxa essential. |
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.
Signs/Symptoms | Due To |
Severe epigastric/abdominal pain with vomiting or clear fluid. | Excess condition of Stomach Cold |
Tongue: Thick white coat | Excess condition |
Pulse: Deep, slow, and TIGHT | Excess condition |
This is an Interior EXCESS cold condition and requires different points, specifically to dispel EXCESS cold in acute conditions.
Points | Actions |
ST-21 (Liang men) | Expels Stomach cold if moxa used after needles |
SP-4 (Gong sun) | Expels Stomach cold, clears obstruction in Stomach |
REN-13 (Shang wan) | Stimulates descending of Stomach Qi |
ST-34 (Liang qiu) | Xi Cleft point: for acute painful patterns; Stops pain and clears obstructions from Stomach |
Method: | Sedation. Moxa applicable with needles. |
Signs/Symptoms | Due To |
Epigastric Pain No appetite, feeling of fullness after eating |
Stomach Deficient |
Fever or feeling warm in PM | Yin Deficiency |
DRY MOUTH esp. in afternoon constipation with dry stools |
Signs of Dryness (Stomach is Origin of Fluids) |
Tongue: Red & Peeled in Center or Coating &Quot;Without Root&Quot; (i.i. Can Be Scraped Away) | Yin Deficiency of Stomach |
Pulse: Floating/Empty on Right middle | Yin Deficiency of Stomach |
Points | Actions |
REN-12 (Zhong wan) | Tonifies Stomach Yin |
ST-36 (Zu san li) | Tonifies Stomach Qi and Stomach Yin |
SP-6 (San yin jiao) | Tonifies Stomach Yin and nourishes Fluids |
SP-3 (Tai bai) | Nourishes Fluids |
Method: Tonification. No moxa |
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.
Signs/Symptoms | Due To |
Burning Sensation/Pain in Epigastric Area | Excess Heat in Stomach |
Nausea Vomiting soon after eating Sour regurgitation |
Excess Heat interferes with Stomach Qi descending |
Halitosis | Excess Heat in Stomach |
Strong Thirst for Cold Drinks Constipation |
Stomach Fire burns fluids (less if Phlegm present) |
Constant hunger Gum swelling, pain & bleeding |
Excess Heat in Stomach. Heat rises in Stomach channel amd causes Blood to extravasate |
Tongue: Red, Thick Yellow and Dry Coat (sticky if Phlegm present, or yellow prickles inside midline crack) | |
Pulse: Full, Rapid (slippery if Phlegm) |
Points | Actions |
ST-21 (Liang men) | Clears Stomach Heat; makes Stomach Qi descend |
REN-13 (Shang wan) | Subdues rebellious Stomach Qi |
ST-44 (Nei ting) | Clears Stomach Heat |
ST-45 (Li dui) | Clears Stomach Heat, calms Mind |
SP-6 (San yin jiao) | Nourishes fluids & calms Mind |
REN-12 (Zhong wan) | Clears Stomach Heat |
PER-6 (Nei guan) | Subdues rebellious Stomach Qi calms Shen |
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).
Signs/Symptoms | Due To |
Nausea, belching, hiccup, vomiting | Stomach Qi fails to descend |
Tongue: | normal |
Pulse: | wiry or tight in Stomach position |
Points | Actions |
REN-13 (Shang wan) | When Stomach Qi fails to descend |
REN-10 (Xia wan) | When Stomach Qi fails to descend |
PER-6 (Nei guan) | Stimulate descending of Stomach Qi |
SP-4 (Gongsun) | Stimulate descending of Stomach Qi |
Signs/Symptoms | Due To |
No Appetite, Fullness/Distension of Epigastrium) Relieved by Vomiting |
Food obstruction in Stomach prevents Stomach Qi from descending |
Sour Regurgitation Belching, Nausea & vomiting Halitosis |
Fermented food in Stomach |
Insomnia obstructs Middle |
Prolonged retention of food in Stomach Burner and prevents Heart Qi from descending; disturbs Shen |
Tongue: Thick Coating (white or yellow) | Excess condition |
Pulse: Full, slippery | Heat and Food Retention |
ANALYSIS: Interior Excess pattern - may be associated with either Cold or Heat (tongue coating either white or yellow)
Overeating, eating too fast or while worrying.
Points | Actions |
REN-13 (Shang wan) | Subdues rebellious Stomach Qi |
REN-10 (Xia wan) | Stimulates descending of Stomach Qi |
ST-21 (Liang men) | Stimulates descending of Stomach |
ST-44 (Nei ting) | Resolves stagnant food and clears Heat |
ST-45 (Li dui) | Resolves stagnant food & calms mind in case of insomnia |
SP-4 (Gong sun) | Resolves stagnant food |
PER-6 (Nei guan) | Stimulates descending of Stomach Qi |
Method: | Reducing |
Signs/Symptoms | Due To |
Stabbing Pain in Epigastrium (Intense, fixed pain, worse with heat and pressure) |
Stasis of Blood Excess condition Stasis of Blood |
Pain AFTER eating | Excess condition |
Vomiting of Dark Blood Blood in the stools |
Stasis of Blood Stomach related to Large Intestine |
Tongue: Purple with purple spots (maybe just in center, Stomach position) | Stasis of Blood |
Pulse: Wiry or choppy |
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.
Points | Actions |
REN-10 (Xia wan) | Stimulates descending of Stomach Qi |
ST21 (Liang men) | Removes obstructions |
ST34 (Liang qiu) | XI Cleft point: moves Qi and Blood in channel |
SP 10 (Xue hai) | revives Blood, removes Stagnation |
BL-17 (Ge shu) | Removes Stasis, revives Blood (needle only) |
BL-18 (Gan shu) | Removes stagnation of Liver Blood |
Method: | Sedation. No moxa. |