Deficient cold of the spleen and stomach, also known as spleen and stomach yang deficiency, refers to a deficiency of spleen and stomach yang qi, resulting in yang deficiency and yin excess, leading to endogenous deficiency and coldness. Symptoms include abdominal distension, loss of appetite, cold pain in the abdomen, preference for warmth and pressure, fear of cold and cold limbs, loose stools, a pale, plump tongue with a slippery white coating, and a deep, slow, and weak pulse. This condition can be caused by various factors, including untreated spleen and stomach qi deficiency, a preference for raw and cold foods, excessive consumption of bitter and cold foods, and kidney yang deficiency. It is commonly seen in a variety of conditions, including stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, and postpartum hiccups.
Epidemiology
Contagious
Not contagious.
Incidence
Deficiency of the spleen and stomach is relatively common in clinical practice.
High-risk population
Spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness are more common in people who eat large amounts of raw and cold food for a long time, overuse bitter and cold medicines, stay in a cold environment for a long time, and are elderly and weak.
Causes
Overview
Spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness may be caused by the aggravation of spleen and stomach qi deficiency due to untimely treatment; it may also be caused by a preference for raw and cold food, excessive use of bitter and cold medicines, and exposure to external cold that damages the spleen and stomach yang qi; it may also be caused by insufficient kidney yang, weak fire in the life gate, and fire that fails to generate earth, leading to spleen and stomach yang deficiency.
Risk factors
Factors such as excessive fatigue, prolonged worry, old age and physical frailty, and long-term illness and lack of nourishment can lead to spleen and stomach qi deficiency, thereby increasing the risk of spleen and stomach deficiency and cold.
symptom
Overview
Symptoms of spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness primarily include abdominal distension, decreased food intake, cold pain in the epigastric and abdominal area that is relieved by warmth and pressure, fear of cold, cold extremities, loose, soft, unformed stools, difficulty urinating, vomiting of clear water or undigested food, and heaviness and weakness in the extremities. Women may also experience increased, thin, and profuse vaginal discharge. The tongue and pulse are characterized by a pale, plump tongue with a white, slippery coating, and a deep, slow, and weak pulse.
complication
There are generally no obvious complications.
examine
Scheduled inspection
Doctors typically perform inspections, auscultation, questioning, and palpation to determine the specific TCM disease and syndrome. If necessary, they may also recommend blood tests, blood biochemistry, stool routine, abdominal ultrasound, and gastrointestinal endoscopy to further confirm the Western medical diagnosis.
Physical examination
1. Inspection
It mainly includes observing the patient’s demeanor, complexion, tongue quality and changes in tongue coating.
2. Auscultation
The main thing is to listen to the patient’s voice to make a preliminary judgment on the severity of the disease.
3. Medical consultation
The main questions are about the patient’s main symptoms, duration, eating habits, emotional state, and medical history.
4. Palpation
Doctors will help determine the syndrome by feeling changes in the patient’s pulse.
Laboratory tests
1. Blood routine test
This test can understand the levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets and other indicators, and then help determine whether the patient has problems such as infection and anemia.
2. Blood biochemistry
This test can provide information about liver function, kidney function, and electrolyte levels.
3. Routine bowel movements
This examination is an important means of assessing intestinal health. By observing and analyzing the feces collected from the patient, it can be determined whether there are abnormal substances (such as blood, parasite eggs, bacteria, etc.) or changes in properties (such as color, texture, occult blood, etc.), thereby helping to determine whether there are problems such as infection, inflammation and bleeding in the digestive tract.
Imaging examinations
Abdominal ultrasound can observe the shape, size and structure of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen, and help determine whether there are any abdominal organ diseases, such as cholecystitis.
Other tests
Gastroenteroscopy can directly observe the conditions of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, rectum and colon, including the color, texture, smoothness, motility of the mucosa, and the presence of congestion, edema, erosion and other lesions, thereby helping to diagnose and treat digestive tract diseases.
diagnosis
Diagnostic principles
Generally, a clear diagnosis can be made based on symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal distension, limb fatigue, fatigue, and shortness of breath, combined with the results of the four diagnostic methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). During the diagnosis process, doctors need to differentiate between spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness and other conditions such as food stagnation in the stomach.
