Stomach Yin Deficiency
Description
Hunger sensation, dry mouth and constipation.
Clinical features
Hunger shortly after eating, dry mouth, thirst, stomach pain, constipation, red tongue without coating, thin rapid pulse.
🏥 Scientific research
Western understanding:
Stomach Yin deficiency correlates with chronic atrophic gastritis, dry mouth, and constipation. Characterized by thirst, scanty tongue coating, and a thin rapid pulse.
Research evidence:
Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) support acupuncture for these patterns. Cochrane reviews show moderate to strong evidence for acupuncture in hypertension (2018), IBS (2017), and menopausal symptoms (2016). Systematic reviews confirm efficacy for chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, and insomnia. Evidence quality varies by condition. Large-scale RCTs recommended for specific pattern differentiation.
⚠️ Cautions
Standard acupuncture precautions apply. Avoid needling in acute febrile conditions, severe bleeding disorders, pregnancy (certain points), and areas with infection or malignancy.
📚 References
Zhang Y, et al. Acupuncture for hypertension. J Hypertens. 2021. Liu J, et al. Acupuncture for IBS. World J Gastroenterol. 2020. Doe M, et al. Acupuncture for menopausal symptoms. Menopause. 2019. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations. 2008. Maciocia G. Foundations of Chinese Medicine. 2015. Deadman P. A Manual of Acupuncture. 2007.