Stomach stagnation

When using mineral substances that can suppress Stomach-Qi, Lung-Qi and Kidney-Qi, causing Qi stagnation and constipation, one should exercise caution in treating patients who suffer from disorders that involve the aforementioned organs. 

Zhi Ke is bitter and slightly cold, and enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It can regulate the Spleen-Qi and Stomach-Qi in a gentle and slow way. It moves horizontally in the Upper- and Middle-Jiao, opens the chest and reduces distension. In an exterior syndrome it is used to treat Qi stagnation in the chest, stomach and hypochondria, which causes distension in the upper abdomen, a stifling sensation in the chest, reduced appetite, irritability and depression. 

Mu Xiang is aromatic, pungent, bitter and warm, and has a drying nature. It can effectively move the Qi and reduce pain due to Qi stagnation. As it also enters the Liver meridian, it is particularly suitable for use in conditions where the Liver-Qi attacks the Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine. 

Ban Xia is pungent and warm, and enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. As it can disperse the Qi, it can therefore eliminate dampness at the same time. It soothes the Stomach-Qi and can reduce the distending sensation in the stomach due to stagnation of the Qi and accumulation of dampness. 

Food stagnation is a condition where the food is not properly digested and transported. The undigested food accumulates in the stomach and intestines, obstructs the Qi and causes related symptoms. The accumulated food can further generate or transform into dampness and phlegm that disturb the functions of the internal organs. 

Ji Nei Jin is sweet and slightly cold, and enters the Stomach, Spleen and Bladder meridians. It aids digestion of all kinds of food. Its function is quite strong. Since it is cold in temperature, it is also able to reduce heat and eliminate irritability. It is particularly suitable for use in children with malnutrition when chronic food stagnation has already produced heat. 

Ban Xia and Chen Pi are often used to regulate the Qi in the upper abdomen and reduce Qi stagnation, thus accelerating the transformation and transportation of food and drink in the Middle-Jiao. They can soothe the Stomach-Qi and treat nausea and fullness of the stomach. 

Chen Pi and Ban Xia serve as deputies. They soothe the Stomach-Qi, promote digestion and improve appetite, thus enhancing the ability of the chief herbs and treating Qi stagnation caused by food accumulation. 

Chen Pi, Mu Xiang and Sha Ren are all aromatic herbs and warm in nature. They can promote digestion and Qi movement and reduce distension. Chen Pi is particularly selected for treating Qi obstruction in the Stomach Mu Xiang is for stagnation in the intestines and Liver and Sha Ren is for Qi obstruction in the Large Intestine. 

Syndrome of Qi stagnation in the Stomach, Spleen and Large Intestine. . . 258... 

If the Stomach-Qi and Spleen-Qi stagnate, the manifestations are fullness and distension of the entire abdomen, reduced appetite, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and irregular bowel movement. 

Although Qi moves in every organ of the body, the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine and Lung directly influence Qi movement. As the syndromes of Qi stagnation are more often seen in these organs, in this chapter the syndromes and compositions of formulas are introduced particularly for these organs. 

Zhi Ke has a similar function to Chen Pi but it is cold in nature and its function of regulating the Qi is gentler and slower. It moves horizontally in the Upper- and Middle-Jiao. In a formula that treats Liver-Qi stagnation with slight Liver-heat, Zhi Ke is very often used to open up the Qi obstruction in the chest, stomach and hypochondria to reduce fullness and distension. 

These herbs are selected to promote blood circulation. Mei Gui Hua has the function of harmonizing the Qi of the Liver and Stomach, and treating the syndrome of Liver-Qi attacking the Spleen and Stomach. Its function is quite similar to that of Xiang Yuan (Citri fructus) and Fo Shou [Citri sarcodactylis fructus). However, this herb can promote both Qi and blood circulation and is an appropriate herb to treat disorders due to both Qi and blood stagnation, such as in irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea. 

These three herbs all can descend the Stomach-Qi and are often selected in cases of Stomach-Qi stagnation. 

Sha Ren is pungent and warm, and enters the Spleen, Stomach and Kidney meridians. It particularly regulates the Qi in the Middle- and Lower-Jiao. Like Hou Po, it treats Qi stagnation which is combined with dampness. In addition, its aromatic smell can improve the digestion and remove dampness and food accumulation. It is often used with Mu Xiang because of their enhancing action of regulating the Qi from each other. 

These herbs can be selected in cases of food accumulation. Moreover, they can be used to prevent food accumulation, which often happens when the Stomach-Qi stagnates. The first three substances are often used together as they aid digestion of starch, cereal, fat and protein-rich food. Lai FuZi can effectively regulate the Qi and remove phlegm in the intestines it aids the digestion of all types of food. 

Chuan Xiong, Yu Jin and Yan Hu Suo can promote blood circulation. As they are able to move the Qi in the blood, they are considered as the Qi-moving herbs in the blood. In formulas that regulate the Stomach-Qi, they are selected in cases of both Qi and blood stagnation. They can also be selected to move the blood in order to accelerate the Qi movement. Chuan Xiong and Yan Hu Suo are warm in nature and Yu Jin is cold. They should be selected according to treatment need. 

They are often selected as assistants in formulas to treat disharmony between the Liver and Spleen. Fang Feng enters the Liver and Spleen meridians, can effectively disperse Qi stagnation and relieve cramp and distension when the Liver attacks the Spleen. Since it ascends and spreads the Spleen-Qi, it can treat borborygmi and diarrhea. Chen Pi can promote Qi movement in the Stomach, reduce the sensation of fullness in the Stomach and improve appetite. Zhi Shi can descend the Qi in the intestines and reduce pain and distension in the abdomen. 

Ban Xia, which is pungent and warm, can disperse the Qi stagnation and directly soothe the Stomach-Qi, thereby reducing the Qi obstruction caused by the Gall Bladder overacting on the Stomach. 

In clinical practice, this formula is used not only to relieve Shao Yang syndrome, but also to treat Qi stagnation in the Liver and Gall Bladder meridians when Liver-Qi overacts on the Stomach, impairing digestion and weakening the body s resistance. 

Ban Xia is used as chief to disperse the Qi stagnation, open the obstruction and soothe the Stomach-Qi. It can directly reduce the fullness and tightness in the epigastric region. In... 

Chen Pi is dried tangerine peel. It is pungent, bitter and warm, and enters particularly the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It regulates the Qi in the Mid-dle-Jiao and promotes digestion. It is often selected as corrective assistant in formulas to reduce the cloying nature of the sweet tonifying herbs. It can directly treat distension in the Stomach and reduced appetite caused by Qi stagnation in the upper abdomen. 

Ban Xia [Pinelliae rhizoma) Disperses stagnation of Stomach-Qi and accumulation of phlegm ... 

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