Understanding Stomach-Heat: The "Burning Stomach" Pattern

What is "Stomach-Heat"?

In Chinese Medicine, the Stomach is the "pot" where digestion begins. In this pattern, a true fire has broken out in the pot. This is not the gentle "Empty Heat" of a dry pot, but a roaring, excess fire that is actively burning. This fire consumes the fluids in the stomach, agitates the spirit, and aggressively rebels upwards.

This intense Heat is almost always caused by two things:

  1. Diet: The most common cause is a long-term diet of hot, spicy foods (chilli, curries, garlic), greasy or fried foods, rich red meats, and alcohol. These foods literally add "fire" to your digestive system.
  2. Emotions: Long-term unresolved frustration or anger (Liver-Qi Stagnation) can generate heat that "invades" the Stomach.

When this Heat combines with Phlegm (a sticky substance created by greasy, sweet, or dairy-rich foods), it becomes Phlegm-Heat. Think of it as a hot, sticky, oppressive sludge in the stomach, which makes the symptoms even more uncomfortable.

The key signs of Stomach-Heat are intense and hard to miss:

  • A burning pain in the stomach area. This is the cardinal sign.
  • Intense thirst with a strong desire for cold drinks.
  • Bad breath (halitosis) and a bitter taste in the mouth.
  • Acid regurgitation, heartburn, nausea, or even vomiting soon after eating.
  • Bleeding or swollen gums, and mouth ulcers.
  • A feeling of mental restlessness or irritability.
  • If Phlegm is involved, you will also feel a strong sense of fullness and oppression in the chest and stomach, and the nausea will be more pronounced.

Your acupressure treatment was designed to begin dousing these flames directly, clearing the Heat, and subduing the rebellious upward energy.

Lifestyle Advice: Douse the Flames Immediately

The strategy is direct and requires your full participation: you must stop adding fuel to the fire and actively eat cooling foods.

1. Adopt a "Fire-Extinguisher" Diet:
This is non-negotiable for healing this pattern.

  • Eat Cooling Foods: Increase your intake of cucumber, celery, watermelon, lettuce, radish, tofu, mung beans, and barley.
  • Drink Cooling Teas: Peppermint, chrysanthemum, and green tea are excellent for clearing Stomach-Heat.
  • ABSOLUTELY AVOID ALL HEATING FOODS:
    • ALL Spicy Foods (chilli, hot sauce, curry, black pepper, ginger, garlic, onion).
    • Alcohol and Coffee.
    • Greasy, Deep-Fried Foods and rich Red Meat (especially lamb).
    • If you suspect Phlegm, you must also eliminate all Dairy and Sugar.

2. Manage Your Eating Habits:
Give your agitated Stomach a break.

  • Eat in a Calm State: Stress and frustration can generate more heat. Take a few deep breaths before you eat.
  • Don't Overeat: Eating large meals adds more fuel and creates more stagnation for the Fire to burn.

3. Acupressure at Home:
Here is a crucial combination to clear Heat and calm your Stomach.

  • Stomach 44 (Neiting - "Inner Courtyard"): The "fire hydrant" point for the Stomach.
    • Location: On the top of your foot, in the webbing between your second and third toes, where the flesh begins.
    • How to: Apply firm pressure for 1-2 minutes. This point is exceptionally powerful for draining fire from the Stomach, relieving toothaches, and clearing bad breath.
  • Pericardium 6 (Neiguan - "Inner Gate"): To calm the Stomach and stop nausea.
    • Location: On your inner forearm, three finger-widths up from your main wrist crease, between the two prominent tendons.
    • How to: Apply firm pressure for 1-2 minutes whenever you feel nausea, acid reflux, or chest oppression. It powerfully subdues the rebellious upward energy.

By being disciplined with these cooling strategies, you can effectively extinguish this internal fire and restore calm and comfort to your digestive system.