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 and weakness of the lower extremities 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 and weakness of the lower extremities.
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
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui 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 and weakness of the lower extremities.
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 and weakness of the lower extremities.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat lower abdominal pressure
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower abdominal pressure as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Raises the collapse of Yang. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold. Reduces Damp caused by Deficiency in Yang.
Why might Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Mudan Peony Bark 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.
Mudan Peony Bark is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, activates Blood circulation and resolves Blood stasis.
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 Jia Wei Xiao Yao San or Er Xian Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
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 Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Cuscuta Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lower abdominal pressure as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Cuscuta Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver.
Why might Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with lower abdominal pressure?
Because Water Plantain 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.
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
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