Etiology and Pathogenesis

Impairment of the spleen and stomach resulting from immoderate eating, improper feeding or limited food indulgence are the common causes of anorexia. It may also be a result of congenital weakness of the spleen and stomach or consumption of stomach-fluid after a febrile disease.

Syndrome Differentiation and Therapeutic Principles

A. Syndrome differentiation

(a) Differentiation of the predominant syndrome: Cases with insufficiency of stomach-yin manifest themselves as anorexia accompanied by thirst, polydipsia and constipation. Those cases with dysfunction of the spleen manifest themselves as anorexia accompanied by lusterless complexion but no disturbance of the spirit. In cases with deficiency of both the spleen and the stomach, mental fatigue, sallow complexion, emaciation and a tendency to sweat may accompany the disease.

(b) Observation of tongue condition: A greasy tongue coating indicates dysfunction of the spleen. A red and dry tongue with a little or no coating signifies insufficiency of stomach-yin. A Pale and corpulent tongue with thin coating designates deficiency of spleen-qi and stomach-qi.

B. Therapeutic principles

Activating the spleen for cases of spleen dysfunction, nourishing the stomach for cases of stomach-yin insufficiency and invigorating the spleen and stomach for cases of spleen-stomach deficiency are the main therapeutic principles. However, no matter what kind of anorexia, is present, the principle to restore the function of the spleen must be stressed.