Vomiting of fluids soon after drinking 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.
Vomiting of fluids soon after drinking 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 vomiting of fluids soon after drinking 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 vomiting of fluids soon after drinking is often associated with aversion to cold, fever and urinary retention in the pattern “Greater Yang Accumulation of Water”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause vomiting of fluids soon after drinking.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of vomiting of fluids soon after drinking we’ve identified five 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 vomiting of fluids soon after drinking.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause vomiting of fluids soon after drinking
In Chinese Medicine vomiting of fluids soon after drinking is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Greater Yang Accumulation of Water
Greater Yang Accumulation of Water
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to vomiting of fluids soon after drinking, other symptoms associated with Greater Yang Accumulation of Water include aversion to cold, fever and urinary retention.
Greater Yang Accumulation of Water is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Heat or Fire
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Full (Shi)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red centre
Stomach Fire indicates a true Excess of Heat in the Stomach, creating symptoms such as mouth ulcers, bad breath, intense thirst and gum bleeding. Stomach Fire can be the result of excessive intake of hot, spicy, greasy and deep fried foods or other factors such as alcohol, tobacco and sugar.
In addition to vomiting of fluids soon after drinking, other symptoms associated with Stomach Heat or Fire include dry stools, bleeding gums and constipation.
Stomach Heat or Fire is often treated with Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Rhubarb - Da Huang - as a key herb). Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that purge heat accumulation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Removes Heat and Dryness in the Lower Burner".
Five herbal formulas that might help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Greater Yang Accumulation of Water' of which vomiting of fluids soon after drinking is a symptom.
Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Removes Heat and Dryness in the Lower Burner. Removes constipation.
Why might Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Heat or Fire' of which vomiting of fluids soon after drinking is a symptom.
Qing Wei San
Source date: 1336 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Drains Stomach Fire. Cools the Blood. Nourishes the Yin.
Why might Qing Wei San help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Heat or Fire' of which vomiting of fluids soon after drinking is a symptom.
Xie Huang San
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Clears Stagnant Fire from the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Xie Huang San help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Heat or Fire' of which vomiting of fluids soon after drinking is a symptom.
Fei Er Wan
Source date: 1156 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Kills parasites. Reduces accumulation. Strengthens the Spleen. Clears Heat.
Why might Fei Er Wan help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Heat or Fire' of which vomiting of fluids soon after drinking is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat vomiting of fluids soon after drinking
Why might Goldthread Rhizome (Huang Lian) help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because Goldthread Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vomiting of fluids soon after drinking as a symptom, like Qing Wei San or Fei Er Wan for instance.
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Liver, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vomiting of fluids soon after drinking as a symptom, like Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang or Xie Huang San 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 Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Ling San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Greater Yang Accumulation of Water' (a pattern with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking as a symptom)
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
Why might Areca Nut (Bing Lang) help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because it is a key herb in Fei Er Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Stomach Heat or Fire' (a pattern with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking as a symptom)
Areca Nuts is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Large intestine and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Destroys parasites. Regulates Qi circulation. Promotes urination.
Why might Gypsum (Shi Gao) help with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking?
Because it is a key herb in Xie Huang San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Stomach Heat or Fire' (a pattern with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking as a symptom)
Gypsum is a Cold herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and drains Fire. Clears Lung Heat. Relieves thirst and restlessness. Clears Stomach Heat.
Other symptoms often associated with vomiting of fluids soon after drinking
Dry stools Aversion to cold Fever Urinary retention Bleeding gums Constipation Irritability Frontal headache Swelling gums Painful gums