Stomach Patterns Flashcards
tiredness
tiredness deriving from both ST-qi deficiency and SP-qi deficiency is one of the most common clinical symptoms encountered in practice
functions of the Stomach
controls 'receiving' controls "rotting & ripening" food controls transportation of food essences controls descending of Qi is the origin of fluids
The Stomach
as long as there is stomach qi, every disease can be conquered
Stomach crack
a wide crack in the center section of the tongue
narrow and mostly in center section
sign of stomach deficiency
tongue coating without root
formed when the stomach is weak ands ceases to send “dirty dampness” up to the tongue; no new coating is formed and the old coating loses root
tongue coating without root looks patchy as if it has been sprinkled on top of the tongue rather than arising out of the tongue surface
the nature of food and the stomach
the stomach prefers moist foods (soups, porridge)
the stomach dislikes dry foods (baked or broiled, breads)
excessive consumption of meat, spices & alcohol (hot foods) causes Stomach Heat
excessive consumption of raw vegetables, fruit and cold drinks causes Cold in the Stomach
Regularity of meal times and the stomach
- overeating prevents the Stomach from digesting food properly and causes retention of food
- undereating or too strict or unsuitable diets lead to stomach and spleen deficiency
- constant nibbling or eating too fast lead to retention of food
- eating late at night leads to deficiency of Stomach Yin
a “feel” for stomach patterns
tiredness
digestive complaints
weak limbs
Stomach-qi and Stomach-yin reflected directly on the tongue coating
tiredness in the morning and a weak Stomach pulse
Stomach qi deficiency
uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium no appetite lack of taste sensation loose stools tiredness especially in the morning weak limbs pale tongue or unrooted coating empty pulse, esp on the right middle position
Stomach qi deficiency
(Stomach hours 7 to 9am)
looks a lot like SP-qi deficiency
usually diagnose SP-qi def
epigastric discomfort better with eating
difference between Spleen qi def & Stomach qi def
SP-qi def: slight abdominal distension and often loose stools
ST-qi def: slight discomfort in the epigastrium and generally more digestive symptoms, and also weak limbs
discomfort in the epigastrium which is better after eating
tiredness
cold limbs
Stomach deficient and cold
discomfort or dull pain in the epigastrium, better after eating and better with pressure or massage no appetite preference for warm drinks and foods vomiting of clear fluid no thirst cold and weak limbs tiredness pale complexion pale and wet tongue deep weak slow pulse esp on right middle position
Stomach deficient Cold
absence of coating in the center of the tongue
Stomach yin deficiency
dry mouth with desire to drink in small sips
Stomach yin deficiency
Stomach yin deficiency is nearly always the precursor of….
Kidney yin deficiency
no appetite or slight hunger but no desire to eat
constipation (dry stools)
dull or slightly burning epigastric pain
dry mouth and throat especially in the afternoon, with desire to drink in small sips
slight feeling of fullness after eating
tongue: without coating in the center or with rootless coating, normal body color
pulse: floating empty on the right middle position
Stomach yin deficiency
epigastric distension, belching and irritability
Stomach qi stagnation
causes of Stomach qi stagnation
dietary irregularity and emotional strain causes Stomach qi stagnation; emotional strain by itself will tend to cause Liver qi stagnation
Liver attacking Stomach
epigastric pain and distension belching nausea vomiting hiccups irritability no particular signs on the tongue except in severe cases it may be red on the sides in the central section pulse wiry on the right middle position
Stomach qi stagnation
pulse may be wiry in both Lf & Rt middle positions if Liver is involved
a burning sensation in the epigastrium
thirst with a desire to drink cold liquids
red tongue with thick yellow coating
Stomach Heat
Fire compared to Heat
distinguishing characteristics of Fire
- more intense (intense thirst)
- dries up fluids more (dry stools, dark urine)
- may cause bleeding (bleeding gums)
- disturbs the Mind/Shen more (mental restlessness)
- the tongue has a drier and darker coating
burning epigastric pain intense thirst with desire to drink cold liquids mental restlessness bleeding gums dry stools dry mouth mouth ulcers sour regurgitation nausea vomiting soon after eating excessive hunger foul breath a feeling of heat tongue red in the center with a dry yellow or dark yellow or even black coat rapid and slightly overflowing pulse on the right middle position
Stomach Heat
Stomach fire has more intense symptoms
sudden pain in the epigastrium and a tight pulse
Cold invading the Stomach
sudden pain in the epigastrium a feeling of cold cold limbs preference for warmth vomiting clear fluids (which may alleviate the pain) nausea feeling worse after swallowing cold fluids which are quickly vomited preference for warm liquids thick white tongue coating deep tight slow pulse
