Just as the quality of crops depends on the fertility of the soil, the spleen and stomach are like the soil for a healthy body. If a person has poor digestion, the food they eat cannot be properly transformed into qi and blood for the body to utilize, leading to various health problems such as a sallow complexion, excessive sweating, lethargy, weakness in the limbs, abdominal distension, and diarrhea. Women may also experience abnormal vaginal discharge and uterine prolapse.

　　Spleen and stomach problems aren't entirely caused by what we eat. Today, we'll discuss in detail some key factors that damage the stomach so we can better protect our digestive function.

　　Getting angry can damage your stomach.

　　In this materialistic society, it's practically impossible not to get angry or upset. And anger often has a significant impact on the spleen and stomach.

　　The term "anger" here primarily refers to the stagnation of liver qi. When liver qi is stagnant, it inhibits gastrointestinal function, slowing down or even halting peristalsis. This prevents the expulsion of gases produced by food fermentation and from the intestines, leading to bloating. We often hear people complain of stomach pain or liver pain from anger or arguments; this is what we call "liver fire." Stagnant liver qi then invades the gastrointestinal tract, affecting our digestive function.

　　For gastrointestinal problems caused by liver stagnation, some traditional Chinese medicine preparations can be used for regulation, such as Xiaoyao granules, Jiawei Xiaoyao pills, and Muxiang Shunqi pills, but it is best to use them under the guidance of a doctor. Adding a little hawthorn, chicken gizzard lining, dried tangerine peel, rose petals, or rose petals to your daily diet or tea can help soothe the liver, regulate qi, and resolve stagnation. People with indigestion and bloating should avoid eating gas-producing foods such as beans and dairy products, as well as difficult-to-digest, greasy, and spicy foods.

　　I'm burning up.

　　If you're angry but not to the point of getting a sore throat, usually a few burps or farts will make you feel fine. However, once anger escalates into a rage, some people may pay a heavy price, such as cerebral hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage, breast tenderness, or even breast hyperplasia.

　　Not only does heat rise to the head, but it also affects the spleen and stomach. Some people eat without restraint, easily overeating when the food suits their taste. This leads to indigestion and constipation, easily causing food stagnation, which over time transforms into internal heat, resulting in symptoms such as loss of appetite, anorexia, bad breath, bloating, and restless sleep. Others love spicy food, ignoring the "heat" it causes. Unbeknownst to them, heat invading the stomach causes the blood vessels in the stomach to dilate and boil due to the heat, damaging the stomach's meridians. This can lead to a burning sensation in the stomach, acid reflux, and can easily cause stomach ulcers, bile reflux gastritis, or reflux esophagitis.

　　For excessive stomach heat, traditional Chinese medicine such as Zuojin Pills and Huanglian Qingwei Pills are often used clinically. However, it is best to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to clear the stomach heat according to your individual condition, and avoid indiscriminately using medications to clear heat on your own. People with gastroesophageal reflux should eat less sweets, fried foods, glutinous rice, and other foods that stimulate excessive secretion of gastric acid.

　　Cold drinks can upset your stomach.

　　Some people experience diarrhea after eating popsicles or drinking cold water or beverages, and their navel area is always cold. This is actually a typical symptom of spleen and stomach deficiency. Spleen and stomach deficiency is mainly due to insufficient Yang energy in the spleen and stomach, resulting in impaired digestive function. The "treating winter diseases in summer" program, which is popular in summer, actually encourages people to take advantage of the abundant Yang energy in summer to nourish their own Yang energy. However, looking around in summer, people generally like to drink cold drinks and eat popsicles to "cool down," but these behaviors actually damage Yang energy.

　　To maintain a healthy spleen and stomach, avoid excessive consumption of cold drinks. When the spleen and stomach are chilled, try drinking water infused with ginger slices. Traditional Chinese medicine preparations for spleen and stomach deficiency include Fuzi Lizhong Wan, Liangfu Wan, and Xiangsha Liujun Wan. ▲