Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is marked by a group of symptoms including nausea , vomiting ,
dizziness , anorexia within the first trimester of gestation . It is a commonly
seen disorder appearing in early stage of pregnancy . Severe condition may
emaciate the pregnant woman very quickly and trigger off other diseases .
The factors are due mostly to deficiency of stomach qi , upward flux of the
fetal qi invading the stomach , and pervasive flow of stomach qi .
Etiology and Pathogenesis
It is caused by constant deficiency of the stomach qi , cessation of
menstruation after pregnancy and hyper function of the Chong Meridian , which
further affect the Yangming Meridian , leading to pervasive flowing of the
feeble stomach qi together with the qi in the Chong Meridian , hence nausea and
vomiting . In some cases , when the blood flows to nurture the fetus there
results in insufficient liver blood and hyperactivity of liver yang
accompanied by weakened spleen and stomach , leading to nausea and vomiting .
Differentiation
a ) Deficiency in the spleen and stomach :
Main manifestations : Nausea and vomiting of liquid or indigested food
immediately after meals , fullness and distending feeling in the chest ,
lassitude and sleepiness , pale tongue with white coating , slippery and weak
pulse during the first trimester of pregnancy .
Analysis : Blood centered in the lower abdomen after pregnancy , the qi of
the Chong Meridian gushes upward and the stomach qi is unable to descend due
to the weakened spleen and stomach . The stomach qi does not go downward ,
instead , upward with the qi of the Chong Meridian , causing nausea , anorexia
and vomiting right after intake of food . Weakened spleen and stomach leads to
the insufficiency of yang qi in the middle jiao , manifested by fullness and
distension in the epigastrium , lassitude and sleepiness , and vomiting of
liquid . Pale tongue with white coating and weak slippery pulse are signs of
deficiency in the spleen and stomach after pregnancy .
b ) Disharmony between the liver and stomach :
Main manifestations : Vomiting of bitter or sour liquid , epigastric fullness
and hyperchondriac pain , frequent belching and sighing , mental depression ,
dizziness and eye distension , yellowish tongue coating and string - taut
slippery pulse in the early stage of gestation .
Analysis : The stagnated liver qi travels adversely along the Liver Meridian
via the stomach to diaphragm , hypochondrium and chest , which causes nausea ,
vomiting , epigastric fullness , distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium ,
frequent belching and mental depression . Dizziness and eye distension are
consequence of the upward influx of the liver qi . The liver and gallbladder
are interiorly - exteriorly related . When there is internal liver heat fire of
the gallbladder discharges , resulting in vomiting of bitter or sour liquid .
Yellowish coating and string - taut slippery pulse are signs of disharmony
between the liver and stomach .
Treatment
a ) Deficiency in the spleen and stomach : Method : Select points mainly from
the Foot - Yangming and Foot - Taiyin Meridians . Acupuncture with the even
movement is applied to build up the spleen , harmonize the stomach and quell
the perversive flowing of qi so as to check vomiting .
Prescription : Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) , Shangwan ( Ren 13 ) , Neiguan ( P 6 ) , Zusanii
( S 36 ) , Gongsun ( Sp 4 ) .
Explanation : Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) , the Confluential Point of the fu organs and
Front - ( Mu ) Point of the stomach , functions to harmonize the stomach when
adopted together with Shangwan ( Ren 13 ) . Zusanii ( S 36 ) , the He - ( Sea ) Point of
the Stomach Meridian , can tonify the spleen , harmonize the stomach and quell
the aversive flow of the stomach qi . Gongsun ( S 4 ) is the Luo - ( Connecting )
Point of the Spleen Meridian as well as the Confluential Point linking the
Chong Meridian . When it is paired with Neiguan ( P 6 ) , it amplifies its
function of quelling the upward going of stomach qi and checking vomiting . All
the points grouped together achieve the aim of tonifying the spleen ,
harmonizing the stomach , descending the stomach qi and stopping vomiting .
b ) Disharmony between the liver and stomach :
Method : Select points chiefly from the Foot - Yangming and Jueyin Meridians .
Acupuncture with the even movement is used to relieve liver stagnation and
harmonize the stomach so as to check vomiting .
Prescription : Tanzhong ( Ren 17 ) , Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) , Neiguan ( P 6 ) , Zusanii
( S 36 ) , Taichong ( Liv 3 ) .
Explanation : Since deficiency in the spleen and stomach and upward flow of
liver qi are significant to the disease , Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) and Zusanii ( S 36 )
are used to tonify the spleen and harmonize the stomach , Tanzhong ( Ren 17 ) the
Influential Point of qi , is to bring qi down . Neiguan ( P 6 ) , Taichong ( Liv 3 )
from the Jueyin Meridians are to sooth the liver , regulate the qi , counteract
the abnormal upflow of qi and check vomiting .
Remarks
a ) Acupuncture should not be applied to many points , nor with strong
stimulation when the fetus is still young in the early stage of gestation , lest
the fetal qi should be affected .
b ) It is appropriate to keep the patient in bed and away from raw , cold or
greasy food . In the hope of adjusting and replenishing the stomach qi , multiple
meals with a little intake of food is advisable .
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