Differential diagnosis
1. Spleen and stomach qi deficiency
Spleen and stomach qi deficiency refers to weakness of spleen qi and stomach qi, which leads to abnormal spleen and stomach transportation, transformation and reception functions. The main manifestations are loss of appetite, abdominal distension, limb fatigue, mental fatigue, shortness of breath and laziness to speak, etc. The tongue and pulse characteristics are pale tongue with white coating, and slow or weak pulse.
2. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Spleen and kidney yang deficiency refers to the deficiency of spleen and kidney yang qi and failure of warming and transforming function, which leads to endogenous coldness. The main manifestations are cold pain in the waist and abdomen, long-term diarrhea or dysentery or diarrhea at dawn, edema, difficulty urinating, cold body and limbs, pale complexion, etc. The tongue and pulse characteristics are pale and fat tongue, white and slippery tongue coating, and deep, slow and weak pulse.
treat
Treatment principles
The basic principle of treating spleen and stomach deficiency and cold is to warm and nourish the spleen and stomach. Patients should first be examined by a professional Chinese medicine practitioner through observation, auscultation, questioning and palpation to determine the specific disease and syndrome type, and then adopt appropriate treatment methods based on their actual individual situation, including Chinese medicine treatment, acupuncture therapy, etc.
Drug treatment
1. Commonly used prescriptions
Such as Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction, Xiao Jianzhong Decoction, Lizhong Pills, Houpo Wenzhong Decoction, etc.
2. Commonly used Chinese medicine
Such as Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, dried ginger, Paeonia lactiflora, Astragalus membranaceus, cinnamon twig, ginger, malt sugar, licorice, etc.
3. Commonly used Chinese patent medicines
Such as Huangqi Jianzhong Pills, Xiaojianzhong Granules, Dingkou Lizhong Pills, Xiaojianzhong Capsules, Weiyanning Granules, Xiangsha Lizhong Pills, etc.
Related drugs
Huangqi Jianzhong Pills, Xiaojianzhong Granules, Dingkou Lizhong Pills, Xiaojianzhong Capsules, Weiyanning Granules, Xiangsha Lizhong Pills
Surgical treatment
Surgery is usually not required.
Other treatments
1. Acupuncture therapy
Commonly used acupoints include Zhongwan, Zusanli, Pishu, Weishu, etc., and the specific acupoints should be selected and operated by professional doctors.
2. Others
Including massage therapy, scraping therapy, cupping therapy, etc., it also has the effect of warming the middle and dispersing cold, supporting the spleen and strengthening the stomach, and can help improve the condition of spleen and stomach deficiency and cold.
Treatment cycle
The treatment cycle is affected by factors such as the severity of the disease, treatment plan, treatment timing, and personal constitution, and may vary from person to person.
Treatment costs
There may be significant individual differences in treatment costs, and the specific costs are related to the selected hospital, treatment plan, medical insurance policy, etc.
Prognosis
General prognosis
The prognosis of spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness is related to many factors, including the patient’s constitution, the severity of the disease, timely and correct diagnosis and treatment, and lifestyle adjustments. Generally speaking, if patients can seek medical treatment in a timely manner and actively improve their lifestyle, their symptoms can be significantly improved.
Hazards
Deficiency of the spleen and stomach can lead to symptoms such as abdominal distension, loss of appetite, cold pain in the abdomen, etc., affecting the patient’s quality of life and physical and mental health.
Curative
If the disease can be diagnosed and treated correctly in time and if attention is paid to daily conditioning, it can usually be cured.
Recurrent
If the patient still likes to eat raw and cold food, overuses bitter and cold medicines, etc., the problem of spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness may reappear.
daily
Overview
While actively receiving treatment, patients with spleen and stomach deficiency should also pay attention to daily conditioning, including but not limited to regular work and rest, keeping the abdomen warm, maintaining a good attitude, and exercising appropriately.
Psychological care
1. Psychological characteristics
Patients may experience negative emotions such as anxiety and depression due to uncomfortable symptoms such as abdominal distension, loss of appetite, cold pain in the abdomen, etc.
2. Nursing points
Patients should learn to regulate their emotions and recognize the impact of emotions on their condition. They can relieve stress by listening to music, reading, deep breathing, etc., maintain a calm state of mind, and try to avoid negative emotions such as sadness and depression to help improve spleen and stomach function.
