Digestion problems: How common is it?
How common are digestive problems?
The most common complaints I see in clinical practice are by far digestive. Digestion has a huge impact on hormones (for men as well as women) so you can prevent the degeneration of these systems simply by understanding how the digestive functions work.
You will not find this understanding of the human body in allopathic (western) medicine which is why westerners age much faster than Chinese. Food for thought eh?
There are several separate syndromes related to deficiency of the Stomach and/or Spleen which show up in digestive disorders. The most common are Spleen Qi deficiency, Spleen Yang deficiency and Spleen damp. Spleen Qi and Spleen Yang deficiencies are both true deficiencies, damp in the Spleen is an excess due to deficiency. Deficient Spleen Qi means that day to day function of the middle burner is impaired. It can be the energetic cause of nervous indigestion, chronic diarrhoea, gastric or duodenal ulcers, anaemia, and even hepatitis. Its symptoms are poor appetite, abdominal distension, slight epigastric pain relieved by pressure, a tendency to loose stools, fatigue. If this situation is not corrected the individual will not be able to extract the pure Qi from the food. Not only will the Spleen function be impaired but over a period of time there will be a drain on the root energy of the Middle Burner, the foundation of life and the source of Acquired Essence. Therefore a deficiency of Yang, not just Qi, will develop.
How many very tired people do you know? This is a deeper and more serious imbalance. Because the Yang becomes seriously depleted, symptoms of a cold nature manifest. : fear of cold, desire for hot foods and drinks, desire for warmth, and cold hands and feet. The loose stool’s associated with Spleen Qi deficiency will further devolve to watery stools possibly containing undigested food. The tongue will be swollen. Besides the pathologies listed under Spleen Qi deficiency, western pathologies such as leukorrhea, edema, gastritis, enteritis,
Nephritis and colitis may be caused by Spleen Yang deficiency.
In designing a dietary treatment plan for either Spleen Qi or Spleen Yang deficiency the first principle is to avoid foods that will cool the digestive fire. Next comes recommended foods that strengthen the Middle Burner. No chilled, iced, refrigerated or frozen foods or liquids. All foods should be room temperature or cooked. Raw food such as fruits and salads should be avoided. Fruits can be eaten if cooked in pies or compotes but should be limited.