In traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen and stomach are often discussed together. It is believed that the body's qi and blood are derived from the transformation of food by the spleen and stomach. How can we differentiate between spleen-stomach deficiency-cold and spleen-stomach damp-heat? Here are a few points to understand.
Different Causes
Causes of Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold
Spleen-stomach deficiency-cold is a syndrome characterized by excessive yin-cold. It is a general term for spleen yang deficiency and stomach yang deficiency. This syndrome is caused by overconsumption of cold and raw foods, dietary imbalance, excessive worry, etc., which damage the spleen yang. When the spleen yang is weak, it cannot warm the stomach and intestines, resulting in the generation of cold qi from the stomach. This is the cause of spleen-stomach deficiency-cold.
Causes of Spleen-Stomach Damp-Heat
Spleen-stomach damp-heat, also known as middle burner damp-heat, is mostly caused by external damp evils (environmental factors) or improper diet, overconsumption of greasy and sweet foods, resulting in damp-heat. Damp-heat accumulates in the spleen and stomach, causing obstruction to the transformation and transportation functions of the spleen and stomach, leading to pathological changes from the spleen and stomach to the whole body.
Different Symptoms
Symptoms of Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold
In individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, the digestive functions of the spleen are weakened, resulting in abdominal distention and poor appetite. Cold qi stagnates in the stomach, causing dull and lingering stomach or abdominal pain, which is more severe on an empty stomach and slightly relieved after eating. They are prone to vomit clear water and may experience mental fatigue, weakness, cold hands and feet, loose stools, pale tongue with white coating, and weak or slow pulse.
Symptoms of Spleen-Stomach Damp-Heat
When damp-heat accumulates in the spleen and stomach, one may experience burning sensation and pain in the epigastric region, noisy and acid regurgitation, loss of appetite, heavy limbs, fatigue, dry mouth, preference for cold drinks or relief of hunger after eating, vomiting with noise, bad breath, swollen and painful gums (fire excess), red tongue with yellow coating, and slippery and rapid pulse.
Different Harms Caused
Harms Caused by Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold
Spleen-stomach deficiency-cold can easily lead to indigestion, which in turn can cause malnutrition due to the inability to absorb nutrients. Additionally, it can create opportunities for pathogenic bacteria and viruses to invade the gastrointestinal tract, leading to gastritis, as the defense function of the spleen-stomach in individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold is impaired, making them unable to defend against the invasion of bacteria.
Harms Caused by Spleen-Stomach Damp-Heat
Spleen-stomach damp-heat involves various diseases in multiple systems such as the digestive system, tumor, and urinary system. Digestive system diseases are more common, such as chronic gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric or duodenal ulcers, hepatitis B, cirrhosis, fatty liver, gallstones, and gallbladder polyps.
Dietary Therapy for Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold
Ginger, Honey, and Glutinous Rice Drink
Ingredients: Ginger, glutinous rice, honey in appropriate amounts.
Method: Grind ginger and glutinous rice into powder, add water to the pot, simmer for 30 minutes, take the thick juice, and add an appropriate amount of honey. Take it in the morning and afternoon.
Effect: This dietary therapy has the effects of warming the stomach, nourishing deficiency, stopping vomiting, and dispersing cold. It is suitable for individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold.
Fennel Pork Stomach Soup
Ingredients: 1 pork stomach, Sichuan peppercorns, fennel, oil, salt in appropriate amounts.
Method:
1. Soak the pork stomach in water, boil it in a pot for 3 minutes, and remove the original broth;
2. Add clean water to the pot and simmer until it is 70% cooked. Add salt, cooking wine, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel, and continue to cook;
3. When it is fully cooked, remove it from the pot. When it is not hot, slice it and put it in a bowl. Add sliced ginger and an appropriate amount of monosodium glutamate. Pour the broth from the second cooking into the bowl without filling the bowl, and steam it for 45 minutes. Serve hot.
Effect: Pork stomach has the effects of regulating spleen-stomach deficiency and invigorating the middle burner. It is suitable for individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold.
Dietary Therapy for Spleen-Stomach Damp-Heat
Coix Seed and Red Bean Congee
Ingredients: Coix seed, red bean, rice in appropriate amounts.
Method: Take equal amounts of coix seed, red bean, and rice, wash them, and cook them together to make congee.
Effect: Coix seed is a good food for clearing spleen-stomach damp-heat, while red beans invigorate the spleen and eliminate dampness. Both are suitable for individuals with spleen-stomach damp-heat.
Winter Melon Soup
Ingredients: Winter melon, oil, salt in appropriate amounts.
Method: Wash and slice the winter melon, then stew it with the winter melon peel in water, and finally add oil and salt to taste.
Effect: Winter melon clears dampness-heat and invigorates the spleen and stomach. It is suitable for individuals with spleen-stomach damp-heat.
