Appetite

The desire to eat. Appetite is considered principally to be a reflection of the state of the stomach and spleen. The Magic Pivot (灵枢 líng shū, hǎi lùn piān) states, The stomach is the sea of grain and water. The stomach governs intake and rotting and ripening of grain and water (i.e., food); the spleen governs movement and transformation of grain and water and the distribution of their essence (i.e., nutrients). The stomach and spleen together form the root of the later heaven, i.e., the basis of the acquired constitution. When the spleen and stomach are in harmony, the spleen provides adequate nutrients for the body and the stomach signals the need for food by the sensation of hunger. A good appetite is generally a sign of health, and lack of appetite is a sign of disease. The presence of stomach qì means life; the absence of stomach qì is death. In disease, a good appetite is a sign of a mild condition, and its return is a sign of recovery. Sudden return of an appetite in critical illness is described as the last radiance of the setting sun, and bodes death. See poor appetite.