We often say in traditional Chinese medicineThe spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal lifeThis statement is absolutely true. Nowadays, there are indeed many people around us, regardless of age or gender, who suffer from spleen and stomach discomfort. Children with spleen deficiency are prone to food stagnation and deficiency fire, while adults often experience acid reflux, heartburn, and bloating. A slight chill can lead to diarrhea, and stomach pain and bloating occur frequently. Eating even a little can cause indigestion, which is truly distressing.
Many people casually take some medicine whenever they encounter these situationsChinese patent medicineAfter eating for a long timeNo effectActually, this often stems from not accurately identifying the root cause of one's spleen and stomach issues. Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizestreatment based on syndrome differentiationDifferent situations require different medicines.
Today we will thoroughly discuss several common spleen and stomach issues to help you choose the right medicine for your symptoms and avoid unnecessary detours.
I. Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold: Fear of cold and coolness, requires "Warming the Middle and Dispelling Cold"
This constitution is particularly common especially as one gets olderOnce exposed to cold or consuming raw and cold foods, diarrhea occurs, with multiple trips to the bathroom in a day. Undigested food can still be seen in the stool, which is referred to as "undigested food in stool"The abdomen always feels cold and painful, and it feels better when warmed or pressed with the hand.
In such a situation, the core of regulation lies inWarm the middle and dissipate coldAdd some warmth to the spleen and stomach:
The ginseng inside can tonify qi and strengthen the spleen, while Atractylodes macrocephala is also a good medicinal herb for strengthening the spleen. Additionally, dried tangerine peel and costus root help regulate qi flow, gradually restoring the function of the spleen and stomach.
If the abdomen is particularly afraid of cold and diarrhea is severe, useFuzi Lizhong WanBoth aconite and dried ginger are excellent medicines for warming the middle and dispelling cold, particularly effective in treating severe symptoms of deficiency cold.
II. Liver Qi Invading the Stomach: Stomach discomfort when in a bad mood, focus on "soothing the liver and harmonizing the stomach"
Many peoplestomach pain, acid reflux, bloatingIt's not necessarily a problem with the stomach itself, but rather caused by emotions! When feeling nervous or angry, these symptoms worsen, accompanied by dry mouth and bitter taste, and alternating dry and loose stools. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is calledLiver Qi Invading the StomachThe liver qi is not flowing smoothly, affecting the normal function of the spleen and stomach.
This situation requiressoothe the liver and harmonize the stomachTwo-pronged approach:
Emotional fluctuations causing spleen and stomach discomfort can be directly addressed withShugan Hewei WanThe Cyperus rotundus and Bupleurum inside can soothe liver depression, while the white peony root can soften the liver, both regulating liver qi and harmonizing the spleen and stomach.
If the internal heat is relatively high, leading to a tendency to get angry and a noticeable bitter taste in the mouth, it indicates that liver stagnation has transformed into fire, and it can be switched toLongdan Xiegan WanorJiawei Xiaoyao WanFirst, clear liver fire, then regulate the spleen and stomach.
Three, Indigestion: Loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, requiring "strengthening the spleen and resolving stagnation"
When dampness is heavy, many people feel a blockage in their stomach, have no appetite, feel bloated after eating a little, and have loose stools. This is not simply due to overeating; it is caused by weakened spleen and stomach function combined with the disturbance of dampness.
Regulation involves both enhancing the spleen and stomach's ability to transport and transform while eliminating stagnation
Occasionally overeating and indigestion, eat someDashanzha PillThat's it, simply and effectively aids digestion.
If this persists for a long time, it needs to be regulated from the root: if you feel significant bloating and heavy dampness, chooseXiangsha Yangwei WanThe costus root and amomum fruit inside can relieve distension and resolve dampness, while the atractylodes macrocephala and dried tangerine peel can strengthen the spleen. If the stool is consistently loose and shapeless, indicating obvious spleen deficiency with heavy dampness, then chooseShenling Baizhu PowderLotus seeds and fried coix seeds are both excellent for strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness.
IV. Excessive Stomach Fire: Many symptoms of dryness and heat, requiring "clearing stomach and purging fire"
Some people are the exact opposite of the above situation, always feeling hungry, eating a lot and digesting quickly, which is calledrapid digestion with polyorexiaThere may also be toothache, swollen gums, which worsen when eating spicy food, bad breath, and sometimes pain in the forehead and brow bone. This is due to excessive stomach fire.
The key to regulation isClear Stomach and Drain Fire
Direct selectionNiuhuang Qingwei WanSpecifically clears stomach fire and eliminates food stagnation, particularly effective for symptoms such as bad breath and excessive hunger.
At the same time, pay attention to your diet and eat less spicy and warm foods, otherwise stomach fire will always persist, and the effectiveness of medication will be poor.
Dear friends, I would like to share a real case with you. This patient left a deep impression on me,His situation is quite common and representative in our age group.
This autumn, a 55-year-old patient named Mr. Wang came to see me. As soon as he entered, I could tell he was different—his complexion was pale, and he spoke with a weak voice. He told me that over the past two years, he had become particularly afraid of eating raw or cold foods. In the summer, he dared not turn on the air conditioning, and whenever he caught a chill, he would experience diarrhea, needing to use the restroom three to four times a day. Undigested food could still be seen in his stool. What was even more uncomfortable was that his stomach always ached faintly, and he could only find relief by applying a hot water bottle to it.
I asked him to stick out his tongue for a look:The tongue is pale with a thin white coatingRe-evaluate the pulse:pulse deep and threadyThis is very typicalSpleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold Syndrome。
After the consultation, I found out that he had previously bought it himself.Ginseng Jianpi WanEating, intermittently for two months, the effect has been consistently unsatisfactory. I told him, "In your case, using Ginseng Spleen-Invigorating Pills alone is like lighting a stove in winter, only adding firewood without igniting it, it won't burn vigorously. You have a relatively heavy coldness, requiring stronger warming and dispersing cold power."
So I adjusted the plan for him:The main prescription uses Fuzi Lizhong WanIn this formula, the combination of aconite and dried ginger enhances the potency of warming the middle and dispelling cold.Add another ingredient, ginger, as a medicinal guideTake with water boiled from three slices of old ginger to help the medicinal power reach the affected area directly.Coordinate with dietary adjustmentsSuggest that he drink a bowl of ginger and jujube tea on an empty stomach every morning, sipping slowly.
At the last follow-up visit, he said with emotion, "Doctor, I finally understand now,Traditional Chinese medicine treatment must target the correct syndromeOriginally, my spleen and stomach with deficiency-cold cannot be nourished alone; they require warming and tonifying in combination, just as one must both add firewood and ignite it to make the stove burn brightly.
I say this to remind everyone:Regulating the spleen and stomach is like unlocking a door, you must choose the right keyEven with the same symptoms of spleen and stomach discomfort, the underlying causes can be entirely different, and the medication should naturally vary from person to person. If one self-medicates arbitrarily, it is likely to result in a situation like Mr. Wang experienced initially, where both time is wasted and the effectiveness of the treatment is compromised.
In fact, many patients nowadays are like this: they feel discomfort somewhere, go to the pharmacy to buy what they think is the right medicine, but not only is it ineffective, it might even make them weaker!
At our age, the functions of the spleen and stomach are naturally weakening, making it even more crucial to carefully differentiate syndromes and use medication precisely. It is recommended that before taking any medication, it is best to seek guidance from a professional physician for syndrome differentiation. Only in this way can we truly use the medication correctly and effectively, ensuring that the spleen and stomach, the "foundation of postnatal health," receive proper care.
