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.
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Epigastric pain 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 epigastric pain 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 epigastric pain is often associated with nausea, vomiting and irritability in the pattern “Stomach Qi Stagnation”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause epigastric pain.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of epigastric pain 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 epigastric pain.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause epigastric pain
In Chinese Medicine epigastric pain is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
In addition to epigastric pain, other symptoms associated with Stomach Qi Stagnation include nausea, vomiting and irritability.
Stomach Qi Stagnation is often treated with Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that promote qi movement", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Regulates the flow of Qi, treats esophageal spasm".
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to epigastric pain, other symptoms associated with Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach include irritability, sour regurgitation and belching.
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach is often treated with Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Inula Flowers - Xuan Fu Hua - as a key herb). Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang belongs to the category of "formulas for a rebellious qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Regulates the downward flow of Stomach Qi".
Read more about Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach here
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm Heat in the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Yellow coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
In addition to epigastric pain, other symptoms associated with Phlegm Heat in the Lungs include chest pain, constipation and feeling of heat.
Phlegm Heat in the Lungs is often treated with Wen Dan Tang, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Wen Dan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Hot-Phlegm".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Stomach Yin Deficiency causes Dryness and Heat, which harms the Organ's ability of receiving and ripening foods and drinks. It is the result of prolonged unbalanced diet and irregular eating habits.
In addition to epigastric pain, other symptoms associated with Stomach Yin Deficiency include poor appetite, constipation and dry mouth.
Stomach Yin Deficiency is often treated with Mai Men Dong Tang, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Dwarf Lilyturf Roots - Mai Dong - as a key herb). Mai Men Dong Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that enrich yin and moisten dryness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Stomach".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat invading the Spleen
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
In addition to epigastric pain, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat invading the Spleen include poor appetite, feeling of heaviness and thirst without a desire to drink.
Damp-Heat invading the Spleen is often treated with Lian Po Yin, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Goldthread Rhizomes - Huang Lian - as a key herb). Lian Po Yin belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat".
Five herbal formulas that might help with epigastric pain
Zuo Jin Wan
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Clears Liver Heat. Directs Rebellious Qi downward. Stops vomiting.
Why might Zuo Jin Wan help with epigastric pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Qi Stagnation' of which epigastric pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Stomach Qi Stagnation include nausea, vomiting and irritability.
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Regulates the flow of Qi, treats esophageal spasm. Clears Phlegm.
Why might Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang help with epigastric pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach' of which epigastric pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Rebellious Liver Qi Invading The Stomach include irritability, sour regurgitation and belching.
Wen Dan Tang
Source date: 1174 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Hot-Phlegm. Clears Gallbladder heat. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Wen Dan Tang help with epigastric pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm Heat in the Lungs' of which epigastric pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm Heat In The Lungs include chest pain, constipation and feeling of heat.
Mai Men Dong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Stomach. Generates Body Fluids. Directs Rebellious Qi downward.
Why might Mai Men Dong Tang help with epigastric pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' of which epigastric pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Stomach Yin Deficiency include poor appetite, constipation and dry mouth.
Lian Po Yin
Source date: 1862 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Transforms Dampness. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Middle Burner.
Why might Lian Po Yin help with epigastric pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat invading the Spleen' of which epigastric pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Damp-Heat Invading The Spleen include poor appetite, feeling of heaviness and thirst without a desire to drink.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat epigastric pain
Why might Evodia Fruit (Wu Zhu Yu) help with epigastric pain?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat epigastric pain and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat epigastric pain as a symptom (such as Zuo Jin Wan for instance).
Evodia Fruits is a Hot herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen, expels Cold, relieves pain and helps the Liver. Directs Rebellious Qi downward
Why might Crow-Dipper Rhizome (Ban Xia) help with epigastric pain?
Because Crow-Dipper Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat epigastric pain as a symptom, like Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang or Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Drains Dampness and reduces Phlegm. Reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi. Reduces hardenings and relieves distention.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with epigastric pain?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat epigastric pain as a symptom, like Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang or Er Chen Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
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 Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with epigastric pain?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat epigastric pain as a symptom, like Ding Xiang Shi Di Tang or Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with epigastric pain?
Because Ginseng is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat epigastric pain as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Si Mo Tang for instance.
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit).
Other symptoms often associated with epigastric pain
Poor appetite Nausea Chest pain Constipation Vomiting Irritability Dry mouth Bleeding gums Dry stools Sour regurgitation