Lumps 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.
Lumps 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 lumps 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 lumps is often associated with dizziness, traumatic swelling and blotchy skin in the pattern “Blood Stagnation”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of lumps 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 lumps.
Blood Stagnation, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause lumps
In Chinese Medicine lumps is a symptom for the pattern "Blood Stagnation". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Blood Stagnation
Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Firm (Lao), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Reddish-Purple
Blood Stagnation, like the name indicates, is when Blood flow becomes Stagnant. It can happen in the whole body or in specific Organs. It is one of the most important diagnostic conditions in Chinese Medicine because it is frequently the cause of intractable pain syndromes anywhere in the body.
In addition to lumps, other symptoms associated with Blood Stagnation include dizziness, traumatic swelling and blotchy skin.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blood Stagnation is associated with health issues such as Scanty Menstruation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding or Heavy Menstruation.
Blood Stagnation 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".
Five herbal formulas that might help with lumps
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 lumps?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which lumps is a symptom.
Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Clears Stagnant Heat in the intestines. Reduces swelling and disperses lumps.
Why might Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang help with lumps?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which lumps is a symptom.
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes Blood and lymphatic circulation, thus eleminates Blood Stagnation. Softens and resolves hard lumps such as cysts and fibroids.
Why might Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan help with lumps?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which lumps is a symptom.
Di Dang Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation .
Why might Di Dang Tang help with lumps?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which lumps is a symptom.
Dan Shen Yin
Source date: 1801 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation . Promote Qi movement . Relieves pain .
Why might Dan Shen Yin help with lumps?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which lumps is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat lumps
Why might Mirabilite (Mang Xiao) help with lumps?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat lumps and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat lumps as a symptom (such as Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang for instance).
Mirabilites is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter and Salty. It targets the Stomach and the Large intestine.
Its main actions are: Purges Stagnation in the Intestines caused by Heat and Dryness, Cools Heat and abates swelling
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with lumps?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lumps as a symptom, like Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan or Wu Ling San for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with lumps?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lumps as a symptom, like Er Chen Tang or Tao He Cheng Qi Tang 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 Crow-Dipper Rhizome (Ban Xia) help with lumps?
Because Crow-Dipper Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lumps as a symptom, like Er Chen Tang or Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang for instance.
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Drains Dampness and reduces Phlegm. Reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi. Reduces hardenings and relieves distention.
Why might Peach Kernel (Tao Ren) help with lumps?
Because Peach Kernel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lumps as a symptom, like Tao He Cheng Qi Tang or Di Dang Tang for instance.
Peach Kernels is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Large intestine and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Moves Blood and breaks up Stasis. Moistens the Intestines. Relieves coughing.
Other symptoms often associated with lumps
Swellings Dizziness Constipation Appendicitis Feeling of oppression of the chest Traumatic swelling Blotchy skin Itching scalp Skin capillaries Shoulder stiffness