Chronic Abdominal Pain - Food Retention Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Chronic Abdominal Pain · Food Retention Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Food Retention is a common pattern in chronic abdominal pain, characterized by functional dyspepsia with delayed gastric emptying, abdominal distension, sour belching, poor appetite, and nausea. The core pathogenesis is food stagnation in the Stomach due to improper eating habits, leading to delayed gastric emptying, gas accumulation, and abdominal discomfort.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Abdominal distension, sour belching, poor appetite, nausea |

| Associated Symptoms | Foul breath, abdominal pain relieved by defecation, loose stools with undigested food |

| Tongue and Pulse | Pale red tongue with greasy coating, slippery or wiry pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Food stagnation in the Stomach |

| Etiology | Overeating, eating too quickly, irregular eating habits, rich and heavy food intake |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Zhongwan (RN12) | 4 cun above the umbilicus | Front-Mu point of Stomach; promotes digestion |

| Zusanli (ST36) | 3 cun below the patella, 1 finger-width lateral to the tibial crest | Strengthens Spleen and Stomach; promotes digestion |

| Liangmen (ST21) | 4 cun above the umbilicus, 2 cun lateral to the midline | Treats epigastric pain and promotes digestion |

| Huarou (ST24) | 2 cun above the umbilicus, 2 cun lateral to the midline | Treats gastric food retention |

Clinical Recommendation: Filament needle, reducing method; may combine with moxibustion on Zhongwan to promote digestion.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Bao He Wan (保和丸)

Composition:

Hawthorn (Shan Zha), Medicated Leaven (Shen Qu), Radish Seed (Lai Fu Zi), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi), Poria (Fu Ling), Forsythia (Lian Qiao), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Promotes digestion, resolves food stagnation, and harmonizes the Stomach.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe distension | Add Hou Po, Zhi Shi to regulate Qi and relieve distension |

| Sour belching | Add Huang Lian, Wu Zhu Yu to harmonize the Stomach |

| Nausea | Add Sheng Jiang, Zhu Ru to descend rebellious Qi |

| Abdominal pain | Add Mu Xiang, Yan Hu Suo to regulate Qi and stop pain |

Western Mechanism Reference

Functional dyspepsia with delayed gastric emptying, food stasis in the Stomach, and delayed gastric accommodation. Food Retention corresponds to functional dyspepsia with delayed gastric emptying, where food stasis in the Stomach and impaired accommodation contribute to abdominal distension and discomfort.

References

  1. Internal Medicine of TCM - Abdominal Pain with Food Retention.

  2. Xiong Jibai: Food Retention uses Bao He Wan.

  3. WHO. (2023). Digestive health. World Health Organization.

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