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.
Lower abdominal pressure 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 lower abdominal pressure 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 lower abdominal pressure is often associated with lower back pain, weakness of the lower extremities and cold sensation in the lower half of the body in the pattern “Kidney Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause lower abdominal pressure.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of lower abdominal pressure we’ve identified three 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 lower abdominal pressure.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause lower abdominal pressure
In Chinese Medicine lower abdominal pressure is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness.
In addition to lower abdominal pressure, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, weakness of the lower extremities and cold sensation in the lower half of the body.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Yang".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat
In addition to lower abdominal pressure, other symptoms associated with Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat include irritability, spontaneous sweating and red eyes.
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat is often treated with Jia Wei Xiao Yao San, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Bupleurum Roots - Chai Hu - as a key herb). Jia Wei 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: "Clears Liver and Spleen Qi Stagnation".
Read more about Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat here
Three herbal formulas that might help with lower abdominal pressure
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Why might Ba Wei Di Huang Wan help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which lower abdominal pressure is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, weakness of the lower extremities and cold sensation in the lower half of the body.
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Source date: Ming dynasty
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Clears Liver and Spleen Qi Stagnation. Tonifies Spleen. Clears Deficient Heat. Nourishes the blood.
Why might Jia Wei Xiao Yao San help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat' of which lower abdominal pressure is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Liver Qi Stagnation With Spleen Qi Deficiency That Transforms Into Heat include irritability, spontaneous sweating and red eyes.
Shen Qi Wan
Why might Shen Qi Wan help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which lower abdominal pressure is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, weakness of the lower extremities and cold sensation in the lower half of the body.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat lower abdominal pressure
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower abdominal pressure as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower abdominal pressure as a symptom, like Jia Wei Xiao Yao San or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower abdominal pressure as a symptom, like Er Xian Tang or Jia Wei Xiao Yao San for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Liver.
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.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower abdominal pressure as a symptom, like Shen Qi Wan or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower abdominal pressure as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Cornelian Cherries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Preserves and tonifies the Kidney, Liver and Essence. Stops sweating and benefits the Yang and Qi. Assists menstruation and stops bleeding.
Other symptoms often associated with lower abdominal pressure
Irritability Spontaneous sweating Red eyes Dry mouth Palpitations Painful urination Heavy periods Abnormal uterine bleeding Tidal fever Lower back pain