HOME > Stomach, Intestine, Liver Center > Atrophic gastritis
Is it the most common condition of chronic gastritis where the gastric mucosa has become thin. Thin, contracted mucosa means easier stomach damage, and this leads to twice to quadruple times the risk of stomach cancer compared to normal people. It frequently accompanies gastric intestinal metaplasia where the gastric mucosa becomes intestinal epithelium.
There are no definite symptoms of atrophic gastritis, but symptoms including discomfort in the abdomen, abdominal pain, and indigestion may be experienced.
Patients may get an upset stomach after overeating, feel pressured at the pit of the stomach, have abdominal pain. They may feel full immediately after eating or feel pressured.
Oriental medicine sees the cause of thin, contracted gastric mucosa to be heart and kidney problems. When the heart is weak, blood circulation to the stomach becomes poor when under stress or anxiety, causing anemia in the stomach. When this situation occurs repeatedly, the gastric mucosa contracts. Boshimgeonbi-tang is used to strengthen the heart.
Kidney saves beneficial resin like lubricants and supplies to different parts of the body - particularly, mucous membrane protecting substance called mucin to the stomach. This mucus protects the stomach from various toxins and excess gastric acid. However, over working or excessive stress or innately weak kidney lead to insufficient supply of this mucus to the stomach. And this leads to frequent occurrence of atrophic gastritis, and damages from gastric acid causes ulcerated lesion. It is treated with the therapy that helps generating sufficient amount of resin.