DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND TASTE
The symptoms of epigastric and abdominal pain are discussed in Chapter 71 (Abdomen).
BELCHING
Interrogation, Chapter 30; Hearing, Chapter 53
Liver-Qi invading the Stomach
Belching with loud sound, irritability, epigastric and hypochondrial distension and pain, a feeling of oppression of the epigastrium, sour regurgitation, hiccup, belching, nausea, vomiting, sighing, weak limbs, normal-coloured tongue (or slightly Red on the sides in severe cases of Liver-Qi stagnation), Pulse Wiry on the left and Weak on the right.
Stomach-Heat
Belching with loud sound, sour regurgitation, burning epigastric pain, thirst, nausea, excessive hunger, foul breath, a feeling of heat, Red tongue with a yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.
Retention of food 
Belching with loud sound, sour regurgitation, foul breath, nausea, fullness, pain and distension of the epigastrium which are relieved by vomiting, vomiting of sour fluids, insomnia, loose stools or constipation, poor appetite, thick tongue coating, Full-Slippery pulse.
Stomach- and Spleen-Qi deficiency
Belching with weak sound, slight nausea, vomiting of thin watery fluids, poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, an uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium, lack of sense of taste, Pale tongue, Empty pulse.
Stomach deficient and cold
Belching with weak sound, vomiting of clear fluid, discomfort or dull pain in the epigastrium, better after eating and with pressure or massage, lack of appetite, preference for warm drinks and foods, absence of thirst, cold and weak limbs, tiredness, pale complexion, Pale and wet tongue, Deep-Weak-Slow pulse.
Stomach-Yin deficiency
Belching with weak sound, no appetite or slight hunger but no desire to eat, constipation (dry stools), dull or slightly burning epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat especially in the afternoon, thirst but no desire to drink, or a desire to drink in small sips, slight feeling of fullness after eating, normal-coloured tongue without coating or without coating in the centre, Floating-Empty pulse.
REGURGITATION
Sour regurgitation
Interrogation, Chapter 30; Hearing, Chapter 53
Liver-Qi invading the Stomach
Sour regurgitation, a feeling of burning in the stomach coming in bouts, belching, irritability, epigastric/hypochondrial distension and pain, a feeling of oppression of the epigastrium, sour regurgitation, hiccup, belching, nausea, vomiting, sighing, weak limbs, normal-coloured tongue (or slightly red on the sides in severe cases of Liver-Qi stagnation), pulse Wiry on the left and Weak on the right.
Retention of food
Sour regurgitation, vomiting of sour fluids, belching, fullness, pain and distension of the epigastrium which are relieved by vomiting, nausea, foul breath, insomnia, loose stools or constipation, poor appetite, thick tongue coating, Full-Slippery pulse.
Damp-Heat in the Stomach
Sour regurgitation, nausea, a feeling of fullness and pain of the epigastrium, a feeling of heaviness, facial pain, stuffed nose or thick sticky nasal discharge, thirst without a desire to drink, a feeling of heat, dull-yellow complexion, a sticky taste, Red tongue with sticky yellow coating, Slippery-Rapid pulse.
Regurgitation of food
‘Regurgitation of food’, called fan wei in Chinese (meaning ‘stomach reflux’), is characterized by food entering the stomach, not being digested and being regurgitated; this is different to vomiting. Regurgitation of food can take different forms: sometimes the food eaten in the morning may be regurgitated; sometimes the food eaten the previous evening may be regurgitated in the morning; sometimes the food may be regurgitated 1 or 2 hours after eating; sometimes there may be regurgitation only at night.
Cold in the Stomach
Regurgitation of thin watery fluids, nausea, hiccup, epigastric pain aggravated by cold liquids and alleviated by warm liquids, dribbling from the mouth, feeling worse after swallowing cold fluids (which are quickly vomited), severe pain in the epigastrium, a feeling of cold, cold limbs, preference for warmth and for warm liquids, thick white tongue coating, Deep-Tight-Slow pulse.
Stagnation of Qi and Phlegm in the Stomach
Regurgitation of food and phlegm, belching, nausea, vomiting, hiccup, epigastric pain and distension, a feeling of oppression of the chest, irritability, Swollen tongue, Slippery pulse.
Damp-Heat in the Stomach
Regurgitation of food, a feeling of fullness and pain of the epigastrium, a feeling of heaviness, thirst without desire to drink, nausea, a feeling of heat, dull-yellow complexion, sticky taste, Red tongue with sticky yellow coating, Slippery-Rapid pulse.
Stasis of Blood in the Stomach
Regurgitation of food and occasionally blood, nausea, vomiting, possibly vomiting of blood, vomiting of food looking like coffee grounds, severe, stabbing epigastric pain that may be worse at night, dislike of pressure, Purple tongue, Wiry pulse.
Retention of food
Regurgitation of food, sour regurgitation, sticky taste, nausea, fullness and pain of the epigastrium, restless sleep, thick sticky tongue coating, Slippery pulse.
Stomach-Yin deficiency with Blood dryness
Sour regurgitation, no appetite or slight hunger but no desire to eat, constipation (dry stools), dull or slightly burning epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat especially in the afternoon, thirst but no desire to drink, or a desire to drink in small sips, a slight feeling of fullness after eating, insomnia, dry skin, dull complexion, normal-coloured tongue without coating or without coating in the centre, Floating-Empty pulse.
Deficiency of Qi and Yin of the Stomach
Slight regurgitation of food, no appetite or slight hunger but no desire to eat, constipation (dry stools), dull or slightly burning epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat especially in the afternoon, thirst but no desire to drink, or a desire to drink in small sips, slight feeling of fullness after eating, loose stools, tiredness especially in the morning, weak limbs, Pale tongue without coating in the centre, Empty pulse or Floating-Empty pulse.
