How to regulate the spleen and stomach?

In the previous tweet, we simply distinguished the "spleen" of traditional Chinese medicine from the "spleen" of western medicine, and also told everyone that the spleen is the foundation of the day after tomorrow and the source of qi and blood biochemistry. If we want to maintain a healthy body, we must maintain the healthy function of the spleen and stomach. So, how to judge whether the spleen and stomach function is healthy? How to regulate the spleen and stomach?

This is a topic that is difficult to explain clearly in a few words. Since Xiaoke wrote on the premise of popular science, he can't copy the textbooks. Professional problems, such as pathogenesis, such as prescriptions, will not be elaborated. As long as you understand why these diseases happen, what can you do for self-care and health care. As a medical worker who has worked in the clinical front line for many years, I deeply understand how busy and tired the daily work of clinicians is. In most cases, it is almost impossible to have a lot of time to explain in detail to every patient. I also fully understand that as a patient, I often hope to get more explanations and relief from doctors, which is also the original intention of my writing popular science articles. If my article can provide a little help, that is enough.

Get down to business.

The reason why we often refer to the spleen and stomach together is that in Chinese medicine, the spleen and stomach are exterior and interior to each other, both of which are related to digestion and absorption. Physiology and pathology interact and cooperate with each other to ensure the normal digestion and absorption function of the body.

Exogenous factors (cold, wet, heat, etc.). ), dietary factors (abnormal hunger, unclean diet), emotional injury (such as overthinking) and fatigue disorder are the main causes of spleen and stomach diseases.

Asplenia: Abdominal distension and abdominal pain, loss of appetite, loose stool, phlegm retention, edema, diarrhea, listlessness, dizziness, shortness of breath and laziness, visceral prolapse, uterine prolapse, proctoptosis, bloody stool, hematuria, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, emaciation, edema, emaciation of limbs, tasteless mouth, sweet mouth and greasy mouth.

Gastropathy: anorexia, epigastric pain, vomiting, hiccup, belching, anorexia, acid regurgitation, and hunger (overeating makes you hungry).

The main TCM syndromes of spleen and stomach diseases are summarized as follows. The reason why we list them one by one is because we often say that the spleen and stomach are not good. In fact, it is far from a word. Many times, we used various methods to adjust, but it didn't work. This may not be a symptom. The biggest difference between Chinese medicine and western medicine is that Chinese medicine is based on syndrome differentiation and treatment, and it treats more diseases than western medicine.

1. Spleen stagnation and cold-dampness syndrome

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Abdominal distension or pain, greasy and dull mouth, nausea and vomiting, pale mouth and thirst, abdominal pain, loose stool, heavy head and tiredness, edema of limbs, short and red urine, yellow eyes, dull color, or female leucorrhea, fat tongue, greasy or white fur, and slow and weak pulse.

2. Damp-heat accumulating spleen syndrome

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Abdominal distension, nausea, anorexia, loose stool but uncomfortable, heavy limbs, less thirst, less body heat, excessive sweating, or red eyes, itchy skin, red tongue, yellow greasy fur and rapid pulse.

3. Spleen (stomach) deficiency syndrome

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Abdominal distension, eating less, severe abdominal distension after eating, thin stool, fatigue of limbs, shortness of breath, laziness in speaking, emaciation, sallow complexion, obesity, edema, pale tongue with white fur and slow and weak pulse.

4. Spleen Deficiency and Qi Stagnation Syndrome

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Abdominal distension caused by abdominal distension is beneficial after eating, or frequent defecation, severe anal distension, or prolonged diarrhea, or even rectocele, uterine prolapse, or turbid urine like rice. Often accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue, laziness, dizziness, pale face, eating less loose stool, pale tongue with white fur, slow and weak pulse, etc.

5. Spleen (stomach) yang deficiency syndrome

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Abdominal distension and abdominal pain, feeling warm and oppressive, feeling cold in limbs, listlessness, pale or vain complexion, pale mouth and thirst, loose stool, or edema in limbs, short and red urine, or white leucorrhea, light and fat tongue or teeth marks, white and slippery fur and slow pulse.

