Stomach Pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different stomach pain patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Stomach pain, widely referred to as gastralgia or gastrodynia, is a discomfort or ache localized in the abdominal region. This term encompasses various conditions, from mild cramps and slight bellyaches to severe gastric discomfort. Sub-symptoms under this broad category can include chronic stomach pain, highlighting the diverse manifestations of stomach issues. Such pain is a signal from the body that something is amiss, either physically or, as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) suggests, energetically.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets stomach pain through the lens of energy imbalance and disharmony within the body's internal systems. Unlike the symptom-focused approach of Western medicine, TCM aims to identify the underlying pattern of disharmony causing the pain.
According to TCM, pain is often a manifestation of disrupted Qi flow or imbalances in the body's Yin and Yang. Identifying the specific pattern is crucial in TCM, as it informs the bespoke treatment strategy designed to rebalance the body's energies and alleviate the symptom.
Herbal Formulas for Stomach Pain
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address stomach pain