Stomach Essence Deficiency
Description
Poor appetite, fatigue and weight loss.
Clinical features
Poor appetite, fatigue, weight loss, pale face, weak digestion, pale tongue, thin pulse.
🏥 Scientific research
Western understanding:
Stomach Essence deficiency correlates with severe digestive weakness, malnutrition, and wasting. Characterized by poor appetite, emaciation, and a weak pulse.
Research evidence:
Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) support acupuncture for these patterns. Cochrane reviews show moderate to strong evidence for acupuncture in chronic pain, digestive disorders, and cardiovascular conditions. Systematic reviews confirm efficacy for respiratory diseases and urinary disorders. Evidence quality varies by condition. Large-scale RCTs recommended for specific pattern differentiation.
⚠️ Cautions
Caution in active peptic ulcer bleeding. Avoid deep abdominal needling.
📚 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.