Peptic ulcers that remain untreated can lead to bleeding ulcers, perforated ulcers as well as peptic ulcers that lead to constriction of the intestinal passage leading to obstruction of the passing of food from the stomach to the small intestine. Bleeding ulcers cause damage to the blood vessels in the linings of the stomach leading to the seepage of blood into the digestive tract. Perforated ulcers, on the other hand, cause holes in the walls of the stomach and the duodenum. This can lead to the spilling of digested food into the hole, as well as bacterial infection resulting in severe inflammation of the inner linings within the duodenum and the stomach.

Symptoms and Signs of Peptic Ulcer in TCM Include:
1. Disharmony of the Liver and Stomach
Chief Manifestations: Fullness and pain in the epigastrium radiating to the hypochondriae regions, which are aggravated by emotional disturbance, frequent sighing, belching, acid regurgitation, red margin and tip of the tongue, thin and white coating, thready and wiry pulse.

2. Deficiency of Spleen Yang and Stomach Yang
Chief Manifestations: Persistent dull pain in the epigastrium which is relieved by warmth and pressure, poor appetite, fullness in the epigastrium, vomiting of watery fluid, cold body and limbs, lassitude, pale complexion, loose stools, or diarrhea with undigested food in the stools, pale and tender tongue, white or watery, smooth coating, deep, thready and weak pulse or deep and slow pulse.

3. Deficiency of Stomach Yin
Chief Manifestations: Epigastric dull pain, gastric discomfort, hunger with no desire for eating, localized feverish sensation, especially in the afternoon and on empty stomach, dry mouth with reduced salivation, belching and retch, dry stools, red tongue with little coating, thready and rapid pulse.

4. Blood Stagnation Blocking the Stomach
Chief Manifestations: Pricking pain in the epigastrium especially at night, which is localized and aggravated by pressure, hunger with no desire for eating, belching, restlessness, insomnia, purple tongue or with purple spots on the tongue, varicosity under the tongue, deep and unsmooth pulse.

5. Damp Heat in the Spleen and Stomach 
Chief Manifestations: Fullness or pain in the epigastrium, belching, nausea, epigastric upset, acid regurgitation, foul smell, thirst and bitter taste, poor appetite, heavy sensation of the body, dizziness, insomnia, thirst with no desire to drink, irregular bowl movement, yellow and turbid urine, red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, soft-superficial and rapid pulse or wiry and smooth pulse.