Yangming Stomach - Functions
This is the most
important of the Yang organs. With its paired organ the Spleen, it
is responsible for the formation of post-heaven Qi from the
digestion of food and drink.
The functions of
the Stomach are:
Controls
‘rotting and ripening’ of food and drink
The fermentation of
food and drink happens in the Stomach. This makes it possible for
the Spleen to transform the refined essences from the food for Qi
and blood production (root of post-heaven Qi). It has always been
said that if the Stomach Qi is strong, the prognosis is good.
Controls the
transportation of food essences
The limbs in
particular are the Stomach and Spleens responsibility to nourish
with food essence. It also has a major role in the transportation
of food essences to the whole body. If the Stomach and Spleen are
weak, so shall the person be (in particular the muscles). The pulse
also shows Stomach health and activity: neither weak or strong, a
balance between Yin and Yang qualities, and with a slow but regular
beat shows good Stomach Qi. It also makes the pulse soft and
gentle. The Stomach also reflects its health on the tongue coating.
This coating is created by the same materials and processes that
rot and ripen the foodstuffs. A thin white coat shows good health
of the Stomach, no coat shows low Stomach Qi, thick white coat shows
cold and thick yellow coat shows heat.
Controls the descending of
Qi
The Stomach sends
food downwards to the Small Intestine, this is why it is said that
Stomach Qi goes down. If Stomach Qi rebels or goes upward, there
can be heartburn, acid regurgitation, belching, hiccups, nausea, or
vomiting. When digestion is harmonized the Liver Qi helps Stomach
Qi descend, if the Liver Qi is stagnated the above symptoms can also
arise.
Is the origin of fluids
Just as an
essential medium is needed to extract the essence from herbs (water,
alcohol, etc.), the same principle correlates to the Stomachs need
of fluids to extract the essences from the food to be used by the
body. If these fluids are plentiful, digestion will be normal. If
these fluids are deficient, the patient will show thirst, bad
breath, dryness on the tongue with possible cracks, and digestion
will be poor. Stomach fluid deficiency is frequently caused by
eating large meals late at night.
The Stomach ensures
that the parts from the food and drink which are not refined is
turned into body fluids. This is why it is said that the Stomach
likes wet and dislikes dryness.
It is also said
that if the Kidneys are not functioning properly in their role of
fluid metabolism that the fluids will pour into the mid Jiao from
the low Jiao and impair digestion. Conversely, if the Stomach
fluids are deficient for a period of time, the chances of Kidney Yin
deficiency is good.
It should also be
noted that the Stomach meridian is the only Yang meridian located on
the anterior aspect of the body.
Effects of mental function
The Stomach often
displays disease patterns of excess such as fire or Phlegm-fire.
This can effect the mind. It can manifest as anxiety, confusion,
hyperactivity, someone shutting themselves in the house, closing all
the doors and windows, wanting to be alone, violent behavior, and
taking off clothes in public (these all would be referred to today
as manic behavior).
Effects dreams
“When the Stomach is deficient, one
dreams of having a large meal.” Neijing Lingshu.
Close relations with the
Spleen
Both the Stomach
and Spleen belong to Earth element in the five element theory.
These two organs are considered to be the Yin and Yang aspects of
the same system of functioning. The Stomach is Yin and the Spleen
is Yang. Stomach Qi descends, Spleen Qi ascends. The Stomach likes
wetness, The Spleen likes dryness. The Stomach easily gets excess
patterns of disease or deficiency of Yin and heat, the Spleen most
often suffers from patterns of deficiency of Yang and cold.
Links -
Stomach: Earth Energy Yang Organ
(Bioenergetics)
