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.
Dragging down feeling of abdomen 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 dragging down feeling of abdomen 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 dragging down feeling of abdomen is often associated with back pain, frequent urination and weakness and aching in the knees in the pattern “Kidney Qi not Firm”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of dragging down feeling of abdomen we’ve identified two 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 dragging down feeling of abdomen.
Kidney Qi not Firm, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause dragging down feeling of abdomen
In Chinese Medicine dragging down feeling of abdomen is a symptom for the pattern "Kidney Qi not Firm". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Qi not Firm
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Kidney Qi not Firm means Kidney Qi Deficiency. Two characteristics are typical in this pattern. Firstly, it is a type of Kidney Yang Deficiency with the associated Cold symptoms. Secondly, it is a type of sinking of Kidneys Qi, thus with many ‘leaking’ downwards symptoms.
In addition to dragging down feeling of abdomen, other symptoms associated with Kidney Qi not Firm include back pain, frequent urination and weakness and aching in the knees.
Kidney Qi not Firm is often treated with You Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). You Gui Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm yang and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang".
Two herbal formulas that might help with dragging down feeling of abdomen
Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan
Source date: 1682 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Stabilizes the Kidneys. Binds up the semen.
Why might Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan help with dragging down feeling of abdomen?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which dragging down feeling of abdomen is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Qi Not Firm include back pain, frequent urination and weakness and aching in the knees.
Fu Tu Dan
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Stabilizes the Kidney Qi. Strengthens the Spleen. Stops leakage.
Why might Fu Tu Dan help with dragging down feeling of abdomen?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which dragging down feeling of abdomen is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Qi Not Firm include back pain, frequent urination and weakness and aching in the knees.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat dragging down feeling of abdomen
Why might Lotus Seed (Lian Zi) help with dragging down feeling of abdomen?
Because Lotus Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dragging down feeling of abdomen as a symptom, like Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan or Fu Tu Dan for instance.
Lotus Seeds is a Neutral herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen, stops diarrhea. Strengthens the Kidneys, reinforces Essence. Nourishes the Blood and calms the mind.
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with dragging down feeling of abdomen?
Because Cuscuta Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dragging down feeling of abdomen as a symptom, like Fu Tu Dan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Cuscuta Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver.
Why might Eucommia Bark (Du Zhong) help with dragging down feeling of abdomen?
Because Eucommia Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dragging down feeling of abdomen as a symptom, like Qing E Wan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Eucommia Bark is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys. Calms ascendant Liver Yang (hypertension/high blood pressure). Calms a restless fetus.
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with dragging down feeling of abdomen?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dragging down feeling of abdomen as a symptom, like Fu Tu Dan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Why might Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) help with dragging down feeling of abdomen?
Because it is a key herb in You Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' (a pattern with dragging down feeling of abdomen as a symptom)
Cinnamon Bark is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and Kidneys and tonifies the Yang. Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, promotes circulation of Qi and Blood and relieves pain. Used with tonics to assist in the generation of Qi and Blood.
Other symptoms often associated with dragging down feeling of abdomen
Back pain Frequent urination Weakness and aching in the knees Nocturnal emissions Premature ejaculation Sore lower back Weak lower back Abundant urination Enuresis Fatigue