Life Management
1. Maintain a regular schedule, ensure adequate sleep, and avoid staying up late.
2. Combine work and rest, arrange work, study and rest time reasonably, and avoid overwork.
3. Keep your abdomen warm, especially during seasonal changes and cold weather. Add more clothes and cover yourself with a blanket at night. You can also use a hot water bottle or hot towel to apply heat to your abdomen.
4. Engage in appropriate exercise, such as Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, jogging, etc.
Follow-up Instructions
Follow the doctor’s instructions for regular checkups. Patients should bring their medical records, relevant test results, and prescriptions from their last visit when they return for follow-up visits so that the doctor can better understand changes in the condition and adjust the prescription appropriately.
diet
Dietary adjustment
Patients with spleen and stomach deficiency should eat a warm diet. They can eat more foods that have the effects of strengthening the spleen, warming the stomach and removing cold, and have warm properties. Avoid raw, cold and cool foods to avoid aggravating the spleen and stomach deficiency.
Dietary recommendations
1. You can eat more foods that have the effects of strengthening the spleen, warming the stomach and dispelling cold, such as mutton, beef tripe, pork tripe, dried ginger, ginger, Sichuan pepper, pepper, cumin, brown sugar, etc.
2. You can eat some warm foods, such as lychees, coconuts, durian, walnuts, chestnuts, etc.
3. You can eat some medicinal foods that warm the spleen and stomach, such as ginger porridge, radish and lamb chop soup, etc.
Dietary taboos
1. Do not eat or eat less cold foods, such as celery, cucumber, mung bean, water spinach, snails, crabs, etc.
2. Do not eat or eat less raw and cold food, such as ice cream, iced drinks, etc.
prevention
Preventive measures
Spleen and stomach deficiency and coldness is a preventable disease. Common measures include regular work and rest, combining work and rest, maintaining emotional stability, and a reasonable diet.
1. Maintain a regular work and rest schedule, combine work and rest, and avoid staying up late and overworking.
2. Keep a good mood and try to avoid worry and excessive thinking.
3. Eat a balanced diet to ensure adequate nutrition and avoid excessive consumption of raw, cold and cool foods.
4. Do appropriate exercise, such as Tai Chi, jogging, etc.
5. Keep warm at ordinary times, especially pay attention to your abdomen.
6. Strictly follow the doctor’s instructions and avoid excessive use of bitter and cold medicines.
7. Patients with symptoms of spleen and stomach qi deficiency should seek medical treatment in time to avoid prolonged illness.
Medical Guide
Outpatient indications
1. Persistent abdominal distension, cold pain in the epigastric and abdominal area;
2. Accompanied by decreased food intake, fear of cold, and cold limbs;
3. Accompanied by loose and unformed stools and difficulty urinating;
4. Accompanied by vomiting of clear water or undigested food;
5. Other severe, persistent or progressive symptoms and signs occur.
All of the above require prompt medical consultation.
Treatment department
Patients need to go to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department for treatment.
Medical preparation
1. Make an appointment in advance and bring your ID card, medical insurance card, medical card, etc.
2. The doctor may perform a physical examination of the abdomen and recommend wearing loose clothing.
3. If you have had medical treatment recently, please bring relevant medical records, examination reports, laboratory test results, etc.
4. If you have used certain medications to relieve symptoms recently, you can bring the medicine box with you.
5. Family members can be arranged to accompany the patient to the hospital.
6. Patients can prepare a list of questions they want to ask in advance.
Questions your doctor may ask
1. What symptoms do you have? When did they begin?
2. Under what circumstances will these symptoms worsen and under what circumstances will they be relieved?
3. What is your usual diet like? Do you like cold foods?
4. What is your usual emotional state?
5. Do you usually keep your abdomen warm?
6. Have you used bitter and cold medicines for a long time?
7. Have you ever had spleen and stomach qi deficiency? Have you ever received treatment?
8. Have you visited other hospitals for treatment? How was your treatment? What was the effect?
What questions can patients ask?
1. Why do I have symptoms such as abdominal distension, cold pain in the stomach and abdomen?
2. How serious is the condition? How long will it take to improve?
3. What examinations are needed?
4. What treatment should be taken now?
5. What should we pay attention to in daily life?
6. Do I need a follow-up check? How often?