Herbs That Relieve Food Stagnation – feeling of fullness in the abdomen, nausea, belching

HoloSapiens - the TCM "Food as Medicine" Project

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Introduction to the disharmony

Major symptoms:

feeling of fullness in the abdomen
nausea
belching

There are several causes that lead to food stagnation. One is stress and negative emotions. Sudden and extreme emotions obstruct the energy flow of the Stomach, causing it to stagnate. When the smooth flow of Stomach Qi stagnates the food in the Stomach cannot be processed and stagnates as well. The emotions that particularly affect the Stomach are worry and overthinking. Chronic worry and worrying while eating all lead to food stagnation(1).

Another cause of food stagnation is overeating. Eating irregularly and in large quantities is heavy on the digestive system making it difficult to process the food. Thus the food remains stagnant and undigested for longer periods of time.

The herbs used in the cases of food stagnation are herbs that soften and reduce, move and guide out food accumulation.

Major Chinese herbs

Mai Ya (Fructus Hordei Vulgaris) and Gu Ya (Fructus Oryzae Sativae) are two herbs that reduce food stagnation and are particularly useful for poor digestion due to inability to digest starchy foods. Lai Fu Zi (Semen Raphani Sativi) – radish seed – is used for acid reflux and belching. Shan Zha (Fructus Crateagi) is particularly useful for food stagnation due to over-consumption of meat and greasy foods(2). According to research this red herb can treat fatty liver and reduce blood fat(3).

Shanzha

Healing Foods

Foods benefit food stagnation differently.

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(1) Maciocia, Giovanni (1989). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Harcourt Publishers Limited

(2) Benski, Dan & Gamble, Andrew (1993). Materia Medica, Revised Edition. Seatle: Eastland Press, Incorporated

(3) Lu, Henry (2005). Chinese Natural Cures. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.

(4) Pitchford, Paul (2002). Healing with Whole Foods. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books

Herbs That Relieve Food Stagnation – feeling of fullness in the abdomen, nausea, belching

(1) Maciocia, Giovanni (1989). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Harcourt Publishers Limited

(2) Benski, Dan & Gamble, Andrew (1993). Materia Medica, Revised Edition. Seatle: Eastland Press, Incorporated

(3) Lu, Henry (2005). Chinese Natural Cures. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.

(5) Holmes, Peter (1998). The Energetics of Western Herbs. Boulder: Snow Lotus Press, Inc.