Gastroptosis (胃下垂 – Wei Xia Chui) is a condition in which the stomach sags below its normal anatomical position. It is commonly seen in underweight individuals, women who have given birth multiple times, those who lose weight rapidly, or people with weak abdominal muscles. In Traditional Oriental Medicine, the root cause is Spleen–Stomach deficiency and sinking middle qi, which weakens the lifting function of the body, leading to downward displacement of the stomach.
Herbal Prescriptions for Gastroptosis
1. Zhi Zhu Tang (枳术汤)
- Ingredients: Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Shi) 7 fruits, Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) 12 g.
- Function: Strengthens the Spleen, relieves distension, enhances gastrointestinal motility.
- Indication: Gastroptosis with fullness, poor appetite, and abdominal bloating.
2. Modified Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (补中益气汤加减)
- Ingredients: Codonopsis (Dang Shen) 20 g, Astragalus (Huang Qi) 40 g, Cimicifuga (Sheng Ma) 8 g, Licorice (Gan Cao) 4 g, Bupleurum (Chai Hu) 8 g, Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) 10 g.
- Function: Tonifies qi, strengthens the Spleen, raises sunken middle qi.
- Indication: Fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal distension, qi sinking.
3. Wen Shen Sheng Yang Tang (温肾升阳汤)
- Ingredients: Prepared Aconite (Hei Fu Pian) 4–10 g, Angelica (Dang Gui) 10 g, Cistanche (Rou Cong Rong) 12 g, White Peony (Bai Shao) 12–20 g, Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) 20 g, Aquilaria (Chen Xiang) 4 g, Platycodon (Jie Geng) 4 g, Eucommia (Du Zhong) 4 g, Cinnamon bark (Rou Gui) 6 g, Citrus Peel (Lat Vibii) 12 g.
- Function: Warms the Kidney, raises yang, strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
- Indication: Cold-type gastroptosis with weak digestion and abdominal cold.
4. Si Qi Tang (四奇汤)
- Ingredients: Astragalus (Huang Qi) 20 g, Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) 16 g, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Shi) 16 g, Saposhnikovia (Fang Feng) 12 g.
- Function: Strengthens the Spleen, raises qi, stabilizes the middle.
- Modification: Adding Amomum (Sha Ren) and Aucklandia (Mu Xiang) enhances qi-regulating and stomach-harmonizing effects.
5. Bu Yuan Fu Wei Tang (补元复胃汤)
- Ingredients: Codonopsis (Dang Shen) 12 g, Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) 10 g, Poria (Fu Ling) 10 g, Myristica (Kou Ren) 6 g, Amomum (Sha Ren) 6 g, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Shi) 6 g, Magnolia Bark (Hou Po) 6 g, Malt (Mai Ya) 6 g, Rice Sprout (Gu Ya) 6 g, Medicated Leaven (Shen Qu) 6 g, Hawthorn (Shan Zha) 6 g, Aucklandia (Mu Xiang) 4 g, Dioscorea (Huai Shan) 16 g, Licorice (Gan Cao) 6 g, Chicken Gizzard Membrane (Ji Nei Jin) 12 g, Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) 6 g.
- Function: Strengthens the Spleen, promotes digestion, resolves food stagnation, and regulates qi.
- Indication: Gastroptosis with poor digestion, bloating, and irregular stool.
6. Yi Qi Sheng Xian Tang (益气升陷汤)
- Ingredients: Astragalus (Huang Qi, honey-fried) 120 g, Saposhnikovia (Fang Feng) 3 g, Atractylodes (Bai Zhu, dry-fried) 9 g, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Shi, dry-fried) 15 g, Platycodon (Jie Geng, roasted) 12 g, Cornus (Shan Zhu Yu) 15 g.
- Function: Tonifies qi, strengthens the Spleen, raises yang, and lifts prolapsed organs.
- Proven effective in multiple clinical cases of gastroptosis caused by qi sinking.
7. Sheng Wei Tang (升胃汤)
- Ingredients: Bupleurum (Chai Hu) 10 g, Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) 10 g, Astragalus (Huang Qi) 24 g, Codonopsis (Dang Shen) 15 g, Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) 12 g, White Peony (Bai Shao) 12 g, Poria (Fu Ling) 12 g, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Shi) 12 g, Platycodon (Jie Geng) 12 g, Dioscorea (Shan Yao) 30 g, Licorice (Gan Cao) 6 g.
- Function: Tonifies qi and blood, soothes the Liver, strengthens the Spleen, lifts the stomach, and raises qi.
- Clinical reports show a high rate of improvement in gastroptosis patients.
Recommendation for Best Results
These herbal prescriptions aim to strengthen the Spleen, raise middle qi, and restore normal stomach function, thereby improving digestion and reducing symptoms of gastroptosis. However, clinical evidence suggests that combining herbal medicine with acupuncture and moxibustion provides superior results, offering faster recovery and reducing recurrence.
