Information sheets

Do you ever experience a gnawing, empty, or slightly burning feeling in your stomach, yet have no real appetite? This paradoxical symptom, often accompanied by a dry mouth, thirst for small sips of water, and constipation, is the hallmark of Stomach-Yin Deficiency. In Chinese Medicine, this means the cooling, moistening fluids (Yin) of the Stomach have been depleted.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• A gnawing "empty" feeling but no desire to eat.
• Dry mouth, dry stools, and a thirst for sips of water.
• A mild burning sensation in the stomach.

This "dry stomach" pattern often develops from eating at irregular hours (especially late at night) or a long-term diet of spicy, drying foods. Our acupressure treatments aim to nourish these vital fluids and clear the resulting "Empty Heat." Lifestyle and dietary advice is paramount, focusing on incorporating moistening foods and strictly avoiding anything that is hot, spicy, or drying.

Do you ever feel like food just sits in your stomach like a rock after you eat? That feeling of bloating, distention, pain, and frequent belching, especially when you're stressed, is a classic sign of Stomach-Qi Stagnation. In Chinese Medicine, this means the downward flow of digestive energy (Qi) has become blocked, often due to eating while stressed, overthinking, or simply eating too fast.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• A strong feeling of distention and fullness in the stomach.
• Belching, hiccups, or nausea.
• Symptoms that are noticeably worse with stress.

Instead of flowing downwards, the digestive energy gets stuck or even "rebels" upwards. Our acupressure treatments are designed to unblock this stagnation and restore the proper downward movement. The lifestyle advice is crucial, focusing on *how* we eat—mindfully and in a relaxed state—to prevent the blockage from happening in the first place.

Do you suffer from a burning pain in your stomach, constant acid reflux, intense thirst for cold drinks, and persistent bad breath? This is a classic presentation of an excess pattern in Chinese Medicine called Stomach-Heat. It's a true "fire" in the digestive system, almost always caused by a diet rich in spicy, greasy foods and alcohol.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• A burning sensation in the stomach.
• Acid regurgitation, nausea, and intense thirst for cold drinks.
• Bad breath and bleeding gums.

When this Heat combines with Phlegm (from dairy or sugar), it becomes "Phlegm-Heat," adding a feeling of heavy oppression to the symptoms. Our acupressure treatments aim to clear this fire directly. The lifestyle advice is critical and non-negotiable: a strict elimination of all heating foods and a focus on a cooling diet is the fastest path back to digestive comfort.

Have you ever experienced a sudden, severe, cramping pain in your stomach immediately after drinking an iced smoothie or eating cold food? This is a classic presentation of an acute Chinese Medicine pattern called Cold Invading the Stomach. It is not a chronic condition, but a direct attack where external Cold "invades" and constricts the Stomach, causing it to spasm.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• Sudden and severe cramping stomach pain.
• The pain feels distinctly better with a hot water bottle.
• Possible vomiting of clear fluid and a general feeling of being cold.

Our acupressure treatments are designed to urgently expel this Cold, relax the spasm, and restore warmth to your core. The lifestyle advice is immediate and crucial, focusing on a strict, short-term diet of only hot, warming foods and the direct application of heat to resolve the acute pain quickly and effectively.

Do you frequently suffer from nausea, acid reflux, belching, or hiccups? In Chinese Medicine, these are all signs of "Rebellious Stomach-Qi." This occurs when the natural downward flow of your digestive energy gets blocked or disrupted, causing it to "rebel" upwards instead. It's like traffic going the wrong way on a one-way street.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Acid regurgitation or heartburn.
• Persistent belching or hiccups.

This rebellion is often triggered by eating while stressed, eating too quickly, or consuming foods that are difficult to digest. Our acupressure treatments are designed to subdue this upward energy and treat the underlying cause of the blockage. The lifestyle advice is paramount, focusing on mindful eating habits to retrain your digestive system and restore a comfortable, downward flow.

Do you ever feel a contradictory mix of digestive symptoms—a heavy, bloated, and stuffy feeling, but also a burning sensation, bad breath, and thirst? This is a classic presentation of Damp-Heat in the Stomach, a pattern where your digestive system is like a "hot, steamy swamp." It's caused by a diet rich in greasy, sweet, spicy foods, dairy, and alcohol.

Key signs of this pattern include:

• A feeling of fullness, heaviness, and oppression (Damp).
• A burning sensation, thirst, and bad breath (Heat).
• Nausea and a sticky or bitter taste in the mouth.

This uncomfortable excess condition requires a direct approach. Our acupressure treatments aim to clear the Heat and drain the Dampness. The lifestyle advice is paramount, requiring a strict diet that eliminates all offending foods to clean out the system and restore digestive comfort and clarity.