Retention of food in the stomach

Clinical manifestations : Distension, fullness and pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, foul belching sour regurgitation, and anorexia. There may be vomiting and hesitant bowel movements. The tongue coating is thick and sticky, and the pulse is rolling.

Etiology and pathology : This syndrome may be due to irregular food intake, voracious eating or eating of food which is difficult to digest. Retention of food in the stomach blocks the qi passage in the epigastrium and abdomen and thus causes distension, fullness and pain there. Dysfunction in digesting food brings the turbid qi upward, which is the cause of foul belching, sour regurgitation, anorexia and vomiting. Retention of the turbid part of the food blocks the large intestine and impairs its function in transmission, resulting in hesitant bowel movements. A thick, sticky tongue coating and a rolling pulse are both signs of retention of food.