"Silent or Stinky? What Your Belch Reveals – According to TCM and Modern Medicine"
- caulocare
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Belching: A Natural Signal or a Sign of Imbalance?By Dr. Phumlarp Caulo, Caulo Care Acupuncture, New York, May 2025
Belching—also known as burping—is a normal physiological process. It can arise naturally or be triggered by dietary habits and digestive disorders. Both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provide valuable yet distinct perspectives on this common occurrence.
📚 The Etymology of "Belch"
The English word "belch" originates from Middle English "bolken," which in turn comes from the Old English"bealcan." It originally meant:
“To bring up wind from the stomach”
“To swell, heave”
The term has an echoic origin, mimicking natural sounds, similar to the Dutch word "balken," meaning “to roar or shout.”
By the 1570s, the word “belch” gained metaphorical use, describing:
A volcano “belching lava”
A cannon “belching smoke or fire”
🩺 Belching in Western Medicine: What and Why?
1. What is belching? Belching is the expulsion of gas from the stomach through the esophagus and out of the mouth. Causes include:
Aerophagia (swallowing air while eating)
Carbonated drinks or fast eating
2. Why does it sometimes smell? Unpleasant-smelling burps may contain:
Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S): Rotten-egg odor from bacterial breakdown of proteins or sulfur
Methane or hydrogen: Produced during carbohydrate fermentation in the intestines
Putrid food odor: From delayed gastric emptying or dyspepsia
3. When does belching become abnormal?
GERD (acid reflux): Causes sour, smelly belches
Helicobacter pylori infection leads to ulcers and foul-smelling gas
Difficult-to-digest foods: Garlic, onions, red meat
Medications: Some antibiotics or diabetes drugs disrupt gut flora
🌿 TCM View: Belching as Rebellious Qi
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, belching is a manifestation of “Rebellious Qi” (逆氣)—particularly from the Stomach and Spleen systems.
1. Why does belching happen in TCM? Normally, Stomach Qi should descend. If it ascends inappropriately → belching occurs. This often relates to Qi stagnation or internal blockages.
2. Key TCM causes:
Cold, greasy, fried foods: Create dampness and phlegm, disrupting Qi flow
Fast eating, emotional stress: Triggers Liver Qi stagnation, disturbing the Stomach
Spleen Qi Deficiency: Weak digestion, undigested food, and frequent belching
3. What does the smell signify in TCM?
Rotten odor: Indicates food retention or stagnation in the Stomach
Sour/bitter smell: Points to Liver heat affecting the Stomach
Sulfurous/egg smell: Suggests excessive heat and phlegm accumulation
🎯 Western vs. Eastern Medicine: Comparison of Belching
Symptom / Cause | Western Medicine | Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) |
Root cause | Air swallowing, fermentation gases | Rebellious Stomach Qi |
Foul-smelling burps | Bacterial gas, spoiled food | Food stagnation, internal heat and phlegm |
Sour/spicy burning burps | GERD (acid reflux) | Liver fire attacking the Stomach |
Frequent belching | Chronic dyspepsia, bacterial imbalance | Spleen Qi Deficiency |
Treatment & prevention | Dietary change, acid blockers, probiotics | Herbal medicine, acupressure, Qi-regulating diet |
Medical warning signal | Ulcers, GERD, H. pylori, even esophageal cancer | Qi imbalance that may lead to fatigue, weight loss |
✅ Integrative Tips for Prevention and Relief
Eat slowly, chew thoroughly – Minimizes air swallowing
Avoid gas-producing foods, Such as soda, onions, and raw garlic
Limit greasy and fried foods – Hard to digest in both systems
Herbal teas:
Ginger tea – Boosts Qi movement
Chen Pi (aged tangerine peel) – Dispels food stagnation
Acupressure:
ST36 (Zusanli) and Ren12 (Zhongwan) – Improve digestion and reduce belching
Conclusion:Belching is more than a reflex—it’s a message. Whether from excess soda or imbalanced Qi, listening to your body can prevent future illness. Integrative care—combining both Western diagnostics and Eastern energetics—offers the most complete path to wellness.
This information is only educational and should not be construed as medical advice.
Everything must be balanced, and the suggestions may not apply to you.
A specialist doctor should be consulted for any medical advice or diagnosis.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT NOW!
Acupuncture near me at Forest Hill, NY
Dr. Phumlarp Caulo LA,c, MAc. OM, DAHM
Doctor of Acupuncture/Chinese Medicine
Caulo Care Acupuncture
🔖 By appointment only
☎️+1 (929) 269-4549
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