Stomach Meridian Disharmonies - TCM Theory
Below you will find the TCM Disharmonies related to the Stomach Meridian. Each pattern contains a brief description of associated signs and symptoms, tongue and pulse diagnosis, and a list of acupuncture points that may be used to treat the disharmony.
Excess Patterns
ST Fire - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Constant hunger, painful, swollen a/or bleeding gums, regurgitation a/or vomiting likely after eating, burning sensation in the epigastrium, nausea, constipation
- Tongue:
Red, dry w/thick yellow coat
- Pulse:
Full, deep, rapid
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- PC 6 - descend rebellious Qi, nausea, calm the spirit
- SP 6 - tonify Yin
- CV 12 - ST Mu
- ST 21 - assist CV 12, clear heat
- CV 13 - descend rebellious Qi
- ST 44 - ying spring, water point, clear heat from the channel
- ST 45 - clear heat from the face/mouth, calm the spirit
ST Excess Cold - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Usually an acute situation, acute pain in the epigastrium which feels better with warm foods/drinks a/or the application of heat and worse with cold
- Tongue:
Thick white coat
- Pulse:
Deep, slow, tight
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- ST 34 - xi cleft, acute epigastric pain
- CV 12 - ST Mu
- ST 21 - assist CV 12
- SP 4 - severe epigastric a/or abdominal pain
ST Rebellious Qi - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Pattern usually appears with ST a/or other organ patterns and is related to the ST not descending the Qi, regurgitation, belching, hiccups, vomiting
- Tongue:
Normal
- Pulse:
Tight
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- CV 12 - ST Mu
- CV 13 - descend ST Qi
- CV 10 - descend ST Qi, lower ST issues
- SP 4 w/PC 6 - yin wei chong mai
ST Food Retention - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Vomiting, regurgitation, belching, epigastric pain a/or distention, lack of appetite, insomnia
- Tongue:
Thick yellow or white coat
- Pulse:
Full, slippery
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- CV 12 - ST Mu
- ST 21 - assist CV 12
- SP 4 w/PC 6 - yin wei chong mai
- ST 44 - ying spring, water point, clear heat from the channel
- ST 45 - clear heat from the face/mouth, calm the spirit
Deficiency Patterns
ST Qi Deficiency
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Poor appetite, lack of taste, dull sensation in the epigastrium, weak limbs, tiredness, loose stools
- Tongue:
Pale
- Pulse:
Empty
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- CV 6 - tonify Qi
- ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
- CV 12 - ST Mu
- UB 21 - ST Shu
ST Yin Deficiency
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Epigastric pain, poor appetite, heat in the 5 palms, constipation, dry mouth a/or throat, thirst w/no desire to drink
- Tongue:
Red or peeled in the ST/SP area
- Pulse:
Floating, empty
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- SP 6 - nourish Yin
- CV 4 - nourish Yin
- ST 44 - clear empty heat
- PC 6 - calm the spirit
- CV 12 - ST Mu
- ST 36 - tonify ST
Sources and More Information
The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience.