In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers are commonly associated with Food Stagnation, Liver Qi attacking the Stomach, Stomach Yin deficiency, Spleen-Stomach Yang deficiency, or Blood Stasis in the Stomach collaterals.

Treatment focuses on harmonizing the Stomach, regulating Qi, relieving pain, nourishing Yin, warming Yang, or activating Blood depending on the underlying pattern.

Food Stagnation

Common Signs

• Abdominal pain or fullness relieved after bowel movement

• Belching

• Poor appetite

• Sour regurgitation

• Bad breath

• Extremely foul-smelling stools

• Stomachache worsened by pressure

• Vomiting and diarrhea together

• Hot sensations in the body

• Red complexion

• Dry stools

• Insomnia

Treatment Principle

Promote digestion and harmonize the Stomach.

Traditional Formula

Bao-He-Wan

Traditional Food Therapy

• Radish

• Grapefruit

• Tomato

• Water chestnut

• Peach

• Malt

• Cardamom seed

• Coriander

• Tea

• Jackfruit

Liver Qi Attacking the Stomach

Common Signs

• Stomach pain worsened by stress, frustration, or emotional upset

• Belching

• Hiccups

• Rib-side discomfort

• Abdominal rumbling

• Irregular bowel movements

• Acid regurgitation

• Vomiting acid or blood

Treatment Principle

Soothe Liver Qi and harmonize the Stomach.

Traditional Formula

Si-Ni-San

Traditional Food Therapy

• Celery

• Kumquat

• Sweet orange

• Corn silk

• Barley

• Peanut

• White fungus

• Chestnut

• Red and black dates

• Carp

Stomach Yin Deficiency

Common Signs

• Burning stomach pain

• Pain worse when the stomach is empty

• Dry mouth with desire to drink

• Dry lips

• Dry cough

• Constipation

• Hiccups

• Low appetite

• Insomnia

• Palpitations

• Low-grade afternoon fever

• Vomiting

• Occasional vomiting of blood

Treatment Principle

Nourish Stomach Yin, clear Heat, and direct rebellious Stomach Qi downward.

Traditional Formula

Mai-Men-Dong-Tang

Traditional Food Therapy

• White fungus

• Asparagus

• Bird's nest

• Duck

• Duck egg

• Oyster

• Pork

• Royal jelly

• Kidney bean

• Chicken egg

• Abalone

Spleen-Stomach Yang Deficiency

Common Signs

• Dull stomach pain

• Pain relieved by warmth and pressure

• Pain improved by eating and resting

• Pain worsened by hunger and fatigue

• Cold limbs

• Poor appetite

• Fatigue

• Shortness of breath

• Vomiting clear fluids

• Vomiting undigested food

• Water sounds in the stomach

• Loose stools

• Pale complexion

Treatment Principle

Warm the middle burner, strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, and dispel Cold.

Traditional Formula

Li-Zhong-Tang

Traditional Food Therapy

• Beef

• Garlic

• Cinnamon

• Fennel

• Nutmeg

• Cardamom

• Carp

• Mutton

• Mustard seed

Stomach Blood Stasis

Common Signs

• Fixed stomach pain

• Sharp, stabbing pain

• Pain worsened by massage

• Pain occurring in a specific location

• Swelling sensation in the stomach

• Pain after meals

• Vomiting blood

• Feeling of emptiness or sickness in the abdomen

Treatment Principle

Invigorate Blood, transform stasis, harmonize the Stomach, and relieve pain.

Traditional Formula

Jia-Wei-Shi-Xiao-San

Traditional Food Therapy

• Saffron

• Peach

• Papaya

• Chestnut

• Eggplant

• Black soybean

• Crab

• Sweet basil

• Sturgeon

• Brown sugar

Traditional Dietary Approaches

Food Stagnation Pattern

Favor foods that promote digestion:

• Radish

• Grapefruit

• Tomato

• Cardamom

• Coriander

Liver Qi Pattern

Favor foods that gently move Liver Qi:

• Kumquat

• Orange

• Celery

• Corn silk

Stomach Yin Deficiency

Favor moistening and nourishing foods:

• White fungus

• Asparagus

• Duck

• Oyster

• Bird's nest

Yang Deficiency

Favor warming foods:

• Beef

• Garlic

• Cinnamon

• Fennel

• Mutton

Blood Stasis

Favor foods that support circulation:

• Saffron

• Peach

• Papaya

• Black soybean

Related Formulas

• Bao-He-Wan

• Si-Ni-San

• Mai-Men-Dong-Tang

• Li-Zhong-Tang

• Jia-Wei-Shi-Xiao-San

Important Note

Persistent stomach pain, black stools, vomiting blood, unexplained weight loss, difficulty swallowing, anemia, or symptoms suggestive of a peptic ulcer warrant medical evaluation. Conditions such as Helicobacter pylori infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, and stomach cancer should be ruled out when appropriate.