Acid Reflux – A Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

Harmonizing the Stomach, Descending Rebellious Qi, and Resolving Internal Heat and DampnessAcid reflux, also known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) in Western medicine, is characterized by the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus, leading to symptoms such as heartburn, sour taste, belching, chest discomfort, and in chronic cases, cough or throat irritation. While Western medicine often attributes this to dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views it as a disruption of the Stomach’s descending function, caused by disharmonies in the Stomach, Liver, and Spleen systems.Rather than simply neutralizing or suppressing acid, TCM focuses on restoring proper Qi direction, digestive harmony, and organ function, to treat both the symptoms and the root causes.

🔹 TCM Understanding of Acid Reflux

In healthy digestion, Stomach Qi descends to support proper digestion and intestinal movement. When this downward movement is disrupted—due to Heat, Phlegm, Qi stagnation, or weakness—Stomach Qi rebels upward, leading to nausea, belching, regurgitation, or acid reflux.Underlying causes often include:

Improper diet (e.g., greasy, spicy, overeating, late meals)

Emotional stress, especially worry, frustration, or anger

Spleen Qi deficiency, impairing transformation and transportation

Liver overacting on Stomach, causing Qi rebellion

Phlegm and Damp accumulation

Stomach Heat or Fire

🔹 Common TCM Patterns in Acid Reflux

✅ Liver Overacting on the Stomach (Liver Qi Invading Stomach)

Often stress-related, this is one of the most common patterns.Symptoms: Acid reflux aggravated by stress, bloating, belching, sighing, irritability, epigastric discomfort

Treatment Principle: Soothe Liver, harmonize the Stomach, regulate Qi

✅ Stomach Heat (or Stomach Fire)

This pattern results from overeating spicy, greasy foods, or alcohol.Symptoms: Burning pain in the epigastrium, sour regurgitation, bad breath, dry mouth, thirst, constipation

Treatment Principle: Clear Stomach Heat, descend Qi

✅ Food Retention and Damp-Phlegm Accumulation

Common after heavy meals or in those with poor digestive habits.Symptoms: Fullness and distension in the abdomen, foul belching, acid regurgitation, nausea, greasy tongue coating

Treatment Principle: Resolve food stagnation, transform Damp-Phlegm

✅ Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency

Seen in chronic, long-term reflux with digestive weakness.Symptoms: Mild acid reflux, fatigue, poor appetite, bloating, loose stools, pale tongue, weak pulse

Treatment Principle: Tonify Spleen and Stomach Qi, restore Qi descent

✅ Stomach Yin Deficiency

In cases of chronic irritation from reflux, leading to dryness and burning.Symptoms: Burning epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat, hunger with no desire to eat, red tongue with little coating

Treatment Principle: Nourish Stomach Yin, clear Deficiency Heat

🔹 Lifestyle and Dietary Recommendations

Avoid: spicy, greasy, fried foods, alcohol, coffee, and acidic fruits

Eat: small, frequent meals; avoid overeating

Chew thoroughly and eat slowly

Avoid eating late at night or lying down after meals

Manage stress: practice meditation, breathing exercises, or qigong

Keep regular meal times to regulate Spleen and Stomach Qi

🔹 Acupuncture for Acid Reflux

Acupuncture can help by:

Regulating Stomach Qi and promoting its downward movement

Calming the Liver and harmonizing digestion

Reducing inflammation and soothing the esophagus

Alleviating anxiety and stress, which often contribute to flare-ups

Key points may include:

✅ Conclusion

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acid reflux is viewed as a symptom of disharmonious Qi flow, most often involving the Liver, Spleen, and Stomach. TCM does not suppress symptoms, but rather seeks to correct the underlying dysfunction through herbal formulas, acupuncture, dietary therapy, and stress regulation. This approach not only relieves symptoms but promotes long-term digestive harmony and well-being.