Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy

CHAPTER 30 Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy

Mild abdominal pain is relatively frequent during pregnancy and in most cases it poses no danger to the mother or fetus. However, when faced by a pregnant woman with abdominal pain, we should first exclude the possibility of ectopic pregnancy or threatened miscarriage: these will be discussed at the end of this chapter and in Chapter 31.

Pathology

Blood deficiency

During pregnancy, some of the mother’s Blood is diverted to nourishing the fetus and therefore any pre-existing deficiency of Blood will be aggravated. In particular, when Blood is deficient, the Uterus Vessel becomes Empty and obstructed and abdominal pain may result. This pain results from a deficiency and it will therefore be mild.

Stagnation of Qi

During pregnancy some of the mother’s Blood is diverted to nourishing the fetus and therefore any pre-existing deficiency of Blood will be aggravated. Since the Liver stores Blood, a deficiency of Blood may often induce a secondary stagnation of Liver-Qi, causing abdominal pain. This condition is often caused by emotional stress such as anger, resentment, frustration, guilt or worry.

Empty-Cold

If the pregnant woman suffers from a pre-existing condition of Kidney-Yang deficiency, the pregnancy will tax the Kidneys and may aggravate such deficiency, giving rise to Empty-Cold. Cold obstructs the circulation of Qi and therefore causes pain.

Blood stasis

A predisposition to Blood stasis may be aggravated during pregnancy as the Lower Burner is ‘obstructed’ by the growing fetus. Blood stasis frequently causes severe abdominal pain.

We should ascertain the character of the pain clearly in order to differentiate clearly between deficiency, excess, Cold and Heat. If an abdominal pain is improved by pressure, this indicates deficiency; if it is worsened, Fullness. If it is eased by warm liquids this indicates Cold; if worsened, Heat. Abdominal pain with a feeling of distension indicates stagnation of Qi; stabbing, severe pain is due to stasis of Blood.

Identification of patterns and treatment

The treatment principle for abdominal pain during pregnancy is essentially to move Qi and invigorate Blood, adjusted according to the respective predominance of deficiency or excess. In any case, during pregnancy one must avoid using too many pungent, warm, drying herbs or herbs that strongly invigorate Blood.

If the deficiency of Blood and/or Kidneys predominates, then one must also adopt the treatment principle of ‘calming the fetus’ by choosing herbs that calm the fetus and also strengthen the Kidneys and nourish Blood such as Du Zhong Cortex Eucommiae, Xu Duan Radix Dipsaci and Sang Ji Sheng Herba Taxilli.

The patterns discussed are:

• deficiency of Blood

• stagnation of Qi

• Blood stasis.

Deficiency of Blood

Clinical manifestations

Mild abdominal pain that comes and goes and that improves with pressure, dull, pale complexion, dizziness, blurred vision, history of scanty periods, insomnia. Tongue: Pale and Thin. Pulse: Choppy or Fine.

Treatment principle

Nourish Blood, calm the fetus, stop pain.

Herbal treatment

Women’s Treasure remedy

– PRECIOUS SEA

This remedy is a variation of the formula Ba Zhen Tang Eight Precious Decoction which nourishes Blood and tonifies Qi. It has been modified with the addition of Kidney tonics. The tongue presentation appropriate to this remedy is a Pale and Thin body.

Tags: Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine

Jun 6, 2016 | Posted by admin in GYNECOLOGY | Comments Off

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