Chronic Gastritis - Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Chronic Gastritis · Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction is a common pattern in chronic gastritis, characterized by H. pylori-related inflammation, epigastric pain, sticky mouth, nausea, and poor appetite. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the middle Jiao, causing gastric mucosal inflammation, oxidative stress, and pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Epigastric pain, sticky mouth, nausea, poor appetite |

| Associated Symptoms | Bloating, heavy sensation, bitter taste, yellowish urine |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Damp-Heat accumulating in the middle Jiao |

| Etiology | H. pylori infection, poor diet, spicy and rich food intake, alcohol consumption |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

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

| Neiting (ST44) | Between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones | Spring point of Stomach meridian; clears Stomach Heat |

| Yinlingquan (SP9) | Below the medial condyle of the tibia | Transforms Dampness and drains Heat |

| Fenglong (ST40) | 8 cun above the lateral malleolus, 2 cun lateral to the tibial crest | Transforms Phlegm and Dampness |

| Quchi (LI11) | Lateral end of the elbow crease | He-Sea point of Large Intestine meridian; clears Heat |

Clinical Recommendation: Filament needle, reducing method; may combine with cupping on Zhongwan to drain Damp-Heat.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Huo Po Xia Ling Tang (藿朴夏苓汤) + Zuo Jin Wan (左金丸)

Composition:

Agastache (Huo Xiang), Magnolia (Hou Pu), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Poria (Fu Ling), Coptis (Huang Lian), Evodia (Wu Zhu Yu), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Clears Damp-Heat, harmonizes the Stomach, and reduces inflammation.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe nausea | Add Sheng Jiang, Zhu Ru to descend rebellious Qi |

| Bloating | Add Mu Xiang, Sha Ren to regulate Qi and relieve distension |

| Bitter taste | Increase Huang Lian dosage to clear Heat |

| Sticky mouth | Add Pei Lan, He Ye to transform Dampness and awaken the Spleen |

Western Mechanism Reference

H. pylori infection activating the NF-κB pathway, releasing inflammatory cytokines, gastric mucosal inflammation, and oxidative stress damage. Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction corresponds to H. pylori-associated chronic gastritis, where bacterial infection and inflammatory pathways contribute to mucosal damage and symptoms.

References

  1. Internal Medicine of TCM - Stomach Pain with Damp-Heat Middle Obstruction.

  2. DB-XJB: Huo Po Xia Ling Tang, Zuo Jin Wan.

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

Explore More

  • Find your solution at MendGod.com – Personalized herbal protocols and acupressure tools for digestive health.

  • Deepen your knowledge at TcmCIO.com – Full research papers and clinical case studies on TCM digestive health.