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“Cold Stomach” is a medical condition meaning that the stomach is cold specifically in Chinese medicine (TCM) principles. Have you ever had a stomach discomfort or stomachache after consuming cold drinks or Japanese sashimi? A cold stomach may be to blame. Hong Kong people like cold drinks and air conditioning a lot, such a lifestyle may increase the risk of a cold stomach. Learn more about what is “cold stomach” and start taking care of your stomach.
A cold stomach is a health condition in which the stomach is cold according to TCM theory. It is a unique Chinese medicine pathological concept that is completely different from stomach flu and viral gastroenteritis. From a traditional Chinese medicine point of view, cold stomach can be a particular disease, a cause of other conditions or symptoms at the same time. Clinically, patients with cold stomach often show signs and symptoms of stomachache, abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
In general, there are internal and external causes of cold stomach. Cold stomach can be caused externally by diet and cold weather, while internal causes of cold stomach are mostly due to the weakness of stomach and spleen or Yang and Qi deficiency. Overall, the most common causes of cold stomach include unhealthy diet, poor lifestyle and weather, followed by other reasons related to mental status and medications.
Unhealthy diet
Irregular diet, consumption of cold and raw foods, addiction to cold drinks or other unhealthy eating habits are major causes of cold stomach. Frequently taking in raw and cold foods can hurt the stomach and spleen by damaging their “Yang Qi”, causing the stomach to be cold. Besides, consuming hot and cold foods at the same time may damage the Qi of the stomach, leading to a lack of Qi to keep the stomach warm and thus causing a cold stomach.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Hong Kong people have a fast pace of living, stress and irregular diet and rest — these habits not only upset your lifestyle but also damage your spleen and stomach. When the function of the spleen and stomach are negatively affected, the stomach cannot be nourished properly and cold stomach occurs.
Weather
In Chinese medicine, there are 6 different types of pathogenic elements called the “6 evils”, namely “wind”, “cold”, “summer heat”, “damp”, “dryness” and “fire”, which may infect the human body. Whenever the climate changes, you sweat or stay in air-conditioned rooms for a long period of time, “cold evils” affect you more readily. If your stomach and spleen are weak or the abdomen is exposed to cold directly, there is a higher risk of “cold evils” infecting your stomach and gastrointestinal tract, leading to the condition of cold stomach.
Clinical signs and symptoms of cold stomach mainly include the following manifestations:
According to the causes and symptoms of cold stomach, the condition of cold stomach can be classified into 2 types, namely the “cold stomach with cold invasion” and "cold stomach with Yang deficiency”. The type of “cold stomach with cold invasion” is mainly induced by infection of excessive “cold evils”, while "cold stomach with Yang deficiency” is caused by a lack of “Yang Qi” of the spleen and stomach. In addition to the above common signs and symptoms, different types of cold stomachs show specific signs and symptoms at the same time.
Specific signs and symptoms of “Cold stomach with cold invasion”
Specific signs and symptoms of “Cold stomach with Yang deficiency”
Major TCM treatment approaches for cold stomach are to strengthen and warm the stomach and spleen, dispel “cold evils” and relieve pain. Antiemetic and antidiarrheal agents are also applied to relieve corresponding signs and symptoms of cold stomach. In normal circumstances, Chinese medicine practitioner often apply Chinese herbal medicines, Chinese medicine prescriptions, acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy to treat cold stomach.
Chinese medicine prescriptions
“Cold stomach with cold invasion” can be treated by Chinese medicine prescriptions to dispel “cold evils” and warm the stomach. Examples of available Chinese herbal medicines include Magnolia, Tangerine Peel, Liquorice Root, Ginger, Poria, Costus Root, Agarwood, Nut Grass, daughter root of common monkshood, etc.
Treatment for “cold stomach with Yang deficiency” focuses more on strengthening and warming the stomach and spleen as well as relieving pain. Common Chinese medicines for treating this type of cold stomach are Ginseng, Milkvetch, Codonopsis Radix, Atractylodes Rhizome, Liquorice Root, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Ginger, Poria, Tangerine Peel, Common Jujube, Nut Grass, Chinese Yam, Pinella Tuber, etc.
Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina & cupping therapy Chinese medicine practitioners may also apply acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy to treat cold stomach. These treatment methods are able to promote Qi and blood circulation, dispel cold and warm the meridian system and body. Recommendation of 10 therapeutic acupoints (acupressure points) for treating cold stomach are as follows:
Acupoints (Acupressure Points) | Details |
BL-21 (Bladder meridian 21)
| Location: 1.5 inches lateral to the bottom of the spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy. |
BL-20 (Bladder meridian 20)
| Location: 1.5 inches lateral to the bottom of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy. |
BL-17 (Bladder meridian 17)
| Location: 1.5 inches lateral to the bottom of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy. |
ST-36 (Stomach meridian 36)
| Location: 3 inches inferior to the lateral side of the patellar apex. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy. |
RN-12 (Ren meridian 21)
| Location: 4 inches superior to the umbilicus. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy. |
RN-6 (Ren meridian 6)
| Location: 1.5 inches inferior to the umbilicus. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy. |
RN-17 (Ren meridian 17)
| Location: At the mid-point of the 2 nipples on the body midline. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage, tuina and cupping therapy. |
PC-6 (Pericardium meridian 6)
| Location: 2 inches proximal to the wrist crease on the anterior forearm, located in between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage and tuina. |
KI-1 (Kidney meridian 1)
| Location: At the depression on the sole during toe flexion, located at the anterior 1/3 of the distance between the heel and the tips of toes. Applications: Acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, massage and tuina. |
RN-8 (Ren meridian 8)
| Location: At the center of the umbilicus. Applications: Moxibustion, acupressure, massage. (*Noted that acupuncture and cupping therapy are forbidden at this acupoint.) |
The above-mentioned acupoints help in treating cold stomach. Besides official treatment, you may also gently massage these acupoints daily to prevent a cold stomach.
To prevent a cold stomach, you should adopt healthy living habits, balanced diets and other precautions as follows:
Apart from the suggested precautions, unique Chinese medicine remedies and food therapy can also relieve the symptoms of cold stomach and prevent you from developing cold stomach. To keep a healthy stomach, you may try the following recipes.
To take care of your stomach, certain kinds of foods and beverages should be avoided in order to prevent a cold stomach. Consult a registered Chinese medicine practitioner when you are confused with your food options. The following provides you with some examples of prohibited foods for cold stomach patients.
Categories of banned foods | Examples of the category |
Raw and cold foods or drinks | Cold water, Frozen drinks, Ice, Sashimi, Bitter gourd, Mung bean, Bamboo shoot, Raw radish |
Fruits that are cold in nature | Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Star fruit, Dragon fruit, Persimmon |
Irritating foods and drinks | Strong alcohol, Coffee, Spicy food, Fried and greasy food, Seafood |
Chinese medicines that are cold in nature | Mint, Prunellae Spica, Reed Rhizome, Gypsum, Anemarrhena, Snakegourd Root, Gentian Root, Baikal Skullcap, Chinese Goldthread, Amur Corktree Bark, Sophora Root, Red Paeoniae Trichocarpae, Figwort Root, Moutan, Rehmannia Root, Houttuyniae Herba, Honeysuckle, Dandelion, Wild Dendranthema Flower, Purpleflower Violet, Goldenbell, Cow Bezoar, Pulsatilla Chinensis, Smilax Glabra, Rhubarb, Mirabilite, Ophiopogonis, etc. |
If you are suffering from a cold stomach, please avoid eating raw and cold foods such as ice, cold water or drinks, raw seafood, bitter gourd, mung bean, watermelon, dragon fruit, etc. Also, do not take Chinese herbal medicines that are cold. Consult your Chinese medicine practitioner before taking any herbal medicine.
Cold stomach is mainly treated by Chinese medicine prescriptions, acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, tuina and cupping therapy, etc. Do also keep a balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, keep warm and stay away from smoking and alcohol.
Yes, cold stomach can cause diarrhea. Cold stomach caused by “Yang Qi” deficiency often leads to loose stools. While cold stomach because of “cold evils” infection usually hurts and irritates the stomach and intestines, causing diarrhea.
Typical signs and symptoms of cold stomach include stomachache, chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Cold stomach caused by “cold evils” infection result in abdominal tenderness and bloating as well. While that of “Yang Qi” deficiency might show signs of indigestion, fatigue, loss of appetite and cold limbs.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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