Digestion

Digestion and bloating

Western Bloating and indigestion are common gut complaints with many causes, from food and stress to conditions that need a workup.

Classical 土 Read through Earth, the Spleen and Stomach at the center, which turn food into the qi and blood of each day.

Often with Herbal medicine, Acupuncture, Food as medicine

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Western IBS is recurring belly pain tied to bowel changes, with no visible damage to the gut on testing.

Classical 土 Most often read as the Liver overacting on the Spleen: stress that lands in the gut, on a center that is already tired.

Often with Acupuncture, Herbal medicine, Master Tung's acupuncture

Acid reflux and heartburn

Western Reflux is stomach contents rising into the esophagus, causing heartburn; when it is frequent it is called GERD.

Classical 土 Read as Stomach qi rising when it should descend, most often pushed upward by a constrained Liver or by heat.

Often with Acupuncture, Herbal medicine, Food as medicine

Western Chronic diarrhea is loose or frequent stools lasting more than about four weeks, and it calls for a medical workup.

Classical 土 Called xiè xiè, it is read by pattern: a weak or cold center, damp-heat, stress pressing on the Spleen, or fading Kidney yang.

Often with Herbal medicine, Acupuncture, Moxibustion

Western Constipation is infrequent, hard or difficult bowel movements, often with straining or a sense of not emptying.

Classical 金 Read through the Large Intestine of Metal: heat that dries, qi that stalls, or qi and blood too low to move things along.

Often with Acupuncture, Herbal medicine, Food as medicine

Food sensitivities and gut lining

Western Food reactions range from celiac disease and allergy, which need medical diagnosis, to sensitivities that are harder to test for.

Classical 土 Read as a weak center that cannot transform what it takes in, often with damp, stress and a thin outer defense.

Often with Herbal medicine, Food as medicine, Acupuncture