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 “Blood Stagnation”. As you will see below, we have in record four 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 four 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 four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause abdominal masses
In Chinese Medicine abdominal masses is a symptom for 4 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 purple lips.
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, dark clots in menstrual blood and irregular menstruation.
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".
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 Liver Blood Stagnation include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and irregular menstruation.
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".
The Triple Burner is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Triple Burner in Chinese Medicine
Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner caused by Cold
In addition to abdominal masses, other symptoms associated with Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner caused by Cold include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and lower abdominal pain.
Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner caused by Cold is often treated with Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Szechuan Lovage Roots - Chuan Xiong - as a key herb). Shao 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: "Expels Cold and warm the menstruation Blood".
Read more about Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner caused by Cold here
Four herbal formulas that might help with abdominal masses
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 'Blood Stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Blood Stagnation include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and purple lips.
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood. Dispels blood Stagnation. Spreads the Liver Qi. Unblocks the channels.
Why might Xue Fu 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.
Other symptoms characteristic of Qi And Blood Stagnation include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and irregular menstruation.
Xiao Yao San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Harmonizes the function of Liver and Spleen. Relieves Liver Qi stagnation. Nourishes the Blood.
Why might Xiao Yao San help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Blood Stagnation' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Blood Stagnation include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and irregular menstruation.
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Expels Cold and warm the menstruation Blood. Stops pain. Invigorates Blood. Dispels Blood stagnation.
Why might Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang help with abdominal masses?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner caused by Cold' of which abdominal masses is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Blood Stagnation In The Lower Burner Caused By Cold include painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and lower abdominal pain.
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 Purple lips Purple nails Abdominal pain Lochia retention Amenorrhea Blotchy skin Dark face