Gan Jiang Rhizoma Zingiberis officinalis

Bai Zhu Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae

Dang Shen Radix Codonopsis pilosulae

Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis

Explanation

This remedy tonifies Spleen-Yang and expels Cold from the abdomen. It is effective in
abdominal pain from Deficient-Cold.

The tongue presentation appropriate to this remedy is a Pale and wet tongue.

Prognosis and Prevention

Both acupuncture and Chinese herbs are very effective in abdominal pain. Acupuncture on its
own can treat the patterns of stagnation of Qi, Cold in the Intestines and Qi deficiency with
Empty-Cold very effectively. The other three patterns of Damp-Heat in the Intestines, retention
of food and stasis of Blood also respond to acupuncture, but better results are obtained with
herbal medicine or a combination of the two.

The easiest pattern to treat is that of stagnation of Qi, and the most difficult ones are those of
Damp-Heat and stasis of Blood in the Intestines.

Other factors influencing the prognosis have to be based on the Western diagnosis. If the
abdominal pain is caused by ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, the course of treatment will be
very protracted indeed and it may take up to 2 years to effect a cure.

As for prevention, any patient who is prone to abdominal pain or has been cured of one, should
follow certain precautions. In terms of diet, patients should avoid eating an excessive amount of
cold-energy foods as these would aggravate not only Cold in the Intestines but also stagnation of
Qi, Qi deficiency, stasis of Blood and retention of food. In particular, they should avoid drinking
large amounts of cold drinks.

Moderate exercise is essential; this is especially important if the patient has been suffering from
abdominal pain from Qi or Blood stagnation, but it will also alleviate Dampness and retention of
food. The patient should also avoid sleeping for a long time (more than half an hour) after lunch
as this tends to increase Dampness in the Intestines. However, a short nap (under half an hour)
after lunch (a habit very rare in Anglo-Saxon countries, but quite common in Latin countries and
in Asia) is beneficial to the Stomach. Patients should also avoid eating an excessive amount of