Cold invading the stomach
nausea difficulty in swallowing belching vomiting hiccups no changes on tongue pulse tight or wiry on the right middle position
Stomach qi rebelling upwards
epigastric fullness
nausea
sticky yellow coating
damp heat in stomach
symptoms on the face (stomach channel) such as facial pain and nasal discharge such as sinusitis
damp heat in the stomach frequently causes symptoms on the face (due to stomach channel)
a feeling of fullness and pain of the epigastrium a feeling of heaviness facial pain blocked nose or thick sticky nasal discharge thirst without desire to drink nausea a feeling of heat dull yellow complexion a sticky taste red tongue with sticky yellow coating slippery rapid pulse
damp heat in the stomach
epigastric fullness
sour regurgitation
thick tongue coating
retention of food in the stomach
a stabbing pain in the epigastrium
tongue that is purple in the center
blood stasis in the stomach
fullness pain and distension of the epigastrium which are relieved by vomiting nausea vomiting of sour fluids foul breath sour regurgitation belching insomnia loose stools or constipation poor appetite tongue: thick coating (white or yellow), curdy pulse: full slippery
retention of food in the stomach
blood stasis potentially gives rise to serious diseases
blood stasis potentially gives rise to serious diseases
such as cancer, heart disease, stroke
for example one cannot get carcinoma of the stomach from stomach qi stagnation but one can from blood stasis in the stomach
severe stabbing epigastric pain that may be worse at night dislike of pressure nausea vomiting possibly vomiting of blood vomiting of food looking like coffee grounds purple tongue (dusky) wiry pulse or choppy
blood stasis in the stomach
poor appetite
epigastric discomfort
tiredness
stomach & spleen qi deficiency
the simultaneous deficiency of stomach and spleen qi deficiency is extremely common in practice
!
poor appetite slight abdominal distension after eating tiredness lassitude pale complexion weakness of the limbs loose stools uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium lack of taste sensation pale tongue empty pulse, especially on the right middle position
Stomach and Spleen qi deficiency
dry mouth
dry lips
epigastric discomfort
tongue without coating
stomach and spleen yin deficiency
the simultaneous deficiency of stomach and spleen yin deficiency is extremely common in practice
!
poor appetite dry mouth thirst with desire to drink in small sips dry stools dry lips slight nausea tiredness uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium lack of taste sensation tongue without coating pulse floating empty especially on the right middle position
stomach and spleen yin deficiency
FU Organs- general principles
constantly filled and emptied of impure substances
peristalsis
susceptible to qi stagnation and qi deficiency
direct strike can affect most of them (cold)
internal pathogenic factors
external (6 climates) becomes internal
or internally generated (emotions excess or prolonged)
stagnations: qi, damp, phlegm, blood, food stagnation
phlegm created in response to an irritation and becomes a pathogen
The stomach functions
rottens and ripens food
root of post heaven qi
critical area of qi mechanism: middle burner
digestive symptoms in the epigastric area (navel & sternum)
source of body fluids and foundation of post heaven yin
ST - has actual sensations/complaints in the epigastric area
unrooted coating- can easily be scraped away
lack of ST-qi
floating empty pulse
yang unrooted from yin = floating pulse
root of yin deficiency that over time leads to yin deficiency of other organs
Stomach yin deficiency
tongue coating dry peeled in center
ST-yin def
assess middle of tongue to assess ST-yin
treat ST-yin first to help with assimilation of herb formulas
normal tongue in qi stagnation
qi is an invisible pathogen so does may not show up on the tongue
common cause of ST-qi stagnation
family arguments at dinner table, emotional strain while eating
fullness and pain in the epigastrium feeling of heaviness, muzziness facial pain, sinus congestion (yellow phlegm) thirst w/out desire to drink feels warm and sticky, low grade fever dull yellow complexion tongue: red with greasy yellow fur pulse: slippery, rapid
damp heat in the stomach
sometimes: acne on ST channel of face, greasy face
low grade fever- damp keeps fever from going too high
ST-qi stagnation may be the cause
sinus symptoms: ST channel on the face, ST is the source of fluids
Cold invading the Stomach vs Stomach qi def with cold
Cold invading the Stomach is an excess cold (better with heat, dislikes pressure)
Stomach qi deficiency with cold is a deficiency cold (better with eating and massage)
cause of food stagnation in the stomach
eating beyond your digestive capacity
insomnia is commonly caused by
food stagnation
