Chronic Gastritis - Blood Stasis in the Stomach Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Chronic Gastritis · Blood Stasis in the Stomach Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis in the Stomach is a chronic pattern in advanced chronic gastritis, characterized by gastric mucosal microcirculatory disturbance, epigastric stabbing pain, worse at night, and fixed location. The core pathogenesis is prolonged disease causing blood stasis in the gastric collaterals, leading to microcirculatory disturbance, impaired epithelial renewal, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Epigastric stabbing pain, fixed location, worse at night |

| Associated Symptoms | Dark complexion, purple-dark lips, dark purple tongue, palpable mass |

| Tongue and Pulse | Purple-dark tongue with petechiae, thin white coating, hesitant pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Blood stasis obstructing the gastric collaterals |

| Etiology | Prolonged chronic gastritis, repeated injury, impaired microcirculation |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

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

| Geshu (BL17) | Lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to T7 | Back-Shu point of the Blood; invigorates Blood and resolves stasis |

| Xuehai (SP10) | On the medial thigh, 2 cun above the patella | Invigorates blood and resolves stasis |

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

| Neiguan (PC6) | 2 cun above the wrist crease, between the tendons | Regulates Qi and relieves pain |

Clinical Recommendation: Filament needle, reducing method; may combine with cupping on Zhongwan to enhance blood stasis resolution.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Shi Xiao San (失笑散) + Dan Shen Yin (丹参饮)

Composition:

Trogopterus Dung (Wu Ling Zhi), Pollen Typhae (Pu Huang), Salvia (Dan Shen), Sandalwood (Tan Xiang), Amomum (Sha Ren), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Invigorates blood, resolves stasis, and relieves pain.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe pain | Add Yan Hu Suo, San Leng to break up stasis and relieve pain |

| Atrophic changes | Add Huang Qi, Dang Shen to supplement Qi and invigorate blood |

| Intestinal metaplasia | Add Bai Hua She She Cao, Ban Zhi Lian to clear Heat and detoxify |

| Fatigue | Add Huang Qi to enhance Qi supplementation |

Western Mechanism Reference

Gastric mucosal microcirculatory disturbance causing local ischemia, impaired epithelial cell renewal, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia. Blood Stasis in the Stomach corresponds to advanced chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia, where impaired microcirculation and reduced epithelial renewal contribute to mucosal atrophy and precancerous changes.

References

  1. Internal Medicine of TCM - Stomach Pain with Blood Stasis.

  2. DB-XJB: Dan Shen Yin, Shi Xiao San.

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

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