periods and, even more so, after childbirth.
Cold contracts tissues and causes retardation of Qi and Blood, thus causing pain. Invasion of the
Intestines by Cold is characterized by abdominal pain with a sudden onset and diarrhoea.
Dampness also invades the Intestines easily, entering the channels of the leg and flowing up
towards the abdomen. Dampness obstructs the circulation of Qi in the abdomen and, besides the
Intestines themselves, affects Spleen and Liver. This causes abdominal pain, a feeling of fullness
and heaviness and possibly diarrhoea. The tongue coating will be thick and sticky and the pulse
Slippery.
Dampness may combine with Cold or Heat. Invasion of external Damp-Heat is common in
summertime even in northern countries such as Britain or the northern United States, but is, of
course, even more common in southern European countries and the South of the USA.
Emotional Stress
Emotional stress has a deep influence on the circulation of Qi and Blood in the abdomen,
particularly affecting the Liver and Spleen.
Anger (using this term in a broad sense which includes frustration and resentment) may cause
stagnation of Liver-Qi in the Intestines and thus abdominal pain. This is a very frequent
emotional cause of abdominal pain.
Pensiveness and worry affect the Spleen and Lungs. The Spleen is responsible for transforming
and moving food essences in the Intestines, while Lung-Qi helps the Qi of the Intestines to
descend. Pensiveness and worry impair the proper transformation of Spleen-Qi and the descent
of Lung-Qi towards the Intestines. Both these conditions may cause abdominal pain.
Improper Diet
Diet has of course a profound influence on the Intestines. Excessive consumption of cold and
raw foods and ice-cold drinks weakens Spleen-Yang and leads to the formation of internal Cold.
Cold contracts the Intestines and leads to stagnation of Qi and/or Blood which causes abdominal
pain.
Excessive consumption of dairy foods and greasy foods leads to the formation of Dampness
which obstructs the functions of the Spleen and Intestines: this causes abdominal pain. Excessive
consumption of hot and spicy foods and alcohol may lead to Heat or Damp-Heat in the
Intestines, which also causes abdominal pain.
Apart from the actual diet, eating habits also have a profound influence on the intestinal