Stomach ache

Stomach pain occurs in different situations. A distinction is made between the type of pain and whether it occurs before or after a meal. These criteria are important for the correct diagnosis according to TCM teachings. A pattern of fullness or emptiness and Qi stagnation in the affected organs such as the liver, gallbladder, spleen and stomach can be recognized. Cold and weakness also play a role as pathogenic factors. According to Chinese philosophy, the abdominal region stands for the vitality center of the body, so it is of enormous importance that everything functions here in particular. The most common problems here are caused by chronic stress and poor eating habits.

Stomach burning

The lowering function of the stomach serves to send the ingested food down to the small intestine. If this physiological function of the stomach is disrupted, the Qi is not drained downwards, causing stomach burning. With this type of stagnation, the symptoms are at their worst after eating.

Acidosis

If the stomach produces too much acid, this can have various causes. It would therefore not be helpful just to combat the symptoms, but the pathogenic factors must be identified and eliminated. Factors that promote hyperacidity of the stomach include stress, nicotine, alcohol, coffee and an unhealthy diet. All food acts like a medicine and it is therefore particularly important to change your diet, as Chinese medicine says:
“A small part of the cure is medication, but the largest part is proper nutrition”.

Nausea

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the stomach Qi rebels during nausea and does not flow downwards. The reason for this is usually a disharmony between the liver and stomach. The liver – the wood element – controls the stomach – the earth element – too strongly. Strengthening the Stomach Qi and calming the Liver Qi through acupuncture brings quick relief.

Abdominal pain

The causes of abdominal pain are very varied. It is important to clarify how severe the pain is and what character (dull, stabbing, sudden, slowly developing, chalky) the pain has. At the same time, it should be clarified whether there is a connection with other factors (e.g. high-fat food, alcohol, etc.).

In Chinese medicine, abdominal pain refers to pain in the abdominal region with an impairment of the spleen and stomach caused by a disharmony of Qi and Blood. Pain is usually the result of a Qi or Blood blockage. It is therefore important to harmonize the imbalance of Qi and blood through treatment and to strengthen the spleen and stomach.

Flatulence

The most common cause is an unbalanced diet with a high proportion of non-absorbable carbohydrates (e.g. pulses, onions, cabbage etc.) and carbonated drinks. Small bites and slow and thorough chewing can already help. A change in diet should also be considered.

Flatulence in itself is a so-called fullness pattern that has developed from an emptiness. In the background there is usually a weakness of the spleen, stomach, large intestine or small intestine. As mentioned above, you should avoid flatulent foods and strengthen the Qi of the digestive tract to prevent flatulence.

Constipation (blockages)

Many patients have misconceptions about the frequency of a “normal” stool frequency. There is no standard for stool frequency. What is important are changes that the patient notices in comparison to previous years. Constipation is the result of functional and/or psychological transit disorders of the intestinal contents with very different causes. The most common cause of constipation is functional disorders (psychological or physical without damage to an organ). In most cases, lack of exercise and unfavorable lifestyle and dietary habits lead to constipation.

According to Chinese medicine, constipation is caused by a dysfunction of the large intestine, which consists of a lack of or insufficient passage of the stool. Water is removed from the stool, making it hard, firm and dry. The causes are the same as those mentioned in conventional medicine, namely emotional stress, too little exercise, lack of body fluids (little drinking) and poor diet. This leads to an accumulation of heat and dryness, as well as a deficiency of Large Intestine Qi. The treatment uses cooling and moisturizing herbs which, in combination with acupuncture, strengthen the large intestine Qi.

Diarrhea (diarrhea)

Diarrhea is caused by the intestine’s inability to reabsorb water and other substances from the feces (malabsorption). There are many causes for this. Frequently, the causes are bacterial or viral infections, food poisoning, medication or psychological influences. In the case of chronic diarrhea that persists over a long period of time, it is advisable to seek medical advice (in small children, prolonged diarrhea is very dangerous and should be treated as soon as possible).

As in conventional medicine, diarrhea is a symptom and not a disease from the point of view of Chinese medicine. The underlying patterns are very diverse. Usually there is a lack of Spleen Qi and/or too much dampness in the body. Consequently, the treatment consists of strengthening the center (spleen and stomach) and eliminating dampness.

Stomach ulcers

An ulcer is a defect in the skin or mucous membrane. The formation of an ulcer is based on an imbalance between aggressive (attacking the mucous membrane) and defensive (protecting the mucous membrane) factors. The 3 most important aggressive factors are hydrochloric acid, bacteria and medication.

From the Chinese point of view, a stomach ulcer has a stomach-fire pattern, which attacks the yin. Yin (substance) in this case describes the mucous membrane of the stomach, which is attacked by the fire (bacteria, acid etc.). The treatment consists of cooling the Stomach Fire and nourishing the Stomach Yin. Chinese medicine can be combined well with conventional medical treatment in order to achieve the fastest possible relief.