Abdominal masses according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Abdominal masses can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like abdominal masses here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here abdominal masses is often associated with painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and abdominal pain in the pattern “Blood Stagnation”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause abdominal masses.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of abdominal masses we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat abdominal masses.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause abdominal masses
In Chinese Medicine abdominal masses is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Blood Stagnation
Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Firm (Lao), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Reddish-Purple
Blood Stagnation, like the name indicates, is when Blood flow becomes Stagnant. It can happen in the whole body or in specific Organs. It is one of the most important diagnostic conditions in Chinese Medicine because it is frequently the cause of intractable pain syndromes anywhere in the body.
In addition to abdominal masses, other symptoms associated with Blood Stagnation include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and abdominal pain.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blood Stagnation is associated with health issues such as Scanty Menstruation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding or Heavy Menstruation.
Blood Stagnation is often treated with Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Tao He Cheng Qi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dispels Heat and".
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a formula used for Qi And Blood Stagnation
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
In addition to abdominal masses, other symptoms associated with Qi And Blood Stagnation include painful period, amenorrhea and dark clots in menstrual blood.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Qi And Blood Stagnation is associated with health issues such as Menstrual Cramps, Absence Of Menstruation or Menopausal Syndrome.
Qi And Blood Stagnation is often treated with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Invigorates the Blood".
Five herbal formulas that might help with abdominal masses
Dan Shen Yin
Source date: 1801 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation . Promote Qi movement . Relieves pain .
Why might Dan Shen Yin help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Blood. Eliminates Blood Stagnation below the diaphragm. Stops pain. Promotes Qi movement.
Why might Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Source date: 1602
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood. Alleviates pain. Harmonizes Blood.
Why might Chai Hu Shu Gan San help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Shi Xiao San
Source date: 1108 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Blood. Dispels Blood Stagnation. Eases pain.
Why might Shi Xiao San help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Dispels Heat and. Eliminates Blood Stagnation.
Why might Tao He Cheng Qi Tang help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for abdominal masses
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat abdominal masses
Why might Green Tangerine Peel (Qing Pi) help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a herb specifically indicated to treat abdominal masses as can be seen on Green Tangerine Peel's page.
Green Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Gallbladder, the Stomach and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Smooths the flow of Liver Qi and releases Stagnation. Reduces Food Stagnation. Dries Damp and reduces Phlegm.
Why might Softshell Turtle Shell (Bie Jia) help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a herb specifically indicated to treat abdominal masses as can be seen on Softshell Turtle Shell's page.
Softshell Turtle Shells is a Neutral herb that tastes Salty. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Nourishes Yin and subdues exuberant Yang. Resolves hardness.
Why might Ground Beetle (Tu Bie Chong) help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a herb specifically indicated to treat abdominal masses as can be seen on Ground Beetle's page.
Ground Beetles is a Cold herb that tastes Salty. It targets the Liver.
Its main actions are: Breaks and removes Blood Stagnation, invigorates Blood.
Why might Chinese Tulip Bulb (Shan Ci Gu) help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a herb specifically indicated to treat abdominal masses as can be seen on Chinese Tulip Bulb 's page.
Chinese Tulip Bulbs is a Cool herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and toxicity. Dissipates nodules and abscesses.
Why might Tabanus Horsefly (Meng Chong) help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a herb specifically indicated to treat abdominal masses as can be seen on Tabanus Horsefly's page.
Tabanus Horseflies is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Liver.
Its main actions are: Removes Blood Stagnation so as to unblock Blood vessels and reduce abdominal masses. Promotes heeling of injury and stops pain.
Other symptoms often associated with abdominal masses
Painful period Amenorrhea Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal pain Irregular menstruation Purple lips Purple nails Lochia retention Blotchy skin Dark face