6. Syndrome of spleen failing to control blood

Clinical manifestations: sallow or pale complexion, eating less loose stool, listlessness, shortness of breath and laziness, bleeding, bloody stool, blood drowning, epistaxis, or menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, pale tongue and weak pulse.

7. Syndrome of stagnation of stomach cold

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Cold pain in the upper abdomen, sudden pain, aggravated cold, hypothermia, nausea and vomiting, slow pain after vomiting, pale mouth and thirst, or pale mouth, pale or blue face, cold and tepid limbs, white and wet tongue coating, and thready pulse.

8. Syndrome of excessive stomach heat

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Burning pain in the epigastric cavity, refusal to press, preference for cold drinks, or hunger, or bad breath, or swelling and ulceration of gums, toothache, constipation, short and yellow urine, red tongue with yellow coating and slippery pulse.

9. Gastrointestinal syndrome caused by food stagnation

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Abdominal distension with pain, refusal to press, acid regurgitation, anorexia, or vomiting of sour food. After vomiting, the pain is relieved, or the bowel sounds, abdominal pain, diarrhea, egg-like odor, constipation, thick and greasy tongue coating, and slippery or heavy pulse.

10. Blood stasis and epigastric pain

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Abdominal pain such as acupuncture fixation, pain refused to press. After eating, the pain is aggravated, eating less, emaciation, or vomiting blood, or black stool, purple tongue with ecchymosis and astringent pulse.

1 1. Deficiency of stomach yin

【 Clinical manifestations 】 Faint burning pain, hunger, noisy or uncomfortable epigastric cavity, retching and hiccups, dry mouth and throat, dry stool, short and red urine, red tongue with little or no fur, and rapid pulse.

Diet:

1. Eat a balanced diet, regularly and quantitatively, eat less and eat more, chew slowly. It is not advisable to lie down and rest immediately after a meal, nor to work immediately.

2. Don't eat or eat less dinner. There is a saying in Chinese medicine that "stomach disharmony leads to anxiety". Eating at night will increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and easily lead to stones and overnutrition. It is also easy to induce coronary heart disease and diabetes; Eating before going to bed is also easy to induce insomnia. If you must eat midnight snack to fall asleep, it is best to eat it 2 hours before going to bed to avoid high-fat food. A better choice is to drink a cup of low-fat milk, light noodle soup or porridge, oatmeal and so on.

3. Fry less, marinate less, cool less and spicy less. Diet should be light and digestible food.

4. Avoid overeating and quit smoking and drinking. Eating to eight points is the best state.

5. The drug taker should take it after meals, so as not to stimulate the gastric mucosa and cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

(2) Emotional regulation:

Spleen is related to thinking. Thinking too much is easy to hurt the spleen, which will affect its transport function. If the spleen loses its health, there will be symptoms such as loss of appetite, indigestion, abdominal distension and diarrhea. Western medicine research also shows that emotional changes will lead to changes in gastrointestinal function. Therefore, to regulate the spleen and stomach, we must first adjust our mood, pay attention to maintaining a happy spirit and emotional stability, and avoid the stimulation of bad emotions such as tension, anxiety and anger. At the same time, pay attention to the combination of work and rest to prevent excessive fatigue.

(3) Regular life and healthy work and rest:

A good lifestyle is very important for maintaining a healthy body. Chinese medicine believes that the spleen governs the limbs, so proper physical exercise will also enhance the function of the spleen and stomach. It is best to choose a gentle, low-intensity, small amount and persistent exercise mode. After exercise, your body sweats slightly and your bones and muscles stretch, so that you won't feel tired. You can often do some exercises that have the function of invigorating qi in Chinese medicine, such as Taiji, Baduanjin, Wuqinxi and Fan Dance. In addition, we should ensure adequate rest and sleep and avoid staying up late. Pay attention to climate change, increase or decrease clothes and quilts in time to avoid the invasion of external evils such as cold and dampness.

