Feeling of fullness according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Feeling of fullness can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like feeling of fullness here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here feeling of fullness is often associated with epigastric pain, dry mouth and poor appetite in the pattern “Stomach Yin Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of feeling of fullness we’ve identified three herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat feeling of fullness.
Stomach Yin Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause feeling of fullness
In Chinese Medicine feeling of fullness is a symptom for the pattern "Stomach Yin Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Stomach Yin Deficiency causes Dryness and Heat, which harms the Organ's ability of receiving and ripening foods and drinks. It is the result of prolonged unbalanced diet and irregular eating habits.
In addition to feeling of fullness, other symptoms associated with Stomach Yin Deficiency include epigastric pain, dry mouth and poor appetite.
Stomach Yin Deficiency is often treated with Mai Men Dong Tang, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Dwarf Lilyturf Roots - Mai Dong - as a key herb). Mai Men Dong Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that enrich yin and moisten dryness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Stomach".
Three herbal formulas that might help with feeling of fullness
Mai Men Dong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Stomach. Generates Body Fluids. Directs Rebellious Qi downward.
Why might Mai Men Dong Tang help with feeling of fullness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' of which feeling of fullness is a symptom.
Yi Wei Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Strengthen the Stomach. Creates Body Fluids.
Why might Yi Wei Tang help with feeling of fullness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' of which feeling of fullness is a symptom.
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Augments the Qi. Strengthens the Spleen. Leaches out Dampness. Stops diarrhea.
Why might Shen Ling Bai Zhu San help with feeling of fullness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' of which feeling of fullness is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for feeling of fullness
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat feeling of fullness
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with feeling of fullness?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of fullness as a symptom, like Shen Ling Bai Zhu San or Mai Men Dong Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Dwarf Lilyturf Root (Mai Dong) help with feeling of fullness?
Because Dwarf Lilyturf Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of fullness as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Yi Wei Tang for instance.
Dwarf Lilyturf Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with feeling of fullness?
Because Ginseng is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of fullness as a symptom, like Shen Ling Bai Zhu San or Mai Men Dong Tang for instance.
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit).
Why might Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with feeling of fullness?
Because it is a key herb in Yi Wei Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with feeling of fullness as a symptom)
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with feeling of fullness?
Because it is a key herb in Shen Ling Bai Zhu San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with feeling of fullness as a symptom)
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Other symptoms often associated with feeling of fullness
Epigastric pain Dry mouth Poor appetite Feeling of heat in the afternoon Dry throat Constipation Dry stools Hot palms and soles Feeling of hunger Bleeding gums