Hyperactivity of fire in the stomach

Clinical manifestations : Burning sensation and pain in the epigastric region ; sour regurgitation and an empty and uncomfortable feeling in the stomach ; thirst with preference for cold drinks ; voracious appetite and getting hungry easily ; vomiting, foul breath ; swelling and pain or ulceration and bleeding of the gums ; constipation, scanty yellow urine ; a red tongue with yellow coating and a rapid pulse.

Etiology and pathology : This syndrome may result from excessive eating of hot and greasy food which turns into heat and fire, or from emotional depression which leads to invasion of the stomach by the liver fire. Hyperactivity of fire in the stomach burns body fluid and thus produces burning pain in the epigastric region and thirst with preference for cold drinks. If obstruction of the liver qi turns into heat, it may impair the function of the stomach in descending, thus causing sour regurgitation and an empty and uncomfortable feeling in the stomach. Hyperactivity of heat in the stomach may result in hyperfunction of the stomach in digesting food, that is the reason for voracious appetite and getting hungry easily. Excessive heat in the stomach may make the stomach qi disturb upward, vomiting ensues. Since the Stomach Meridian traverses the gums, upward disturbance of the stomach fire along the meridian causes foul breath, swelling and pain or ulceration and bleeding of the gums. Constipation, scanty yellow urine, a red tongue with yellow coating, and a rapid pulse are all signs of hyperactivity of fire and heat in the interior.