Is Er Chen Wan helpful for gastritis?

Generally speaking, whether Erchen Wan (Two-Facetted Pill) is helpful for gastritis depends on the specific syndrome type. It may provide some benefit for phlegm-dampness obstruction type gastritis, but is less effective for other syndrome types of gastritis. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Erchen Wan consists of tangerine peel, pinellia, poria, licorice, and other ingredients. It functions to dry dampness, resolve phlegm, regulate qi, and harmonize the stomach. If gastritis belongs to the phlegm-dampness obstruction syndrome, presenting symptoms such as epigastric fullness, nausea and vomiting, excessive phlegm with chest tightness, white and greasy tongue coating, taking Erchen Wan can help alleviate these discomfort symptoms and improve gastric function by drying dampness, resolving phlegm, and harmonizing the qi movement of the spleen and stomach.

If gastritis is due to other syndrome types such as deficiency of stomach yin or disharmony between liver and stomach, Erchen Wan is not suitable. Deficiency of stomach yin often presents with dull epigastric pain, dry mouth and throat, red tongue with little fluid, and taking Erchen Wan may exacerbate the damage to body fluids; Liver-stomach disharmony syndrome is mainly characterized by epigastric distending pain, distension and oppression in the hypochondrium, and frequent belching. Treatment should focus on soothing the liver and harmonizing the stomach, and Erchen Wan cannot specifically relieve these symptoms.

Patients with gastritis should pay attention to dietary regulation in daily life, avoiding spicy, greasy, raw, cold, and other irritating foods. They should eat regularly, chew food thoroughly, and eat slowly. At the same time, moderate exercise can enhance the function of the spleen and stomach, thus assisting in improving gastric condition.