(4) Chinese patent medicines:

Many people are unwell and don't want to go to the hospital at the first time. They often go to the pharmacy to buy medicine themselves. If the right medicine is used, the symptoms of discomfort can be alleviated. If the drug is used improperly, not only will the pain not be relieved, but it will also delay the illness and lead to adverse consequences. Many marketers in pharmacies are not pharmacists, let alone doctors. They rely entirely on drug instructions to promote shopping guides, which is the same as selling soap and toothpaste in supermarkets, so they didn't see a doctor. But some people are willing to trust them instead of doctors. I really don't know whether it is the sorrow of patients, doctors or the sorrow of the medical system. !

Although the title of Chinese patent medicine is written, I don't intend to introduce it in detail. I just want to tell you that many Chinese patent medicines have the function of regulating the spleen and stomach, such as Shen Ling Baizhu Powder, Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction, Lizhong Pill and Huoxiang Zhengqi Water. It has a good curative effect on the corresponding syndromes. Last Sunday, I accidentally felt cold. From 9: 00 pm to 1: 00 am, vomiting and diarrhea four times, which is very painful. I took a sip of Huoxiang Zhengqi water and vomited and diarrhea twice after 6 o'clock. I had another drink after getting up, and I didn't have any symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea all day. Therefore, many people report that taking this medicine is useless, saying that the medicine is useless. In fact, it is not symptomatic.

However, Chinese patent medicine is a patented medicine after all, and the dosage of ingredients is fixed, which may not be suitable for all diseases. If necessary, it is recommended to consult a doctor before use.

(5) Other methods:

1. Several simple and commonly used moxibustion acupoint treatment methods:

(1) Zusanli moxibustion:

Location: It is located 3 inches below the knee of the anterolateral leg and at the lateral finger of the anterior tibial crest.

Methods: Moxibustion at Zusanli point 10 ~ 15 minutes, once a day.

Function: regulate spleen and stomach, regulate qi and blood, help digestion and tonify deficiency.

(2) Shenque, Qihai and Guanyuan moxibustion:

Location: Shenque point, namely navel, is located in the middle of umbilical fossa; Qihai point is located on the anterior median line, below the umbilicus 1 inch and a half; Guanyuan point is located on the anterior median line, 3 inches below the umbilicus.

Methods: Moxibustion 10 ~ 15 minutes every day.

Functions: Nourishing healthy qi, warming and nourishing Yuanyang, invigorating spleen and regulating stomach, regulating qi and regulating intestine.

(3) Moxibustion at Zhongwan point:

Location: Located in the midline of the abdomen, 4 inches above the umbilicus, equivalent to the width of five fingers.

Methods: Moxibustion with moxa stick at Zhongwan point 10 ~ 15 minutes, or moxibustion with moxa stick for 20 ~ 30 minutes.

Functions: regulating stomach, benefiting qi, eliminating dampness, regulating middle energizer, lowering adverse flow and stopping vomiting. Moxibustion can improve stomach diseases.

2. Press and rub the abdomen:

Methods: Lie on your back, bend your knees, put your left and right hands on your navel, and press your abdomen clockwise and counterclockwise for dozens of times, from small to large, and gradually expand to the whole abdomen. Do ten more anal lifts. Get up early and go to bed late for a massage.

3. Click on Zhongwan point:

Location: Located in the midline of abdomen, 4 inches above umbilicus.

Methods: press or knead zhongwan point with your fingers for 2 ~ 3 minutes each time until local fever occurs.

Function: promote the circulation of qi and blood in meridians and regulate the function of stomach.

Having said that, in fact, regulating the spleen and stomach and self-care are more important than medication. It's like many people want to lose weight, but they can't control their mouths and legs. Can drugs alone help? However, you must not be afraid of medical treatment. It is not enough to rely on self-care for many serious diseases. It is still necessary to seek medical treatment in time and cooperate with doctors for active treatment in order to recover as soon as possible.