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 purple lips in the pattern “/tcm-education-center/patterns/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 /tcm-education-center/patterns/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 /tcm-education-center/patterns/blood-stagnation include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and purple lips.
From a Western Medicine standpoint /tcm-education-center/patterns/blood-stagnation is associated with health issues such as Scanty Menstruation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding or Heavy Menstruation.
/tcm-education-center/patterns/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".
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple sides
Liver Blood Stagnation usually develops from Qi Stagnation, Cold and Heat. It has great influence over the Directing and Penetrating Vessels and thus the menstruation functions.
In addition to abdominal masses, other symptoms associated with /tcm-education-center/patterns/liver-blood-stagnation include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and irregular menstruation.
/tcm-education-center/patterns/liver-blood-stagnation is often treated with Xiao Yao San, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Bupleurum Roots - Chai Hu - as a key herb). Xiao Yao San belongs to the category of "formulas that harmonize liver-spleen", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Harmonizes the function of Liver and Spleen".
Five herbal formulas that might help with abdominal masses
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 '/tcm-education-center/patterns/blood-stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Clears Stagnant Heat in the intestines. Reduces swelling and disperses lumps.
Why might Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/blood-stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes Blood and lymphatic circulation, thus eleminates Blood Stagnation. Softens and resolves hard lumps such as cysts and fibroids.
Why might Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/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 '/tcm-education-center/patterns/liver-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 '/tcm-education-center/patterns/liver-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 Safflower (Hong Hua) help with abdominal masses?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat abdominal masses and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat abdominal masses as a symptom (such as Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang for instance).
Safflowers is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Moves Stagnant Blood and regulates menses. Relieves pain caused by Blood Stasis.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with abdominal masses?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat abdominal masses as a symptom, like Tao He Cheng Qi Tang or Xiao Yao San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Peach Kernel (Tao Ren) help with abdominal masses?
Because Peach Kernel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat abdominal masses as a symptom, like Tao He Cheng Qi Tang or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Peach Kernels is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Large intestine and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Moves Blood and breaks up Stasis. Moistens the Intestines. Relieves coughing.
Why might Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong) help with abdominal masses?
Because Szechuan Lovage Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat abdominal masses as a symptom, like Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang or Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Szechuan Lovage Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Gallbladder, the Liver and the Pericardium.
Its main actions are: Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with abdominal masses?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat abdominal masses as a symptom, like Xiao Yao San or Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Other symptoms often associated with abdominal masses
Painful period Dark clots in menstrual blood Irregular menstruation Amenorrhea Purple lips Purple nails Abdominal pain Lochia retention Blotchy skin Dark face