Stomach Yin Deficiency
Stomach Yin Deficiency
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Diagnostic Signs
Normal color with rootless coating or without coating in the center
Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the absence of coating in the center of the tongue.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
Unbalanced diet and bad eating habits are the major reasons for this pattern. The patients may often consume spicy and acrid foods, which deplete Stomach Fluids and Yin. Prolonged irregular eating habits also have similar negative impact, such as eating on the run, skipping meals, eating while working, having late meals or working right after eating.
Chronic Stomach disease can consume Stomach Yin.
A high fever due to an infectious disease can lead to Stomach Yin Deficiency. However, it is usually acute and temporary. The Yin level normally reverses back after a few days or weeks. However, it may also last for a long period of time.
Both Stomach Qi and Yin can be harmed by drugs like antibiotics, which causes the tongue coating to disappear. This situation is usually temporary, as the Yin level is normally back to its original level after stopping the drugs.
For some young people, teenagers and even children, Stomach Yin Deficiency may be a constitutional pattern.
Pathological Mechanism
The Stomach is responsible for receiving foods and drinks, ripening them and sending them to the Spleen for further digestion. Therefore, the Stomach is the origin of Body Fluids. It is also an Organ that likes Cold and Dampness which are both Yin characteristics. Stomach Yin Deficiency harms this functions and cause Dryness and Heat. As a result, symptoms such as thirst, dry stools, dry mouth and dry throat appear. It also cause the tongue coating to fall off.
Due to lack of Body Fluids, there is constipation with dry stools. Retching and hiccups may also occur as Stomach's Qi downward function is impaired.
If the Yin Deficiency situation last for a long period of time, it can potentially develop Empty-Heat. It's typical manifestations are often quite mild and appears only in the afternoon or evening, such the mild fever or feeling of heat. The patients experiences thirst or hunger but there is no desire to drink or eat, or they only drink in small sips. They also prefer warm liquids and their appetite is poor.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Nourish Stomach Yin, nourish Body Fluids.
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Unhealthy eating habit is often responsible for Stomach Yin Deficiency, such as late dinner, skipping meals, short and hectic lunch, working while eating, back to work right after eating.
Also the overconsumption of spicy and acrid food may also lead to this pattern.
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