Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease (GERD):
Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid inappropriately flows backward into the esophagus. While occasional heartburn associated with GERD can be relatively harmless and sometimes even beneficial in the short term, chronic GERD can lead to significant health complications over time. Commonly, this condition is referred to as “acidity.”
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Spleen and Stomach are vital for food metabolism and the overall digestive system. From the TCM viewpoint, “acidity” and “gastritis” are distinct conditions.
Acidity: Acidity is characterized by an imbalance known as “empty heat” or “stomach fire” rising within the stomach, leading to a reduction in body fluids. This increase in stomach fire is attributed to excessive gastric juice secretion. The nature of this fire is to move upwards, causing symptoms such as a burning sensation in the throat and esophagus. Additionally, patients may experience joints pain in the upper body, including the neck, shoulders, or elbows. Common complaints also include cervical spondylitis, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, and chest pain.
Did you know?
Many people who complain about acidity, who also complain about hair fall, eye burning, headache (especially forehead) etc. due to upward fire movement.
Root cause of acidity can be easily diagnosed using Nadifit’s five element graph.Different TCM Organ patterns derived from the pulse captured from patients suffering from acidity are shown below
Gastritis: is a condition characterized by the stagnation of fluids, food, or Qi, which impairs the transformation and transportation processes of the Spleen and Stomach. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this stagnation is often due to an excess of dampness or wetness in these organs, resulting from insufficient “fire” or energy. When the Spleen and Stomach become overly damp, their ability to digest and absorb fluids properly is decreased, leading to various symptoms.
Patients with gastritis may experience low appetite, indigestion, constipation, stomach bloating, and feelings of laziness and lethargy. Additionally, the stagnation can also cause an accumulation of heat in the Spleen and Stomach, potentially resulting in burning sensations.
Did you know?
Many people who complain about gastritis, who also complain about weak digestion, constipation, stomach heaviness, excess gas formation, lazy, feeling to sleep always, weakness of limbs, not feeling hungry etc.
Different TCM Organ patterns derived from the pulse captured from patients suffering from Gastritis are shown below
Case Study:
Patient Background: A 37-year-old woman experienced chronic gastritis, indigestion, bloating, weak digestion, and persistent tiredness. She was unable to distinguish between symptoms of gastritis and acidity. Following her husband’s advice, she began eating bananas every day after dinner, under the belief that bananas would improve her digestion. However, after several months, her digestive issues worsened, culminating in the formation of a lump near her chest, which required surgical removal. Concurrently, she was also dealing with depression following the sudden death of her father.
Diagnosis: Upon examination using Nadifit, a diagnostic tool in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it was determined that she had Qi stagnation in both her Liver and Stomach. Her stomach fire levels were found to be extremely low, indicating insufficient heat for proper digestion. The consumption of bananas, which are considered cooling in nature, further reduced her stomach fire levels. This resulted in undigested food accumulating and converting into phlegm, creating stagnation and forming a lump in her body. Additionally, her depression and sadness further diminished the energy of her stomach and lungs, impairing their functions.
Solution: To address her condition, the following treatment plan was recommended:
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Dietary Adjustments:
- She should consume foods that increase heat in the stomach and lungs to raise her stomach fire levels. These might include warming spices and easily digestible proteins.
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Physical Activity:
- Regular physical exercise is necessary to combat tiredness and improve overall energy levels. Physical activity helps alleviate Qi stagnation, enhancing the functioning of the muscular system, which is controlled by the Liver in TCM.
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Acupuncture and Acupressure:
- Specific acupuncture and acupressure points can be utilized to stimulate the flow of Qi, enhance stomach fire, and alleviate symptoms of stagnation.
This comprehensive approach aims to restore balance and proper function to her digestive system, mitigate the effects of her depression on her physical health, and promote overall well-being.
Conclusion
Many individuals often mistakenly use the terms “acidity” and “gastritis” interchangeably, but it is crucial to understand that these are distinct conditions with different underlying causes and treatments.
Acidity is characterized by an excess secretion of gastric juice, which leads to an increase in stomach fire. Symptoms typically include a burning sensation in the esophagus and throat.
Gastritis, on the other hand, results from stagnation due to insufficient stomach fire. This stagnation impairs the digestive process, leading to symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and low appetite.Sometimes, this stagnation may also rises heat in the stomach leading to burning sensations.
The recommended dietary and lifestyle interventions for these conditions vary significantly:
- Acidity: Treatments aim to reduce the excess fire levels in the stomach. This may involve dietary adjustments to avoid spicy and acidic foods and incorporating cooling foods.
- Gastritis: Interventions focus on elevating fire levels and alleviating stagnation. This might include consuming warming foods and engaging in physical activities to stimulate digestion.
Nadifit recognizes and addresses these differences by advocating for drugless therapies such as acupressure, acupuncture, color therapy, and auricular therapy. These holistic approaches have proven effective in managing both conditions. For a personalized diagnosis and treatment plan, checking your pulse with Nadifit is recommended.
-Written by Division of Research and Development, Neubotz Technologies, for Nadifit.
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