Q What kind of condition is gastroparesis?
A It is a state where, even though the stomach inlet or outlet is not blocked, the stomach cannot send food down on time, so it stays in the stomach for a long time. The stomach muscle's contractile force weakens, slowing emptying and causing bloating and nausea.
Detailed Answer
A normal stomach contracts rhythmically when food enters, sending finely ground food down to the duodenum. In gastroparesis, this emptying motion slows even though there is no blockage. The function of the stomach muscle and the nerves directing its movement declines, so food pools in the stomach for a long time, leading to early satiety, nausea, and abdominal distension.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At our clinic, we focus on the stomach's power to receive food and send it down—the movement energy of the spleen-stomach (脩胃). We center treatment on boosting the weakened gastric motility so food goes down on time.
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