Stomach Discomfort
胃脘不適 / 胃脘不适
General unease, pain, or heaviness in the epigastric region.
Quick Facts
| Health Topic | Digestive Health |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Epigastric discomfort, Stomach upset, Upper abdominal discomfort, Gastric discomfort, Queasy stomach |
| Common Symptoms | Unpleasant sensations in the upper abdomen or stomach region, such as dull pain, fullness, burning, or a vague uneasy feeling. It may relate to meals, improve or worsen with warmth, and can come with mild nausea, reduced appetite, or a preference for certain foods and drinks. |
| Related TCM Patterns | Stomach Heat · Dampness · Food Stagnation · Qi Stagnation · Spleen Qi Deficiency · Yang Deficiency |
| Related Classical Formulas |
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi TangLiu Jun Zi TangLi Zhong TangDa Jian Zhong TangFu Zi Li Zhong TangSi Ni TangWei Ling TangPing Wei SanBao He WanHuo Xiang Zheng Qi SanXuan Fu Dai Zhe TangBan Xia Xie Xin TangSheng Jiang Xie Xin TangJu Pi Zhu Ru TangXie Huang SanXiang Sha Yang Wei TangHou Po Wen Zhong TangGua Lou Zhi Shi TangWu Ji SanXiang Sha Ping Wei San
|
| Related Articles | Stomach Discomfort: Syndrome Differentiation and Daily Care |
Stomach Discomfort in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, stomach discomfort is differentiated by pattern rather than treated as one uniform gastric complaint. Yang deficiency, dampness, Spleen Qi deficiency and food stagnation are among the patterns that may present in this way. Differentiation considers whether the discomfort prefers warmth, whether there is bloating after meals, a greasy tongue coating, acid regurgitation, or a history of irregular eating. Classical formulas follow the pattern, not the location of the discomfort alone.
TCM Patterns Associated With Stomach Discomfort
The same presentation may be understood through more than one pattern. Pattern differentiation weighs the accompanying signs, not the symptom on its own.
| Pattern | Common Features | Related Formulas |
|---|---|---|
| Stomach Heat胃熱證Heat Patterns | Burning or discomfort in the epigastrium, thirst with preference for cold drinks, bad breath, and a tendency toward constipation or dry stools. The gums may feel swollen or sore, and appetite can be strong yet unsettled. Tongue red with a yellow coating, possibly dry in the centre; pulse slippery and rapid. | |
| Dampness濕阻證Damp Patterns | A heavy, sluggish body feeling, abdominal fullness, sticky sensation in the mouth, and reduced appetite. Stools may be sticky or incomplete, and the person often feels worse in humid weather. There can be oedema of the limbs or a greasy facial sheen. Tongue with a thick greasy white coating; pulse soft or slippery. | |
| Food Stagnation食積證Stagnation Patterns | Epigastric or abdominal fullness and distension after eating, foul belching or sour regurgitation, and reduced appetite for the next meal. Stools may be foul-smelling or sticky, and the person often feels better after vomiting or passing stool. Symptoms clearly relate to overeating or irregular meals. Tongue with a thick greasy coating; pulse slippery. | |
| Qi Stagnation氣滯證Stagnation Patterns | Distension, tightness or a constrained feeling in the chest, flanks or abdomen that comes and goes with emotion or stress. Frequent sighing, a sense that emotions are hard to move, and in women premenstrual breast or lower abdominal discomfort are common. Symptoms often ease after movement, expression or belching. Tongue may be normal or slightly dusky; pulse wiry. | |
| Spleen Qi Deficiency脾氣虛證Deficiency Patterns | Poor appetite, loose or unformed stools, fatigue that worsens after meals, a pale or sallow complexion, and a soft or low voice. There may be abdominal fullness after eating, easy bruising, or a tendency toward thin white phlegm. The person often feels better with rest and simple warm food. Tongue pale with a thin white coating; pulse weak or empty. | |
| Yang Deficiency陽虛證Deficiency Patterns | Aversion to cold, cold limbs, preference for warm drinks and clothing, and low energy that worsens in cold weather. There may be loose stools, clear copious urine, a pale puffy face, and reduced libido or lumbar weakness. The person feels better with warmth and worse with cold exposure. Tongue pale and possibly swollen with a white coating; pulse deep and weak. |
Classical Formulas Traditionally Associated
Associated with 20 classical formulas
Listed for study. Which formula fits, if any, depends on the pattern rather than the symptom.
