In Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM, disharmonies of the stomach energy, or qi, can manifest as difficulty with appetite or digestion, bloating, nausea and vomiting, as well as epigastric pain and distension. "A Manual of Acupuncture" describes these symptoms as well as the points to help alleviate stomach discomfort, which can be manipulated with needles or with acupressure. Acupressure is often just as effective, and it is particularly helpful if you are needle-shy.
Role of the Stomach in TCM
The role of the stomach in TCM theory is relatively similar to the western medical view--that one of its main duties is to digest food and drink. According to "A Manual of Acupuncture" and tcm.health-info.org, the stomach is considered a yang organ, and it also governs the downward movement of qi, or energy, from the digesting food to the intestine. Thus, when vomiting or belching happens, the stomach's energy is going in the wrong direction, giving rise to the TCM term "rebellious stomach qi." The stomach is linked to its yin counterpart, the spleen, and oftentimes complications in one channel can manifest symptoms in the other. "A Manual of Acupuncture" states that stomach dysfunctions can be treated through manipulation of spleen meridian points as well as stomach meridian points.
Differentiation of Stomach Pain
Although you may think that stomach pain is exclusive, meaning that its causes are solely stomach-related, it often manifests in subtly different ways. These differences can be very important in determining the correct points to manipulate during an acupressure treatment. According to acupuncture.com, the most common causes of stomach discomfort are immoderate eating and drinking, emotional upsets, psychic trauma, over-strain and affection of cold. If you suffer from pain that comes on suddenly and is alleviated with warmth and warm drinks then you may have retention of cold in the stomach. The "Chinese Bodywork" manual describes pain that comes from improperly digested food as manifesting with a feeling of fullness or distention of the stomach, acid indigestion and even vomiting. The book also mentions that pain accompanied with emotional upset, anger and nervousness can actually stem from a concurrent liver dysfunction.
Acupressure for Stomach Pain with Cold Retention
"Chinese Bodywork" recommends acupressure techniques that will warm the channel, such as deep pressing, kneading, rubbing, pushing and revolving, depending on the area of the point. The stomach meridian begins on the face and continues down the front of the body. "A Manual of Acupuncture" lists points that can alleviate stomach pain, with some important points located vertically along a line halfway between the navel and the outside border of the abdominal muscles, with the points residing about 1-inch apart. This entire line can be pressed or pushed, according to "Chinese Bodywork," in a downward direction. Other good points for stomach pain with cold include spleen 4, which is located on the inside of the foot, in the depression below the base of the first metatarsal bone.
Acupressure for Food Retention
That feeling of pain with fullness in the stomach can be alleviated by gently using the palms to vibrate bladder points 20 and 21, which are located on the back. "A Manual of Acupuncture" says that bladder 20 is located even with the 11th thoracic vertebra, in the center of the erector spinae muscles that run the length of the back. Bladder 21 is one vertebra downward, even with the 12th thoracic vertebra. Additionally, "Chinese Bodywork" recommends stimulating stomach points 36 and 41. Stomach 36 is located in the depression just outside the crest of the tibia bone, about 3 inches below the knee cap. Stomach 41 can be found on the ankle, level with the outer ankle bone, in between the two tendons that are prominent when the foot is flexed.
Stomach Pain with Anger
Anger is often an indication of liver dysfunction, therefore acupressure treatments may include liver meridian points. "Chinese Bodywork" recommends dispersing liver energy by using the arm and revolving the middle abdomen as well as using a gentle chopping motion with the palms on the back and legs. Stimulating liver points 2 and 3 as well as stomach 36 is also recommended. Liver 2 is located on the foot, in between the big and second toes, just above the skin webbing. Liver 3 is also situated in between the big and first toes, but in between the first and second metatarsals.
An Overall Point for Stomach Pain
There is one point that "A Manual of Acupuncture" recommends for every treatement of stomach pain, and it can be pressed or gently pushed. Ren 12 is located on the midline of the stomach, halfway between the belly button and the sternocostal angle. The sternocostal angle can be found by following the interior border of the rib cage upward until it reaches the sternum, or breast bone. The angle where the two meet is considered the sternocostal angle.
References
- "A Manual of Acupuncture"; Deadman, P and Al-Khafaji, M; 2001
- Role of Stomach in TCM
- Differentiation of Stomach Pain from acupuncture.com
- "Chinese Bodywork"; Chengnan, S; 2000
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