Chronic gastritis refers to various chronic inflamma-tion of gastric mucus due to different pathogenic factors. According to the pathological changes, chronic gastritis can be divided into superficial, atrophic and hypertrophic types of gastritis. The clinical manifestations are atypical. The main symptoms are recurrent fullness, oppression and pain in the middle and upper abdomen as well as ano-rexia, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting and belching. This disease is similar to epigastralgia and abdominal fullness in TCM. Chronic gastritis is usually caused by emotional up-sets, improper diet, overstrain and weakness due to prolonged disease that lead to depression of liver and qi stagnation, asthenia-cold in middle energizer and insuffi-ciency of stomach yin; or by involvement of the collaterals in prolonged disease and stagnation of blood in the collat-erals.
Treatment
Prescription: Zhongwan (CV 12), Neiguan (PC 6), 6ongsun (SP 4), Liangmen (ST 21) and Zusanli (ST 36).
Modification: For liver qi invading the stomach, Tai-chong (LR 3), Qimen (LR 14) and Ganshu (BL 18) are added; for asthenia-cold in the spleen and stomach, Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) are added; for insufficiency of stomach yin, Taixi (KI 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are added; for stagnation of blood in the collaterals, Xuehai (SP 10) and Geshu (BL 17) are added; for stomach heat, Neiting (ST 44) is added; for fullness and distension in the epigastrium and abdomen, Zhangmen (LR 13), Bu-rong (ST 19) and Pishu (BL 20) are added.
Performance: For liver qi invading the stomach and stagnation of blood in the collaterals, mild reducing and reinforcing needling techniques or reducing needling tech-nique can be used; for asthenia-cold in the spleen and stomach and insufficiency of stomach yin, reinforcing nee-dling technique can be used. For the treatment of asthenia-cold syndrome, moxibustion can be used in addi-tion.
2. Ear acupuncture
Prescription: Stomach (CO4), Spleen (CO13), Liver (C012), Triple Energizer (CO17), Sympathetic (AH6a), Ear Shenmen (TF4) and Subcortical (AT4).
Performance: Each time 2 -3 acupoints are selected. The needles are retained for 30 minutes and manipulated at intervals. Or electropuncture may be used. Or Wang-buliuxingzi (Semen Vaccariae) can be used for ear pres-sure. Two ears are needled in alternation.
