Gas & Bloating

In Western medicine, gas and bloating are often described as symptoms related to upper abdominal fullness and stomach distension, usually attributed to dietary habits or stress (Azpiroz et al., 2005, American Journal of Gastroenterology). Factors such as consumption of processed foods and poor mastication can exacerbate these symptoms. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) identifies two primary disharmonies related to gas and bloating: Spleen Qi Deficiency and Spleen Yang Deficiency (Xue et al., 2010, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine). A poor diet, emotional stress, and excess cold food often induce the former, affecting the spleen's ability to transport and transform fluids. The latter often evolves from Spleen Qi Deficiency and is aggravated by consuming cold or raw foods and exposure to cold or damp environments. Emotional stress, particularly worry, is believed in TCM to weaken the spleen and contribute to these deficiencies. Both Western and Eastern paradigms offer complementary viewpoints supported by interdisciplinary research indexed in the National Institutes of Health database.