Stomach Patterns

Question 1

tiredness

Answer 1

tiredness deriving from both ST-qi deficiency and SP-qi deficiency is one of the most common clinical symptoms encountered in practice

Question 2

functions of the Stomach

Answer 2

controls 'receiving'
controls "rotting & ripening" food
controls transportation of food essences
controls descending of Qi
is the origin of fluids

Question 3

The Stomach

Answer 3

as long as there is stomach qi, every disease can be conquered

Question 4

Stomach crack

Answer 4

a wide crack in the center section of the tongue
narrow and mostly in center section
sign of stomach deficiency

Question 5

tongue coating without root

Answer 5

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

Question 6

the nature of food and the stomach

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Regularity of meal times and the stomach

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

a “feel” for stomach patterns

Answer 8

tiredness
digestive complaints
weak limbs
Stomach-qi and Stomach-yin reflected directly on the tongue coating

Question 9

tiredness in the morning and a weak Stomach pulse

Answer 9

Stomach qi deficiency

Question 10

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

Answer 10

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

Question 11

difference between Spleen qi def & Stomach qi def

Answer 11

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

Question 12

discomfort in the epigastrium which is better after eating
tiredness
cold limbs

Answer 12

Stomach deficient and cold

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Stomach deficient Cold

Question 14

absence of coating in the center of the tongue

Answer 14

Stomach yin deficiency

Question 15

dry mouth with desire to drink in small sips

Answer 15

Stomach yin deficiency

Question 16

Stomach yin deficiency is nearly always the precursor of….

Answer 16

Kidney yin deficiency

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Stomach yin deficiency

Question 18

epigastric distension, belching and irritability

Answer 18

Stomach qi stagnation

Question 19

causes of Stomach qi stagnation

Answer 19

dietary irregularity and emotional strain causes Stomach qi stagnation; emotional strain by itself will tend to cause Liver qi stagnation
Liver attacking Stomach

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Stomach qi stagnation

pulse may be wiry in both Lf & Rt middle positions if Liver is involved

Question 21

a burning sensation in the epigastrium
thirst with a desire to drink cold liquids
red tongue with thick yellow coating

Answer 21

Stomach Heat

Question 22

Fire compared to Heat

Answer 22

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

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Stomach Heat

Stomach fire has more intense symptoms

Question 24

sudden pain in the epigastrium and a tight pulse

Answer 24

Cold invading the Stomach

Question 25

``` 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 ```

Answer 25

Cold invading the stomach

Question 26

``` nausea difficulty in swallowing belching vomiting hiccups no changes on tongue pulse tight or wiry on the right middle position ```

Answer 26

Stomach qi rebelling upwards

Question 27

epigastric fullness nausea sticky yellow coating

Answer 27

damp heat in stomach

Question 28

symptoms on the face (stomach channel) such as facial pain and nasal discharge such as sinusitis

Answer 28

damp heat in the stomach frequently causes symptoms on the face (due to stomach channel)

Question 29

``` 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 ```

Answer 29

damp heat in the stomach

Question 30

epigastric fullness sour regurgitation thick tongue coating

Answer 30

retention of food in the stomach

Question 31

a stabbing pain in the epigastrium | tongue that is purple in the center

Answer 31

blood stasis in the stomach

Question 32

``` 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 ```

Answer 32

retention of food in the stomach

Question 33

blood stasis potentially gives rise to serious diseases

Answer 33

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

Question 34

``` 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 ```

Answer 34

blood stasis in the stomach

Question 35

poor appetite epigastric discomfort tiredness

Answer 35

stomach & spleen qi deficiency

Question 36

the simultaneous deficiency of stomach and spleen qi deficiency is extremely common in practice

Answer 36

!

Question 37

``` 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 ```

Answer 37

Stomach and Spleen qi deficiency

Question 38

dry mouth dry lips epigastric discomfort tongue without coating

Answer 38

stomach and spleen yin deficiency

Question 39

the simultaneous deficiency of stomach and spleen yin deficiency is extremely common in practice

Answer 39

!

Question 40

``` 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 ```

Answer 40

stomach and spleen yin deficiency

Question 41

FU Organs- general principles

Answer 41

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

Question 42

The stomach functions

Answer 42

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

Question 43

unrooted coating- can easily be scraped away

Answer 43

lack of ST-qi

Question 44

floating empty pulse

Answer 44

yang unrooted from yin = floating pulse

Question 45

root of yin deficiency that over time leads to yin deficiency of other organs

Answer 45

Stomach yin deficiency

Question 46

tongue coating dry peeled in center

Answer 46

ST-yin def assess middle of tongue to assess ST-yin treat ST-yin first to help with assimilation of herb formulas

Question 47

normal tongue in qi stagnation

Answer 47

qi is an invisible pathogen so does may not show up on the tongue

Question 48

common cause of ST-qi stagnation

Answer 48

family arguments at dinner table, emotional strain while eating

Question 49

``` 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 ```

Answer 49

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

Question 50

Cold invading the Stomach vs Stomach qi def with cold

Answer 50

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)

Question 51

cause of food stagnation in the stomach

Answer 51

eating beyond your digestive capacity

Question 52

insomnia is commonly caused by

Answer 52

food stagnation