TCM Pattern Differentiation Library
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Chronic Abdominal Pain - Food Retention Pattern
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.