Deficiency of Minister Fire
Regurgitation of thin watery fluids, lower backache, cold knees, a feeling of cold, bright-white complexion, weak knees, tiredness, lassitude, abundant clear urination, urination at night, impotence, lack of libido, infertility, sterility, Pale and wet tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.
HICCUP
Cold in the Stomach
Forceful hiccup, nausea, feeling worse after swallowing cold fluids (which are quickly vomited), severe pain in the epigastrium, a feeling of cold, cold limbs, preference for warmth, vomiting of clear fluids (which may alleviate the pain), preference for warm liquids, thick white tongue coating, Deep-Tight-Slow pulse.
Stomach-Heat
Forceful hiccup, sour regurgitation, burning epigastric pain, thirst, nausea, excessive hunger, foul breath, a feeling of heat, Red tongue with a yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.
Stomach-Qi deficiency
Weak, infrequent hiccup with low sound, an uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium, no appetite, lack of sense of taste, loose stools, tiredness especially in the morning, weak limbs, Pale tongue, Empty pulse.
Stomach-Yin deficiency
Weak hiccup, no appetite or slight hunger but no desire to eat, constipation (dry stools), dull or slightly burning epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat especially in the afternoon, thirst but no desire to drink, or a desire to drink in small sips, slight feeling of fullness after eating, normal-coloured tongue without coating or without coating in the centre, Floating-Empty pulse.
Liver-Qi invading the Stomach
Pronounced hiccup, sour regurgitation, a feeling of burning in the stomach coming in bouts, belching, irritability, epigastric/hypochondrial distension and pain, a feeling of oppression of the epigastrium, sour regurgitation, hiccup, belching, nausea, vomiting, sighing, weak limbs, normal-coloured tongue (or slightly red on the sides in severe cases of Liver-Qi stagnation), Pulse Wiry on the left and Weak on the right.
Spleen- and Kidney-Yang deficiency
Incessant hiccup, lower backache, cold and weak knees, feeling cold, bright-white complexion, impotence, decreased libido, tiredness, lassitude, abundant clear urination, urination at night, loose stools, poor appetite, slight abdominal distension, a desire to lie down, early-morning diarrhoea, Pale and wet tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.
HUNGER AND EATING
Poor appetite
Poor appetite is an important symptom in Chinese medicine frequently reported by Chinese patients; this is partially a culturally determined symptom given the history of frequent famines in China. Western patients seldom report this symptom spontaneously and we must therefore remember to ask always about appetite. In China, poor appetite is often a symptom of sadness and unhappiness; in contrast, Westerners tend to eat more when they are unhappy or depressed.
Stomach- and Spleen-Qi deficiency
Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, an uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium, lack of sense of taste, Pale tongue, Empty pulse.
Stomach and Spleen deficient and cold
Poor appetite, dull epigastric pain that is alleviated by warm liquids and aggravated by cold liquids, vomiting of thin watery fluids, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, an uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium, lack of sense of taste, cold limbs, a feeling of cold, Pale and wet tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.
Spleen- and Kidney-Yang deficiency
Poor appetite, lower backache, cold and weak knees, a feeling of cold, bright-white complexion, impotence, decreased libido, tiredness, lassitude, abundant clear urination, urination at night, loose stools, slight abdominal distension, a desire to lie down, early-morning diarrhoea, Pale and wet tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.
Stomach-Yin deficiency
Poor appetite or slight hunger but no desire to eat, constipation (dry stools), dull or slightly burning epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat especially in the afternoon, thirst but no desire to drink, or a desire to drink in small sips, slight feeling of fullness after eating, normal-coloured tongue without coating or without coating in the centre, Floating-Empty pulse.
Cold-Dampness in the Stomach and Spleen
Poor appetite, epigastric fullness, a feeling of heaviness of the head and body, a feeling of cold, cold limbs, sticky-white tongue coating, Slippery-Slow pulse.
Damp-Heat in the Stomach and Spleen
Poor appetite, a feeling of fullness and pain of the epigastrium and lower abdomen, a feeling of heaviness, thirst without a desire to drink, nausea, loose stools with offensive odour, a feeling of heat, dull-yellow complexion, sticky taste, Red tongue with sticky yellow coating, Slippery-Rapid pulse.
Liver-Qi invading the Stomach
Poor appetite, irritability, epigastric/hypochondrial distension and pain, a feeling of oppression of the epigastrium, sour regurgitation, hiccup, belching, nausea, vomiting, sighing, weak limbs, normal-coloured tongue (or slightly Red on the sides in severe cases of Liver-Qi stagnation), Pulse Wiry on the left and Weak on the right.
Phlegm obstructing the Stomach
Poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of oppression of the epigastrium, sputum in the throat, sticky taste, Swollen tongue with sticky coating, Slippery pulse.
Excessive hunger
Stomach-Heat
Excessive hunger, burning epigastric pain, thirst, sour regurgitation, nausea, foul breath, a feeling of heat, Red tongue with a yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.
Stomach-Fire
Excessive hunger, bleeding gums, nausea, vomiting soon after eating, foul breath, intense thirst with a desire to drink cold liquids, burning epigastric pain, mental restlessness, mouth ulcers, dry stools, sour regurgitation, a feeling of heat, Red tongue with a thick, dry dark-yellow coating, Deep-Full-Rapid pulse.
Stomach-Yin deficiency with Empty-Heat
Excessive hunger but no desire to eat, dull or burning epigastric pain, a feeling of heat in the afternoon, constipation (dry stools), dry mouth and throat especially in the afternoon, thirst with a desire to drink in small sips, a slight feeling of fullness after eating, night sweating, five-palm heat, bleeding gums, Red tongue (or Red in centre only) without coating in the centre, Floating-Empty and Rapid pulse.
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