Traditional Chinese medicine methods for treating stomach pain.

1. Stomach pain from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Stomach pain is becoming increasingly common in recent years due to unhealthy eating habits, life stress, and improper rest.

When suffering from stomach pain, patients will experience symptoms such as: pain in the upper abdomen; poor appetite, body weakness; heartburn; vomiting and nausea; gastrointestinal bleeding…

There are many causes of stomach pain, including common ones such as irregular eating habits, overeating, being too hungry, stress, Helicobacter Pylori (HP) infection, use of certain medications such as corticosteroids, fever reducers, painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), irregular lifestyle, alcohol consumption, smoking, frequently staying up late, and stomach diseases such as gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

When experiencing stomach pain, patients should seek medical attention from gastroenterologists for timely and targeted treatment, avoiding self-treatment which can lead to dangerous complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach perforation, gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer.

Stomach pain is a fairly common symptom these days.

According to Dr. Nguyen Quang Duong, Head of the Oncology Department at Tue Tinh Hospital, stomach pain has many causes: anxiety and stress damaging the liver, overwork, irregular eating and drinking habits damaging the spleen and stomach, cold deficiency, blood stasis, etc. All of these causes can lead to stomach pain symptoms.

Stomach pain, also known as epigastric pain or stomach pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine, manifests as pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes dull or intense, fluctuating in intensity, accompanied by bloating, belching, heartburn, and a burning sensation in the stomach.

Turmeric has long been a valuable remedy for relieving stomach pain.

2. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments for Stomach Pain

According to MSc. Dr. Nguyen Quang Duong, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers numerous remedies for stomach pain. Depending on the cause and symptoms of stomach pain, TCM practitioners will prescribe appropriate treatments.

2.1. Remedies and herbs for treating stomach pain

- Stomach pain caused by excess heat in the stomach falls under the category of epigastric pain:Stomach heat is a condition where heat pathogens enter the stomach meridian or accumulate heat from food and drink, affecting the stomach. If left untreated, it not only causes epigastric pain but also leads to abnormal digestive symptoms such as bloating, nausea, belching, heartburn, bad breath, burning sensation in the throat, loss of appetite, and indigestion.

In this case, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use prescriptions such as: modified Ta Huang Yin; modified Qing Re Jiu Yin…

- Stomach pain due to deficiency of stomach qi:This is mostly due to insufficient vital energy, impaired digestive function of the spleen and stomach, affecting overall health and nutrition.

Honey helps treat stomach pain.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, if you experience dull, gnawing abdominal pain that temporarily subsides after eating, along with shortness of breath and poor appetite, it indicates "deficiency of stomach qi." Frequent pain and discomfort in the flanks and ribs are due to "deficiency of liver qi invading the stomach." A lack of appetite and inability to taste food indicates "severe deficiency of stomach qi." Frequent vomiting or regurgitation after eating is due to "weak stomach qi combined with stagnation."

The causes are mostly due to irregular eating habits, physical exhaustion and weakness, and external pathogens damaging the stomach's vital energy, leading to illness.

Treatment: Strengthen the spleen and harmonize the stomach. Patients should eat soft, easily digestible foods at regular times, and avoid excessive worry and stress that could affect the spleen and stomach.

Possible prescriptions include: Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang; Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang (modified); Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (modified)...

Traditional Vietnamese medicine also offers many herbal remedies to alleviate stomach pain symptoms, such as turmeric, honey, cuttlefish bone, *Rhizoma Coptidis*, *Cynanchum stauntonii*, and *Polygonum multiflorum*.

2.2. Nutritional support for treating stomach pain

In addition, nutrition plays a crucial role in reducing stomach pain symptoms. People with stomach pain should eat fruits such as avocados, apples, ripe papayas, etc.; drink coconut water, Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea, chamomile tea, aloe vera juice, etc.; and eat vegetables such as perilla leaves, dill, mustard greens, cauliflower, parsley, etc.

It is necessary to avoid eating too much fried food, spicy food, sour food, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or using stimulants.

The leaves of the Khôi plant are a medicinal herb that helps relieve stomach pain.

2.3 Acupressure to help treat stomach pain

In addition, people with stomach pain can combine massage and acupressure techniques to help treat the pain.

2.4 Other notes

Patients with stomach problems should note the following points to reduce stomach pain:

Eat slowly, chew thoroughly.Avoid lying down after eating; exercise immediately.Reduce tension, balance life, and minimize stress.Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, and limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, and fever reducers.Avoid eating foods that are harmful to the stomach, such as hard-to-digest foods, foods that irritate the stomach lining like sour, spicy, or hot foods, coffee, strong tea, raw garlic, etc.Maintain a healthy and moderate lifestyle, and reduce envy and jealousy.Regular exercise...