Acid vomiting

From Plain Questions (素问 sù wèn, zhì zhēn yào dà lùn). Expulsion through the mouth of sour fluid that flows up from the stomach. Acid vomiting is similar to acid swallowing, in which sour water flowing up from the stomach is swallowed before it is ejected, but differs in that the sour water is actually ejected. Acid vomiting is attributed to abiding food, phlegm-fire, liver fire invading the stomach, or spleen-stomach vacuity cold.

Patterns

Abiding food (宿食 sù shí) causes acid vomiting or acid swallowing with belching of putrid qì.

Medicinal therapy: Treat by harmonizing the center, dispersing food, and abducting stagnation with Medicated Leaven and Atractylodes Pill (曲朮丸 qū zhú wán).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on the alarm and lower uniting points of the stomach channel, selecting CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ) as the main points. For abiding food, add CV-10 (Lower Stomach Duct, 下脘 xià wǎn), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán), and GB-40 (Hill Ruins, 丘墟 qiū xū); needle with drainage.

Phlegm-fire (痰火 tán huǒ) causes acid vomiting with heart vexation, oppressed breath, and copious phlegm.

Medicinal therapy: Transform phlegm and clear fire using Gardenia and Coptis Two Matured Ingredients Decoction (栀连二陈汤 zhī lián èr chén tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points given above, add ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng), SP-4 (Yellow Emperor, 公孙 gōng sūn), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), and GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán); needle with drainage.

Liver fire invading the stomach (肝火犯胃 gān huǒ fàn wèi) causes heart vexation and acid vomiting with stabbing pain in both rib-sides, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and a rapid stringlike pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Discharge the liver and clear fire using Left-Running Metal Pill (左金丸 zuǒ jīn wán).

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points given above, add CV-13 (Upper Stomach Duct, 上脘 shàng wǎn); ST-44 (Inner Court, 内庭 nèi tíng), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān), and GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán); needle with drainage.

Spleen-stomach vacuity cold (脾胃虚寒 pí wèi xū hán) causes acid vomiting with distension and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, belching, white tongue fur, and fine stringlike pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Warm the spleen and stomach using Costusroot and Amomum Six Gentlemen Decoction (香砂六君子汤 xiāng shā liù jūn zǐ tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points given above, add BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-21 (Stomach Transport, 胃俞 wèi shù), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), LR-13 (Camphorwood Gate, 章门 zhāng mén), and SP-4 (Yellow Emperor, 公孙 gōng sūn); needle with supplementation and add moxa. Cross moxa and the Five Pillar Points (五柱穴 wǔ zhù xué) can also be used to warm the center and dispel cold.