When standing, if the lower edge of the stomach reaches the pelvic cavity and the lowest point of the lesser curvature descends below the iliac crest line, it is termed gastric ptosis. Mild cases often present no symptoms, while moderate to severe cases frequently manifest poor gastrointestinal motility and indigestion.
Mild cases are generally asymptomatic, while significant ptosis may present with the following symptoms:
1. Abdominal distension and upper abdominal discomfort
Patients often report a sensation of fullness, heaviness, or pressure in the abdomen.
2. Abdominal pain
Typically a persistent dull ache. Often occurs after meals and correlates with food intake. Greater meal volume prolongs and intensifies pain. Activity exacerbates discomfort, with postprandial movement aggravating symptoms.This occurs because a large volume of food entering the stomach increases traction on the gastric ligaments, causing pain followed by nausea and vomiting.
4. Constipation
Constipation is often chronic and stubborn. It may result from concurrent transverse colon ptosis, which causes the hepatic and splenic flexures of the colon to form acute angles, slowing intestinal transit.
5. Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
The persistent symptoms of gastric ptosis can impose significant psychological stress on patients, leading to insomnia, headaches, dizziness, mental dullness, and depression.
5. Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
The prolonged distress from multiple symptoms of gastric ptosis imposes significant psychological burden, leading to insomnia, headaches, dizziness, mental dullness, and depression. Hypotension, palpitations, and orthostatic syncope may also occur.
Below are dietary therapy recipes for gastric ptosis:
1.Pig Stomach and Astragalus Soup
Method: 1 pig stomach, 200g astragalus root, 30g dried tangerine peel. Remove fat membrane from pig stomach and wash thoroughly. Wrap astragalus and dried tangerine peel in cheesecloth, place inside pig stomach, and secure tightly with twine. Simmer over low heat until stomach is tender. Add seasoning to taste. Consume hot, eating the stomach and drinking the broth in four portions over two days.One course of treatment consists of 5 pig stomachs.
Benefits: Astragalus is a key qi-tonifying herb; dried tangerine peel regulates qi, strengthens the spleen, harmonizes the middle burner, and relieves food stagnation. Pig stomach "nourishes the stomach and boosts qi." This soup replenishes central qi, fortifies the spleen and stomach, dispels qi stagnation, and alleviates pain. It is highly effective for gastroptosis caused by deficient central qi and spleen-stomach weakness.
2. Pig Spleen, Jujube, and Rice Porridge
Method: 2 pig spleens, 10 jujubes, 100g japonica rice. Wash and slice the pig spleens, lightly stir-fry in a pot, then add jujubes, japonica rice, and water to cook into porridge. Optionally add white sugar for flavor. Consume on an empty stomach once daily. One course of treatment lasts half a month.
Benefits: Pork spleen fortifies the spleen and stomach, aiding digestion; jujubes harmonize the stomach, nourish the spleen, boost qi, and calm the middle burner; japonica rice replenishes stomach qi and enriches stomach fluids. This concoction effectively addresses weight loss, epigastric distension, poor appetite, and fatigue caused by gastric ptosis.
3. Astragalus Stewed with Hairtail Fish
Method: 1000g hairtail fish, 15g stir-fried Trichosanthes fruit, 50g Astragalus root, salt, ginger, scallions, MSG, cooking oil, and cooking wine to taste.Wash and finely grind the Astragalus and fried Zhiqiao, then wrap them tightly in cheesecloth. Remove the head and innards from the hairtail, cut into 5-inch segments, rinse, and briefly pan-fry in oil. Add the herb packet and seasonings, then pour in sufficient water. Simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes. Remove the herb packet, scallion sections, and ginger. Add MSG to taste and serve.Serve as a meal accompaniment.
Benefits: Nourishes the five organs, harmonizes and stimulates appetite, warms and fortifies the spleen and stomach, strengthens protective yang energy, fortifies the exterior, replenishes qi and generates blood, and elevates spleen yang and clear qi. Suitable for those with conditions involving sinking of central qi, such as gastric ptosis, chronic diarrhea, or rectal prolapse.