Pain and discomfort in the abdomen, the section of your torso between your chest and pelvis, is experienced by everyone from time to time.

Abdominal pain can be mild or severe, short-term or chronic.

Although you may feel pain in one area of your abdomen, it may actually be caused by something in another area of your body—this is called referred pain.

Often it is a side-effect of another health condition or disease. In most cases, abdominal pain is not an emergency, unless the pain is so severe that you’re unable to move without causing more pain or you can’t sit still or find a comfortable position.

In these cases, it is important to seek immediate medical help, especially if the pain is accompanied by other worrisome signs and symptoms.

So you’ve been to the doctor, and the abdominal pain is not a cause for worry, yet you are still experiencing pain. What can be done for it?

Abdominal pain in Chinese medicine also involves determining where the pain originates and what is causing it.

Abdominal pain that is clearly related to food intake or bowel movements and is associated with either constipation or diarrhea originates from the intestines.

In women, abdominal pain can be of intestinal or gynecological origin, and often the two conditions actually overlap.

Abdominal pain may also overlap with conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, urinary problems and abdominal masses, and so acupuncture treatment may also involve any of these other conditions.

Cold and dampness are the two factors that most commonly cause abdominal pain.

Cold may enter the body when we are exposed to it without protection, such as when you climb out of the swimming pool into cool air.

Women are especially susceptible to cold entering the body following childbirth or periods, when the body is more vulnerable.

Another way that cold can enter the body is through food, by eating or drinking a lot of cold food and cold drinks.

If this cold enters the intestines, it can lead to abdominal pain.

The cold can inhibit the flow of qi-energy and blood, causing pain.

Often abdominal pain due to cold will be accompanied by a sudden onset of diarrhea.

Dampness may also lead to abdominal pain, and may combine with either cold or heat.

Emotional stress, including worry, preoccupation, and anger, can cause abdominal pain because our emotions can impair the flow of our qi-energy and blood in the abdomen, similar to the way that cold does when it enters the intestines.

Diet, as mentioned above, can be a big cause of abdominal pain, not only through the consumption of cold foods, but also by eating too much dairy or greasy food, which can lead to dampness.

Eating habits such as eating too much, eating in a hurry, skipping meals, or eating while working or on-the-go can also lead to improper digestion and abdominal pain.

All in all, there are six different patterns of abdominal pain in Chinese medicine, each caused by different imbalances of blockages in the body, commonly involving the intestines or spleen.

Acupuncture works to undo the unhealthy pattern and return the body to its normal functioning.

Acupuncture is in fact very effective in the treatment of abdominal pain and most types respond well to acupuncture.

Some types of abdominal pain are of course easier to treat, whereas more difficult ones (for example those involving ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease) generally take longer to resolve.

Prevention is equally important. For those prone to abdominal pain, avoiding cold foods and cold drinks as well as sour foods can reduce the occurrence of abdominal pain, as can moderate exercise.

James Kaufman is a registered acupuncturist at Okanagan Acupuncture Centre, 1625 Ellis St.

250-861-8863

www.okanaganacupuncture.com