Abdominal Pain Diagnosis and Treatment
With Chinese Herbal Medicine

Abdominal pain diagnosis and treatment in Western Medicine (WM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is different, however each system has advantages as you'll see below.

Abdominal pain can include pain anywhere from your lower rib line down to your pelvis and groin. The pain may be mild or severe and be caused by a number of problems including menstrual disorders and disorders of the stomach, spleen, liver, kidneys, gallbladder and intestines. Abdominal pain may even be a symptom of lower spine disorders.

WM Diagnosis

You should first get a Western medical diagnosis to rule out anything serious. For instance, lower left abdominal pain may indicate ovarian cysts or bowel cancer or maybe just constipation. Lower right abdominal pain may also just be from constipation or it may mean appendicitis, kidney stones or worse.

Upper left abdominal pain could simply be from a strained muscle or trapped wind, or something more serious like a left kidney infection or a tumor affecting one of the structures in this area. Likewise upper right abdominal pain could be from a simple muscle strain in the area or it may indicate a liver or gallbladder problem.

TCM Diagnosis

After you get a Western medical diagnosis I advise you to get a TCM diagnosis. This is because regardless of the cause of your abdominal pain Chinese herbal medicine will help you in a more gentle and harmonious way than Western medical treatments. However, depending on your problem you may need both forms of treatment. Chinese herbal medicine is very good at minimizing the often harsh side effects of Western medical treatments. In China both systems are commonly used to treat cancer.

TCM and Abdominal Pain

According to TCM abdominal pain is often caused by a liver imbalance. The most common cause of liver imbalance, in TCM, is emotional stress in the form of excessive frustration, anger, irritability and depression. The liver has a close relationship with the digestive organs and bowels, therefore a liver imbalance easily causes digestive and bowel problems, of which abdominal pain is a common symptom. If your liver is involved the TCM doctor will ask you during the abdominal pain diagnosis whether or not your pain is worse when you feel stressed.

There are other causes of abdominal pain in TCM but the liver is a common one. To find out in your case you will need to consult a TCM doctor for not only an abdominal pain diagnosis but an overall diagnosis of your general state of health.

Chinese Herbal Medicine For Abdominal Pain

Depending on your TCM abdominal pain diagnosis there are numerous ready-made herbal medicines that may be appropriate for you. If your liver is involved there are herbal formulas containing herbs that stop pain, improve liver function and the function of other affected organs such as the bowels or digestive organs. Two herbal remedies may need to be taken together for better effect, or you may be better served by a herbal formula made specifically for you. In either case your TCM doctor will also provide relevant dietary and lifestyle advice to compliment your herbal treatment.

Summary

1. An abdominal pain diagnosis according to WM and TCM is best.

2. Abdominal pain in different areas indicates different problems, e.g. whether it is lower left abdominal pain, lower right abdominal pain, upper left abdominal pain or upper right abdominal pain. Some problems may cause pain in more than one area.

3. In TCM the liver is often an underlying factor in abdominal pain.

4. In TCM emotional stress is a main cause of liver imbalance.

5. Chinese herbal medicine may be used alone or together with WM for abdominal pain.

If you have questions about getting a TCM abdominal pain diagnosis or Chinese herbal treatment let me know via the Contact button.

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