Appetite refers to the demand for food and enjoyable sensation of taking food. Repast refers to the actual amount of food being taken. Inquiry of appetite and repast is significant in understanding the conditions of the spleen and stomach and the prognosis of disease.
     
Reduced appetite:
The meaning of reduced appetite includes anorexia, poor appetite and indigestion which are similar to each other but are not totally the same. Reduced appetite in new disease is a sign of healthy qi fighting against pathogenic factors, indicating mild morbid condition and favorable prognosis. Reduced appetite in prolonged disease accompanied by spiritual lassitude, sallow complexion, pale tongue and weak pulse is usually caused by weakness of the stomach and spleen to transport and transform. Reduced appetite and indigestion accompanied by heaviness of head and body, distending oppression of the epigastrium and abdomen as well as yellowish greasy fur is often caused by failure of the spleen to transform and transport due to dampness encumbering the spleen.
 
Anorexia:
Anorexia means aversion to food or to the smell of food, often due to retention of food in the stomach, accumulation of damp heat in the liver, gallbladder, spleen and stomach. Anorexia accompanied by acid regurgitation, distending fullness of the epigastrium and abdomen is usually caused by indigestion due to retention of food in the stomach and intestines. Disliking oil and greasy food accompanied by chest oppression, vomiting and distending fullness of the epigastrium and abdomen is often caused by indigestion due to retention of food in the stomach. Disliking greasy and rich diet accompanied by distending pain of the hypochondrium and bitter taste in the mouth is frequently caused by internal accumulation of damp heat in the liver and gallbladder. Anorexia in the gravida is due to upward adverse flow of qi in the thoroughfare vessel which prevents the stomach qi from de scending. This is a normal phenomenon. However, serious morning sickness is a commonly encountered disease seen in the course of pregnancy.
 
Polyphagia and frequent eating:
Polyphagia and frequent eating refers to hyperorexia and hunger not long after eating, usually caused by exuberance of stomach fire and fast digestion. Polyphagia and frequent eating with emaciation is often seen in consumptive disease.

Excessive eating and frequent hunger with loose Stool:
This condition indicates strong function of the stomach and weak function of the spleen. Strong function of the stomach causes fast digestion which leads to excessive eating and frequent hunger; while weakness of the spleen prevents it from performing normal transportation and transformation, therefore leading to loose stool.
 
Hunger without desire to eat:
This means that the patient feels hungry, but has no desire to eat or just eats a little food. It is usually due to insufficiency of gastric yin and internal disturbance of asthenic fire. Internal disturbance of asthenic fire leads to easiness to feel hunger; while failure of asthenic yin to moisten the stomach leads to hypofunction of the stomach to digest food. That is why there is no desire to eat.