What causes bloating after eating according to TCM

Gas and bloating is one of common symptoms in diseases of digestive tract, such as Gastritis, gastroptosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), duodenal stagnation syndrome, and functional dyspepsia, often accompanied with symptoms like abdominal discomfort and pain, belching, and Constipation or diarrhea. Besides, it might also associate to lactose intolerance, celiac disease, food intolerance, surgery, and stress, etc.

From the perspective of TCM, if you feel bloated right after the meal, chances are that the culprit is the deficient cold in spleen and stomach. The reasons are twofold: firstly the stomach, impaired for various reasons, fails to regulate the normal functions of descending and ascending qi, which ends up leading to stagnation in this place; secondarily a weakened gastrointestinal system can result in this condition as you grow older. In addition, to some degree liver is also related to belly bloating after eating as the liver’s functions of conveyance and dispersion tend to be weakened when you are in a bad mood.

Principle of treatments
The treatment in western medicine is quite straightforward – prescribe the relevant drugs once the disease is confirmed. By contrast, the strengths of TCM rest on the overall treatment – give prescription based on the diagnosis of your constitution, which is beneficial to remove the root causes while curing the apparent symptoms. Apparently the latter could lower the frequency of recurrence.

According to the causes, this condition can be classified into two main patterns – deficient abdominal distention (after eating or drinking) and excess abdominal distention (before eating). The former is related to delayed gastric emptying (DGE) and divided into two different types of deficient yin and deficient qi; the latter is related to excessive gastric acid secretion (hyperchlorhydria). In addition, if diarrhea or constipation accompanied, it may involve spleen too. Therapies include tonifying middle-Jiao and Qi while harmonizing stomach, tonifying middle-Jiao and Qi while tonifying spleen, and tonifying spleen while dredging liver to smooth Qi.

Herbal remedies with katsumadai
It is acrid, warm and aromatic in properties and covers meridians of stomach, spleen, and lung. Main functions are to transform dampness, relieve distention, promote the circulation of qi, warm the middle burner, stimulate appetite, and help digestion. Main uses and indications are cold-dampness blocking in middle-jiao, loss of appetite, initial damp-warm, chest tightness, vomiting and hiccups, thoracico-abdominal distention and ache, and indigestion. Usual dosage is 3 to 6 grams.