Hypogastric fullness 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.
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".
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood
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".
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other symptoms often associated with hypogastric fullness
Blood in urine Burning urination Dark Urine Fever Hypogastric distention Restlessness Feeling of heaviness in urethra Pale urine Thirst with no desire to drink Feeling of heat