On scorching summer days, the refreshing and juicy watermelon has become the top choice for many to cool down, a must-have fruit for households. Did you know that excessive consumption of watermelon, especially ice-cold watermelon, may cause harm to your stomach?
Stomach coldness refers to the deficiency of spleen and stomach yang qi, caused by overconsumption of raw and cold food, or the invasion of cold evil leading to the stagnation of Yin cold in the stomach. Stomach coldness weakens the functions of the spleen and stomach, depriving the body of sufficient nutrients. Symptoms include pain in the epigastric region, alleviated by warmth, clear vomiting, preference for hot drinks, and poor digestion.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen and stomach are considered the foundation of postnatal life and the source of transformation. Stomach coldness is mainly due to the deficiency of spleen and stomach yang qi, overconsumption of raw and cold food, or invasion of cold evil. Summer is the season of abundant yang qi, yet people often indulge in raw and cold foods out of a desire for coolness, leading to the invasion of cold evil into the stomach and the formation of stomach coldness.
Facing stomach coldness, traditional Chinese medicine offers various methods for regulation, among which moxibustion therapy has garnered widespread attention for its unique advantages. Moxibustion therapy applies heat stimulation generated by burning mugwort leaves to acupoints or specific areas on the body, stimulating the activities of meridian qi, adjusting the disordered physiological and biochemical functions of the body, thereby achieving effects such as warming the meridians, dispersing cold, promoting qi circulation, and reinforcing yang to dispel pathogenic factors.
Below are common moxibustion acupoints for alleviating stomach coldness:
1. Shenque (Ren 8): Located at the navel, in the center of the abdomen. Moxibustion at Shenque acupoint can promote the flow of qi and blood, enhance spleen and stomach yang qi, stimulate gastrointestinal peristalsis, accelerate local blood circulation, expel cold qi from the body, thus effectively relieving various discomforts caused by stomach coldness such as stomach pain and bloating.
2. Guanyuan (Ren 4): Located in the lower abdomen, 3 cun below the navel along the midline of the body. Moxibustion at Guanyuan acupoint can nourish the original qi, enhance yang qi, promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, accelerate the absorption of nutrients in the intestines, further improving the digestive function of patients with stomach coldness.
3. Qihai (Ren 6): Located in the lower abdomen, 1.5 cun below the navel along the midline of the body. Moxibustion at Qihai acupoint has the effect of reinforcing qi and assisting yang, promoting blood circulation, aiding in the expulsion of cold qi from the body, enhancing the body’s resistance, thus ameliorating the constitution of stomach coldness.
4. Zusanli (ST 36): Located on the outer side of the lower leg, 3 cun below Dubi (ST 35). Moxibustion at Zusanli can enhance immunity, expel external pathogens, boost the overall resistance of the body, warm the vital energy of the Yangming meridian, strengthen the functions of the spleen and stomach, thereby improving the constitution of stomach coldness.
The imperial physician of moxibustion reminds that moxibustion therapy has a wide range of indications, shows rapid effectiveness, is safe and reliable, and easy to learn and apply. Regardless of cold and heat, deficiency and excess, yin and yang, superficial and internal conditions, moxibustion therapy can be used for regulation.
For patients with stomach coldness, moxibustion can not only warm and tonify spleen and stomach yang qi, dispel cold qi in the stomach, but also alleviate symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, and poor digestion caused by stomach coldness, and enhance the overall immunity of the body.
While enjoying watermelon in summer is refreshing, excessive consumption especially of ice-cold watermelon may bring considerable harm to our stomach. At the same time, it is important to maintain good dietary habits and lifestyle, to prevent digestive system issues such as stomach coldness from occurring at the source.
