bubble_chart Content The "middle" refers to the "spleen and stomach" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is equivalent to the digestive system in modern medicine. "Qi" refers to the function and energy of the spleen and stomach. TCM discovered that "spleen qi" is responsible for ascending and upward movement. After food is digested and absorbed by the stomach and intestines, the essence and water obtained are transported upward to the heart and lungs, and then distributed throughout the body. Therefore, if spleen qi does not ascend but instead descends, it indicates illness, and a serious one at that. "Sinking of middle qi" is a term used in TCM to describe the observable signs of "sinking" when the function and energy of the digestive system are abnormally low to a certain extent.
The stomach and intestines are both suspended by membranes to maintain their respective positions and heights.
Image source: Posible2006, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Most parts of the human body are supported by bones, and the chest cavity is also supported by the diaphragm (a muscle). However, the large space within the abdominal cavity has neither bones nor muscles for support. The organs within the abdominal cavity, such as the stomach and intestines, rely on ligaments and membranes to maintain their position and height. When the circulation of qi and blood within the abdominal cavity deteriorates, and the function of the
zang-
fu organs declines to a certain extent, these ligaments and membranes also lose their elasticity. As a result, the organs within the abdominal cavity deviate from their original positions and sag downward. Patients may feel a sensation of sagging in the abdomen. If the sagging organs press down on the bladder, it can lead to frequent urination, fistula disease, or even prolapse of the rectum or uterus. Due to the abnormally low function of the digestive system, patients may also experience symptoms of spleen deficiency, such as fatigue, weak speech, poor appetite, bloating, poor digestion and absorption, weight loss, increased frequency of loose stools, diarrhea, and so on.
"Sinking of middle qi" is commonly seen in patients who are physically weak or have been bedridden for a long time. The treatment should focus on strengthening spleen qi and boosting middle qi. A classic prescription for this is the
Middle-Tonifying Qi-Replenishing Decoction. For all cases of internal organ prolapse or sagging, seeking treatment from TCM at the initial stage can often avoid the fate of undergoing surgery to suspend the organs, as is common in modern medicine.
