Symptoms and Management of Liver Qi Invading the Stomach

Liver Qi invading the stomach, also known as disharmony between the liver and stomach, is caused by the stomach's failure to descend properly. If one is constantly unhappy, the liver cannot function normally, leading to stagnation of Qi and the phenomenon of transverse invasion of the stomach. This can affect the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach, resulting in liver Qi invading the stomach. Symptoms may include abdominal distension, chest tightness, irritability, vomiting, hiccups, and more. Let's take a closer look at the symptoms of liver Qi invading the stomach.

Symptoms of Liver Qi Invading the Stomach

1. Vomiting: Patients may experience vomiting or retching, acid reflux, belching, chest tightness, and discomfort in the epigastrium. They often feel depressed and sad, and their mood swings are easily triggered by minor irritations. Their tongue coating may be thin and greasy, and their pulse may be taut.

2. Stomach Pain: Patients often feel dull or distending pain in the upper abdomen, which may also affect the chest and ribs. This is due to the liver's failure to regulate Qi, leading to wandering Qi. The pain may worsen when emotions are negative. Other symptoms may include loss of appetite, low mood, insomnia, thin and white tongue coating, and taut pulse.

3. Fullness and Discomfort: Patients may experience fullness and discomfort in the abdomen and chest, along with belching and air regurgitation that temporarily relieves the discomfort. They may also feel irritable, anxious, and have a thin tongue coating with a thin and taut pulse.

4. Hiccups: Frequent hiccups may be accompanied by abdominal distension, fullness in the ribs, nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, intestinal rumbling, weak tongue with thin coating, and taut pulse.

Management of Liver Qi Invading the Stomach

When experiencing symptoms of liver Qi invading the stomach, it is important to regulate emotions and avoid getting angry easily. It is also recommended to consume a diet that is bland, soft, warm, fresh, and easily digested. Cooking methods should be steaming, boiling, or stewing, and avoiding dry, hard, and rough foods. Patients with deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach should avoid cold foods, and those with liver Qi stagnation should refrain from eating immediately after getting angry. Greasy, spicy, smoked foods, and alcohol should be consumed in moderation. Foods such as tomatoes, bitter gourd, water bamboo shoots, white gourd, radishes, pears, apples, watermelon, and kumquats have the effect of regulating Qi and can be consumed moderately.