Epigastric pain and loose stools
Digestive discomfort
Bloating, reflux and unsettled bowels. Diet, stress and constitution behind digestive trouble, with food advice.
When people come in
- Bloating, belching or reflux after meals
- Changeable bowels, or loose stools under stress
- Poor appetite or tummy aches
The Chinese medicine view
In TCM the Stomach receives and the Spleen transforms; weakness in either, or Liver qi invading the Stomach, disturbs digestion.
Common patterns
Spleen and Stomach deficiency
Small appetite, bloating, loose stools
Liver–Stomach disharmony
Distension, belching, reflux
Cold, weak Spleen and Stomach
Cold ache eased by warmth
Heat in the gut
Bad breath, constipation
Patterns are identified by a practitioner through all four examinations. They are here to explain the thinking, not for self-diagnosis.
The medical view
Persistent stomach pain, difficulty swallowing, black or bloody stools, unexplained weight loss, repeated vomiting, or new symptoms over 45 need a doctor’s check first.
Black or bloody stools, vomiting blood or unexplained weight loss: seek prompt care.
What the consultation covers
Meal timing, what you eat, bowel habits, stress and sleep guide herbs, acupuncture or moxibustion, with food-therapy advice.
Therapies that may be discussed: Herbal medicine, Moxibustion
What to bring
- A week of food and bowel notes
- Endoscopy reports, if any
- Stomach medicines or supplements
Questions
Does stress affect digestion?
Yes. TCM calls it Liver–Spleen disharmony, often bloating or loose stools under pressure.
Must I avoid cold and raw food?
It depends; people with a cold, weak Spleen and Stomach are advised to eat less of it.
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