sour foods: these have already been listed in the chapter on "Headaches" (Chapter 1).

Finally, women who regularly practise meditation should not do so in a sitting position as this
tends to increase (or cause) stagnation of Qi or Blood in the Lower Burner. However, meditation
in a standing position is very beneficial for women.

Western Differentiation

In abdominal pain not of gynaecological origin, the Western medical diagnosis must identify the
organ involved. This may be:

• Kidney


• Appendix


• Large Intestine


• Small Intestine.

Kidney

Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is an inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis due to bacterial infection.

The pain normally starts in one loin but it may radiate to the lateral abdominal region.

Renal Calculus

Renal stones are formed by precipitation in crystalline or granular form of acids in the urine.
Stones may be made of uric acid, calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate.

The pain usually starts in one loin and radiates to the lateral abdominal region and then down to
the groin. However, it may also start in the lateral abdominal region and radiate to the back. The
pain, due to the violent contraction of kidney-pelvis and ureter, is sudden and very severe. It
persists for 12-24 hours and is accompanied by frequency and difficulty of micturition, nausea,
vomiting, sweating and sometimes shock.

From a Chinese perspective, this usually manifests with symptoms of Damp-Heat and, in chronic
conditions, frequently occurs against a background of Kidney-Yin deficiency.