Hypogastric fullness according to Chinese Medicine

Hypogastric fullness 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 hypogastric fullness 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 hypogastric fullness is often associated with feeling of heaviness in urethra and pale urine in the pattern “Damp-Cold in the Bladder”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause hypogastric fullness.

Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of hypogastric fullness 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 hypogastric fullness.

The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause hypogastric fullness

In Chinese Medicine hypogastric fullness is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.

The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine

Damp-Cold in the Bladder

Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Slow (Chi)

In addition to hypogastric fullness, other symptoms associated with Damp-Cold in the Bladder include feeling of heaviness in urethra and pale urine.

Damp-Cold in the Bladder is often treated with Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Chinese Pink Herbs - Qu Mai - as a key herb). Ba Zheng San 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 and Fire".

Read more about Damp-Cold in the Bladder here

Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood

Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)

In addition to hypogastric fullness, other symptoms associated with Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood include blood in urine, hypogastric distention and restlessness.

Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood 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".

Read more about Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood here

The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine

Damp-Heat in the Liver

Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)

Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Yellow coating

Tongue color: Red

This pattern is caused by excessive Heat in the Liver and Dampness due to Spleen Deficiency. Dampness can cause the formation of Phlegm.  Patients often have a feeling of fullness. It is often caused by bad diet and lifestyle, hot and damp environment and emotional stress such as anger.

In addition to hypogastric fullness, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Liver include burning urination, dark urine and fever.

Damp-Heat in the Liver is often treated with Long Dan Xie Gan Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Chinese Gentian - Long Dan Cao - as a key herb). Long Dan Xie Gan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat from the organs", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder".

Read more about Damp-Heat in the Liver here

Five herbal formulas that might help with hypogastric fullness

Ba Zheng San

Source date: 1107 AD

Number of ingredients: 9 herbs

Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire. Promotes urination. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling.

Why might Ba Zheng San help with hypogastric fullness?

Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Cold in the Bladder' of which feeling of heaviness in the hypogastrium is a symptom.

Read more about Ba Zheng San here

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 hypogastric fullness?

Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood' of which hypogastric fullness is a symptom.

Read more about Tao He Cheng Qi Tang here

Wu Lin San

Source date: 1107 AD

Number of ingredients: 5 herbs

Key actions: Clears heat. Cools the Blood. Promotes urination. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling.

Why might Wu Lin San help with hypogastric fullness?

Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Cold in the Bladder' of which feeling of heaviness in the hypogastrium is a symptom.

Read more about Wu Lin San here

Shi Wei San

Source date: 1687 AD

Number of ingredients: 5 herbs

Key actions: Clears heat. Promotes the resolution of Dampness. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling. Expels stones.

Why might Shi Wei San help with hypogastric fullness?

Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Cold in the Bladder' of which feeling of heaviness in the hypogastrium is a symptom.

Read more about Shi Wei San here

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang

Source date: 1682 AD

Number of ingredients: 10 herbs

Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears and drains Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner.

Why might Long Dan Xie Gan Tang help with hypogastric fullness?

Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Liver' of which hypogastrium fullness is a symptom.

Read more about Long Dan Xie Gan Tang here

Acupuncture points used for hypogastric fullness

The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat hypogastric fullness

Why might Cape Jasmine Fruit (Zhi Zi) help with hypogastric fullness?

Because Cape Jasmine Fruit is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hypogastric fullness as a symptom, like Wu Lin San or Yin Chen Hao Tang for instance.

Cape Jasmine Fruits is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Lung and the Sanjiao.

Its main actions are: Clears Heat and calms spirit. Drains Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears Heat in the Blood and stops bleeding. Anti-inflammatory.

Read more about Cape Jasmine Fruits here

Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with hypogastric fullness?

Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hypogastric fullness as a symptom, like Liu Yi San or Wu Lin 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.

Read more about Liquorice here

Why might Talc (Hua Shi) help with hypogastric fullness?

Because Talc is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hypogastric fullness as a symptom, like Liu Yi San or Ba Zheng San for instance.

Talc is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Stomach.

Its main actions are: Encourages urination. Expels Damp-Heat from the Urinary Bladder. Dispels Summer Heat. Dries Dampness when applied topically.

Read more about Talc here

Why might Plantain Seed (Che Qian Zi) help with hypogastric fullness?

Because Plantain Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hypogastric fullness as a symptom, like Ba Zheng San or Shi Wei San for instance.

Plantain Seeds is a Cool herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver, the Lung and the Small intestine.

Its main actions are: Encourages urination and clears Heat. Stops diarrhea by expelling water through urination. Brightens the eyes, used in combination either for Deficiency or Heat. Reduces inflammation of infections. Arrests cough and expectorates Phlegm.

Read more about Plantain Seeds here

Why might Chinese Pink Herb (Qu Mai) help with hypogastric fullness?

Because Chinese Pink Herb is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hypogastric fullness as a symptom, like Ba Zheng San or Shi Wei San for instance.

Chinese Pink Herbs is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder, the Heart and the Small intestine.

Its main actions are: Encourages urination and expels Damp-Heat. Dissolves Blood Stasis and assists blocked menstruation.

Read more about Chinese Pink Herbs here