[Introduction]
Acute gastritis is classified into simple, corrosive, infective and suppurative types of gastritis according to the pathogenic factors. Acute corrosive gastritis is caused by intake of corrosive agents and needs emergent treat-ment. Acute infective gastritis and suppurative gastritis are caused by general infection. The following discussion focuses on acute simple gastritis marked by pain and dis-comfort in the upper abdomen, reduced appetite or disten-sion and belching as well as nausea and vomiting. This disease pertains to epigastralgia, vomiting and diarrhea in TCM. Acute gastritis is usually caused by exogenous path-ogenic factors and improper diet that lead to dysfunction of the spleen and stomach, failure of gastric qi to descend and upward adverse flow of turbid qi.
[Syndrome differentiation]
1. Cold-dampness attacking the middle energizer
Sudden onset of stomachache, severe pain, aversion to cold and preference for warmth, alleviation with warmth, nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea with thin fluid, or even watery diarrhea, or accompanied by aversion to cold and fever, light-colored tongue with white fur as well
as taut and tense pulse.
2. Retention of damp-heat in the middle energizer
Burning sensation, distension and pain in the epigas-trium, aggravation after meal, or postcibal vomiting, foul breath, bitter taste and dryness in the mouth, urgent diarrhea or unsmooth diarrhea, burning sensation in the anus, red tongue with yellow and greasy fur as well as slippery and rapid pulse.
3. Retention of food
Distension and fullness in the epigastrium, unpres-sable pain, acid regurgitation, alleviation of pain after vomiting, unsmooth defecation with putrefaction and foul odor, thick and greasy tongue fur as well as taut and slip-pery pulse.
[Treatment]
1. Body acupuncture
Prescription: Zhongwan (CV 12), Neiguan (PC 6), Tianshu (ST 25) and Zusanli (ST 36).
Modification: For cold-dampness damaging the mid- dle energizer, Hegu (LI 4) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) are added; for retention of damp-heat in the middle energi-
zer, Hegu (LI 4) and Quchi (LI 11) are added; for reten-tionof food, Neiting (ST 44) and Xuanji (CV 21) are added; for acute epigastralgia, Liangqiu (ST 34) is
added.
Performance: Reducing needling technique is used. For the treatment of cold syndrome, moxibustion can be used. This treatment is given once or twice a day.
2. Ear acupuncture
Prescription: Stomach (CO4), Large Intestine (CO7), Small Intestine (C06) and Sympathetic Nerve (AH6a).
Performance: The needles are manipulated at inter-vals with strong stimulation. Or Wangbuliuxingzi (Semen Vaccariae) is used for ear pressure.
