In a normal person's gastrointestinal tract, there exists 100 to 150 milliliters of gas, distributed in the stomach and colon. When there is an excessive amount of gas in the gastrointestinal tract, it is referred to as abdominal distension. Abdominal distension caused by excessive gas in the intestines could be due to too much fiber in food, indigestion, or poor absorption leading to accumulated gas in the intestines. However, abdominal distension is often the first symptom of various diseases, such as chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastropexy, gastric dilation, intestinal obstruction, gastric neurosis, acute and chronic hepatitis, cholecystitis, gallstones, pancreatitis, etc., which are problems with the digestive system that can cause abdominal distension; cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, mesenteric artery硬化症 (hardening), mesenteric artery infarction, angina pectoris, and arrhythmia can also reflexively cause abdominal distension.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the causes of abdominal distension include food stagnation, dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach, liver-stomach qi stagnation, and spleen-stomach qi deficiency. Using TCM patent medicines for treating abdominal distension has unique therapeutic effects. The main TCM patent medicines for treating abdominal distension are divided into four categories: eliminating food stagnation, drying dampness and strengthening the spleen, regulating qi and harmonizing the stomach, and tonifying qi and strengthening the spleen.
Eliminating Food Stagnation
1. Bao He Wan: This consists of hawthorn, fermented wheat, malt, radish seed, tangerine peel, processed pinellia, poria, and forsythia. It has the function of eliminating food stagnation. It mainly treats food stagnation, abdominal fullness, belching, sour regurgitation, stomach discomfort, loss of appetite, etc. Take 6~9 grams each time, 2~3 times a day.
2. Chen Xiang Hua Zhi Wan: This consists of fermented wheat, malt, aquilaria, wood incense, cyperus, sand ginger, tangerine peel, patchouli, curcuma, etc. It has the functions of eliminating food stagnation, opening the appetite, regulating qi to reduce bloating, and harmonizing the stomach to stop vomiting. It mainly treats food stagnation and qi stagnation, fullness in the epigastric region, nausea, and vomiting, etc. Take 6~9 grams each time, twice a day.
3. Kai Xiong Shun Qi Wan: This consists of hawthorn, fermented wheat, malt, radish seed, wood incense, green peel, arisaema, citri aurantium, magnolia bark, rhubarb, betel nut, licorice, etc. It has the functions of eliminating food stagnation, regulating qi, and purging. It mainly treats food stagnation, fullness in the epigastric region, nausea, vomiting, constipation, etc. Take 6 grams each time, once or twice a day.
Drying Dampness and Strengthening the Spleen
1. Xiang Sha Yang Wei Wan: This consists of atractylodes lancea, magnolia bark, tangerine peel, cyperus, sand ginger, licorice, etc. It has the functions of drying dampness, strengthening the spleen, regulating qi, and reducing bloating. It applies to dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach, abdominal distension, reduced appetite, loose stools, heaviness in the body, fatigue, thick and greasy tongue coating, etc. Take 6 grams each time, twice a day.
2. Xiang Sha Zhi Zhu Wan: This consists of cyperus, sand ginger, citri aurantium, white atractylodes, etc. It has the functions of drying dampness, strengthening the spleen, regulating qi, and harmonizing the stomach. It applies to dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach, fullness and stuffiness in the epigastric region, reduced appetite, vomiting, loose stools, heaviness in the body, fatigue, etc. Take 6~9 grams each time, 2~3 times a day.
Regulating Qi and Harmonizing the Stomach
1. Mu Xiang Shun Qi Wan: This consists of wood incense, cyperus, sand ginger, green peel, atractylodes lancea, magnolia bark, tangerine peel, citri aurantium, betel nut, fresh ginger, licorice, etc. It has the functions of regulating qi, harmonizing the stomach, soothing the liver, and drying dampness. It applies to spleen and stomach qi stagnation, fullness and pain in the epigastric region, vomiting of acidic water, etc. Take 6~9 grams each time, 2~3 times a day.
2. Yue Ju Wan: This consists of cyperus, atractylodes lancea, fermented wheat, ligusticum, gardenia, etc. It has the functions of soothing the liver, regulating qi, drying dampness, eliminating food stagnation, promoting blood circulation, and clearing heat. It is mainly used for liver and stomach qi stagnation, combined with dampness stagnation, food accumulation, fullness and stuffiness in the epigastric region, distension and pain or stabbing pain in both ribs and the stomach, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting of acidic water, etc. Take 6~9 grams each time, 2~3 times a day.
Tonifying Qi and Strengthening the Spleen
1. Xiang Sha Liu Jun Wan: This consists of wood incense, sand ginger, codonopsis pilosula, white atractylodes, poria, pinellia, tangerine peel, licorice, fresh ginger, jujube, etc. It has the functions of tonifying qi, strengthening the spleen, regulating qi, and reducing bloating. It applies to fullness and stuffiness in the epigastric region, nausea, loose stools, shortness of breath, and fatigue, etc. Take 6~9 grams each time, 2~3 times a day.
2. Ren Shen Jian Pi Wan: This consists of ginseng, white atractylodes, tangerine peel, citri aurantium, fermented wheat, malt, hawthorn, etc. It has the functions of tonifying qi, strengthening the spleen, eliminating food stagnation, and opening the appetite. It applies to weak spleen and stomach, fatigue, indigestion, fullness and bloating in the abdomen, loss of appetite, loose stools, etc. Take 9 grams each time, twice a day.