Cold rheum collecting in the stomach

Also stomach vacuity with collecting rheum (胃虚停饮 wèi xū tíng yǐn).

A disease pattern chiefly characterized by glomus and distension in stomach duct and abdomen; the sound of water in the stomach; vomiting of clear water and phlegm-drool.

Description: Glomus and distension in the stomach and abdomen; a sound of water in the stomach; vomiting of clear water and phlegm-drool; bland taste in the mouth; absence of thirst; dizziness; white glossy tongue fur; a pulse that is sunken and stringlike. Compare phlegm-rheum².

Diseases: Phlegm-rheum; vomiting; dizziness.

Pathogenesis: Cold rheum collecting in the stomach and impairing harmony and downbearing resulting from:

• dietary irregularities, especially excessive consumption of cold fluids;
• taxation fatigue damaging the spleen and stomach, impairing splenic movement and transformation and causing water-damp to collect in the form of rheum.

Analysis of signs

• Obstruction of the qì dynamic and impaired harmony and downbearing of the stomach: Glomus and distension in the stomach duct and abdomen.
• Rheum evil accumulating in the stomach: Sound of water in the stomach.
• Stomach qì ascending counterflow: Vomiting of clear water and phlegm-drool.
• Rheum evil: Bland taste in the mouth and absence of thirst. Dizziness can arise when rheum prevents clear yáng from rising.
• Tongue: White glossy fur.
• Pulse: Sunken and stringlike.

Treatment

Medicinal therapy: Warm and transform rheum with Poria, Cinnamon Twig, White Atractylodes, and Licorice Decoction (苓桂朮甘汤 líng guì zhú gān tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: PC-6 (nèi guān), CV-12 (zhōng wǎn), ST-25 (tiān shū), LI-10 (shǒu sān lǐ), ST-36 (zú sān lǐ), and ST-40 (fēng lóng).