In today’s fast-paced society, life pressures are immense, with countless issues to face at work and in daily life. When problems accumulate and remain unresolved, they create intense mental stress, affecting health in various ways. Stomach pain is a common symptom resulting from this stress.
Stomach Pain Location and Symptoms
Stomach pain typically occurs in the upper abdomen, just below the sternum, and is often accompanied by digestive discomfort symptoms such as belching, acid reflux, and changes in appetite.
Angina
Due to the stomach’s proximity to the heart, it’s essential to distinguish stomach pain from angina, a common and potentially critical condition. Angina presents as chest pain and can give the patient a sense of impending doom. Along with chest pain, it can radiate to the back and left arm. Unlike stomach pain, angina is generally not accompanied by digestive symptoms like belching or acid reflux. Angina may suggest a possible heart attack, so if symptoms occur, immediate medical attention is crucial.
Causes Related to Diet
The causes of stomach pain are often linked to diet, such as overeating, consuming spicy or greasy foods, irregular meal times, prolonged hunger, or a preference for cold foods. These habits can disrupt the stomach's function, leading to either food retention or a lack of nourishment, which can result in stomach pain.
Emotional Factors
Stomach pain triggered by emotional factors (with the liver responsible for energy flow and emotions, poor mood can lead to liver energy attacking the stomach) often flares up with emotional fluctuations. Besides abdominal distention and pain, symptoms may include rib pain, belching, acid reflux, red tongue edges, thin and greasy tongue coating, and a wiry pulse.
During flare-ups, you can try drinking a decoction made from ginger, perilla leaf, magnolia bark, and green tangerine peel to soothe the liver, regulate energy flow, harmonize the stomach, and relieve pain. Acupressure can also help alleviate discomfort:
Neiguan (PC6): Located on the inner forearm, 3 cun above the wrist crease, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis muscles.
Hegu (LI4): Found on the back of the hand between the thumb and index finger. For easy location, place the thumb joint crease of one hand on the webbing between the thumb and index finger of the other hand, pressing firmly for 2-3 minutes until a sore, distended feeling arises, and the skin becomes slightly red.
Additionally, rose or jasmine flower tea brewed with dried tangerine peel can help regulate energy flow and harmonize the stomach.
Dietary Adjustments During Stomach Pain
When experiencing stomach pain, avoid consuming irritating foods like spicy, overly sour, greasy, or hard-to-digest foods. Opt for smaller, more frequent meals, and consider liquid-based foods if necessary to support the stomach.
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