Understanding Stomach Blood Stasis: The Fixed, Stabbing Stomach Pain Pattern

What is "Stasis of Blood in the Stomach"?

In Chinese Medicine, energy (Qi) and Blood must flow freely throughout the body for us to be healthy. We often say, "Qi is the commander of Blood." If the flow of Qi is stuck for a very long time (from chronic stress, cold, or poor diet), the Blood it's supposed to be moving can also begin to slow down, thicken, and eventually get stuck. This is what we call Blood Stasis.

Think of a river. Qi Stagnation is like a temporary traffic jam slowing the current. Blood Stasis is like a permanent dam made of thick sludge and debris. The pressure behind this dam builds up, and the pain it causes is very different from other types of pain. The hallmark of Blood Stasis anywhere in the body is a **sharp, stabbing, boring, or lancing pain that is fixed in one location**.

This pattern is almost always a progression from a long-term, unresolved condition. It's a sign that a simpler problem has become more substantial and lodged in the physical substance of the Stomach.

The key signs of Stomach Blood Stasis are very distinct:

  • A severe, stabbing pain in the stomach area that is fixed in one spot. This is the cardinal sign.
  • The pain is constant and feels worse with pressure.
  • The pain may be worse in the evening or at night.
  • Vomiting of dark blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds.
  • Black, "tar-like" stools (melaena).
  • A purple tongue or purple spots on the tongue, and purple lips can also be signs.

CRUCIAL MEDICAL EMERGENCY WARNING: The symptoms of vomiting blood (or coffee grounds) and/or passing black, tarry stools are signs of internal bleeding and are a MEDICAL EMERGENCY. You must seek immediate evaluation at a hospital. This pattern can be associated with serious conditions like bleeding stomach ulcers. Our work is a supportive therapy to be used only after you have been thoroughly evaluated and cleared by a medical doctor.

Lifestyle Advice: Invigorate Blood and Soothe the Stomach

The strategy is to gently move the stagnant Blood and avoid anything that could cause further irritation or stagnation. This advice is for supporting recovery after medical clearance.

1. Adopt a "Blood-Moving and Gentle" Diet:
Your diet must be easy to digest and should not aggravate the condition.

  • Eat Warm, Cooked Foods: Simple soups, stews, and congee (rice porridge) are best.
  • Incorporate Foods that Gently Move Blood: Small amounts of turmeric, chives, and hawthorn berry tea may be helpful.
  • AVOID:
    • ALL Spicy and Heating Foods.
    • Alcohol and Coffee, which are highly irritating to the stomach lining.
    • Cold, Raw Foods, which can congeal Blood and worsen stasis.
    • Greasy or very heavy foods, which are difficult to digest.

2. Manage Emotional Stress:
Since this pattern often develops from chronic stress (Liver-Qi Stagnation), calming your nervous system is key to preventing recurrence.

  • Practice Gentle Breathing: Slow, deep abdominal breathing can help to soothe the nervous system and promote the smooth flow of Qi, which is necessary to move Blood.

3. Acupressure at Home:
Here is a crucial combination to help invigorate Blood and soothe pain.

  • Spleen 10 (Xuehai - "Sea of Blood"): The master point for invigorating Blood and dispelling stasis.
    • Location: On your inner thigh. Bend your knee, cup your palm over your kneecap, and the point is where your thumb lands on the inner thigh muscle.
    • How to: Apply firm pressure for 1-2 minutes. This is the most famous point for moving stagnant Blood anywhere in the body.
  • Stomach 34 (Liangqiu - "Ridge Mound"): The best point for acute pain on the Stomach channel.
    • Location: On the top of your thigh. When you straighten your leg, it's in a tender depression three finger-widths above the top outer corner of your kneecap.
    • How to: Apply very firm pressure into this point for 1-2 minutes. This point is like a circuit breaker for acute pain and can also help with bleeding disorders on this channel.

By taking these steps and working closely with your medical team, you can actively support your body's healing process.