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
香砂六君子湯 · Xiāng Shā Liù Jūn Zǐ Tāng
Spleen Qi DeficiencyQi-Tonifying FormulasLiu Jun Zi Tang
六君子湯 · Liù Jūn Zǐ Tāng
Spleen Qi DeficiencyQi-Tonifying FormulasLi Zhong Tang
理中湯 · Lǐ Zhōng Tāng
Yang DeficiencyYang-Tonifying FormulasDa Jian Zhong Tang
大建中湯 · Dà Jiàn Zhōng Tāng
Yang DeficiencyYang-Tonifying FormulasFu Zi Li Zhong Tang
附子理中湯 · Fù Zǐ Lǐ Zhōng Tāng
Yang DeficiencyYang-Tonifying FormulasSi Ni Tang
四逆湯 · Sì Nì Tāng
Yang DeficiencyYang-Tonifying FormulasWei Ling Tang
胃苓湯 · Wèi Líng Tāng
DampnessDampness-Draining FormulasPing Wei San
平胃散 · Píng Wèi Sǎn
DampnessDampness-Draining FormulasBao He Wan
保和丸 · Bǎo Hé Wán
Food StagnationDigestive FormulasHuo Xiang Zheng Qi San
藿香正氣散 · Huò Xiāng Zhèng Qì Sǎn
DampnessDampness-Draining FormulasXuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang
旋覆代赭湯 · Xuán Fù Dài Zhě Tāng
Qi StagnationPhlegm-Resolving FormulasBan Xia Xie Xin Tang
半夏瀉心湯 · Bàn Xià Xiè Xīn Tāng
Qi StagnationHarmonising FormulasSheng Jiang Xie Xin Tang
生薑瀉心湯 · Shēng Jiāng Xiè Xīn Tāng
Qi StagnationHarmonising FormulasJu Pi Zhu Ru Tang
橘皮竹茹湯 · Jú Pí Zhú Rú Tāng
Qi StagnationQi-Regulating FormulasXie Huang San
瀉黃散 · Xiè Huáng Sàn
Stomach HeatHeat-Clearing FormulasXiang Sha Yang Wei Tang
香砂養胃湯 · Xiāng Shā Yǎng Wèi Tāng
Spleen Qi DeficiencyQi-Tonifying FormulasHou Po Wen Zhong Tang
厚朴溫中湯 · Hòu Pò Wēn Zhōng Tāng
Cold AccumulationQi-Regulating FormulasGua Lou Zhi Shi Tang
瓜蔞枳實湯 · Guā Lóu Zhǐ Shí Tāng
Qi StagnationQi-Regulating FormulasWu Ji San
五積散 · Wǔ Jī Sǎn
Wind-ColdHarmonising FormulasXiang Sha Ping Wei San
香砂平胃散 · Xiāng Shā Píng Wèi Sǎn
DampnessDampness-Draining FormulasLearn More About Stomach Discomfort
Related Health Topic
Digestive Health — Formulas that strengthen the spleen and stomach, aid digestion, and ease gastrointestinal discomfort.
Health Topic
See all Digestive Health conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Traditional Chinese Medicine understand epigastric discomfort?
In TCM, the epigastrium (胃脘) is the region of the Stomach. Discomfort here reflects impaired Stomach Qi descent and disharmony of the Middle Burner. Cold, Heat, Qi stagnation, food retention, Dampness or Spleen-Stomach deficiency can all cause fullness, dull pain, burning or an uneasy sensation after eating.
What are the common TCM patterns of epigastric discomfort?
Frequent patterns include Liver Qi invading the Stomach (discomfort linked to stress), Stomach Cold or deficiency Cold (pain eased by warmth), Stomach Heat (burning, thirst), food stagnation, and Spleen-Stomach Qi deficiency (dull discomfort after meals, fatigue). Accurate pattern differentiation determines the treatment approach.
How does TCM regulate epigastric discomfort?
The main principles are to harmonize the Stomach, soothe the Liver, warm the Middle, clear Heat or strengthen the Spleen according to the pattern. Formulas such as modifications of Chai Hu Shu Gan San, Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang or Qing Wei San may be considered. Sudden severe pain requires conventional medical evaluation first. Internal treatment should be guided by a qualified TCM practitioner.
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This library is educational. It describes how Traditional Chinese Medicine has traditionally understood these presentations. It is not a diagnosis, and it is not a treatment recommendation.
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