Acid Reflux – Tu Suan

Acid Reflux or Heart Burn is Acidic fluid up surging from the Stomach

A patient usually swallows back down the sour acidic substance.

Western Medicine Diagnosis for Acid Reflux:

Gastric ulcer, gastritis (chronic), indigestion, hyper-hydro-cholorea

Chinese Medicine Etiology (causes):

1. Diet sweet/greasy/hot and spicy or bad quality food

2. Exterior pathogen invasion cold invade mid. Jiao – deficiency yang Qi turns to turbid dampness causing acid.

3. Emotion liver attacks stomach – sour flavour - spleen creates damp/phlegm which creates acid

4. Deficiency Middle Jiao congenital dysfunction, retention of food, can’t transform or transport which creates acid

Differentiate:

Cold = warm middle jiao to harmonize Stomach,

Hot = relates with liver to soothe liver to harmonize Stomach

Differentiatiion and Treatment of Acid Reflux in Chinese Medicine

COLD Acid regurgitation, frothy fluids, fullness in abdomen, belching, cold limbs, soft stools, fatigue, ameliorated by warm drinks

Tongue - pale, white coat

Pulse - deep, delayed

Principle of Treatment: warm middle jiao, disperse cold to harmonize St. and reduce acid

Herbal Medicine Formula: Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang + Wu Zhu Yu

HOT Frequent acid regurgitation with belching of old food, fullness in abdomen, dry mouth, thirsty, smelly stools, liver Qi stagnation symptoms

Tongue - red, yellow coat

Pulse - Wiry, slippery, rapid

Principle of Treatment: Clear heat, sooth liver, descend St. Qi, (bitter/pungent)

Herbal Medicine Formula: Zuo Jin Wan