Left side stomach pain and acupuncture treatment for this issue have gained significant attention in Tokyo as more people seek alternative and effective solutions for digestive discomfort. Whether it’s due to gas, bloating, or other underlying causes, left side abdominal pain can be both uncomfortable and disruptive. In Tokyo, acupuncture has become a popular treatment option, offering a natural and holistic approach to relieving pain and promoting overall digestive health. Clinics like Fuji Wellness are known for their expertise in acupuncture, providing patients with targeted treatments to alleviate symptoms and improve their quality of life. Let’s take a closer look at how acupuncture can help address left side stomach pain and bring relief to those who suffer from it.
Left Side Stomach Pain
Abdominal pain, also referred to as stomachache or stomach pain can be of varying intensity. There can be many causes for upper, lower, right, or left-side stomach pain, some more serious than others, while many are actually harmless. Abdominal pain or stomach pain on the left side can be felt as sharp localized pain or intermittent pain. Left-side stomach pain may also radiate to other body parts such as the shoulder, and the back.
Symptoms of Left Side Stomach Pain
Left-side stomach pain can arise from the internal organs on the left side of the stomach, the abdominal wall, and the skin and muscles in the area. Left-side stomach pain is a generalized term for the different intensities of the pain. Such pain can be:
- Mild or Severe
- Burning or Itchy
- Sharp or Dull
- Persistent or Intermittent
- Crampy or Colicky
- Localized (pain in a singular point only) or Generalised (pain in the whole area)
Common Causes of Left Side Abdominal Pain
Left side abdominal pain can result from a variety of causes, some of which are mild and others more serious. Here are some common causes:
1. Gastrointestinal Issues
- Gas and Bloating: Gas trapped in the intestines can cause sharp, cramp-like pain on the left side.
- Constipation: A buildup of stool in the colon can cause pain, often in the lower left side of the abdomen.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): This digestive disorder can lead to cramping, bloating, and changes in bowel movements, which can cause pain on the left side.
- Diverticulitis: Inflammation or infection of small pouches (diverticula) in the colon, particularly in the lower left abdomen.
- Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining, which can cause pain in the upper left abdomen.
2. Urinary Tract Issues
- Kidney Stones: Stones in the left kidney can cause severe, sharp pain in the left side of the abdomen or lower back.
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): An infection in the urinary tract can cause lower abdominal pain, including on the left side, along with other symptoms like painful urination.
3. Reproductive Organs (in women)
- Ovarian Cyst: A cyst on the left ovary can cause sharp or dull pain, typically around the lower left side.
- Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tube, can cause significant pain on one side of the abdomen.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): An infection of the reproductive organs, which can cause pain in the lower abdomen, often on the left side.
4. Musculoskeletal Issues
- Muscle Strain: Overexertion or injury to the muscles on the left side of the abdomen can cause localized pain.
- Hernia: A hernia in the abdominal wall or groin can cause pain in the lower left abdomen.
5. Other Conditions
- Spleen Problems: Conditions like an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) or a spleen rupture can cause pain in the upper left abdomen.
- Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, which is located on the left side, can cause severe pain in the upper abdomen.
- Heart Attack: Though rare, a heart attack can sometimes cause pain on the left side of the chest that radiates to the left abdomen.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A rare but serious condition where the abdominal aorta weakens and bulges, potentially causing pain on the left side.
If the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, or changes in bowel movements, it’s essential to seek medical attention to rule out any serious conditions.
Treatment for Left-Side Stomach Pain
Various types of abdominal pain require different treatments. Sometimes over-the-counter medicines may be enough to relieve indigestion and other related symptoms. Infections, as well as symptoms related to menstruation, may also be treated with medications.
In case of ulcers or kidney stones, surgical intervention may be required to treat the underlying problem as a last resort if medications recommended by the current doctor fail to resolve the issue. Consulting a doctor for any kind of severe or persistent left-side stomach pain may help to identify the problem and to treat it properly.
In case the pain doesn’t go away despite trying over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, seeking professional consultation may be beneficial. If an individual has sustained any injury on the left side of the abdomen, resulting in left-side stomach pain, and/or if they are pregnant, it is advisable to seek medical advice to identify and treat the symptoms, if necessary. If one experiences one or more of the following symptoms in addition to stomach pain, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible:
- Fever
- Swelling and Tenderness
- Jaundice
- Cod Skin
- Excessive sweating
- Pain residing for more than two days
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Pain in other parts of the body
- Passing blood through stools or urine
- Shortness of breath or faster heartbeat rate.
Pain residing on the left side of the stomach usually doesn’t accompany additional symptoms in other parts of the body. In case of digestion-related problems, issues should resolve on their own. However, if there is severe stomach ache on the left side of the stomach along with the above-mentioned symptoms, visiting a doctor right away to rule out the possibility of anything more serious is always better.
Acupuncture for stomach pain in Tokyo
Abdominal acupuncture is a form of Traditional Oriental Medicine. Acupuncture that relies on abdominal acupuncture points to treat conditions across the whole body. In this article we take a deeper look at this form of acupuncture, the type of conditions it can help with and the associated acupuncture points.
So, what does abdominal acupuncture do? According to Traditional Oriental Medicine, abdominal acupuncture has a wide range of applications, helping to treat a variety of conditions including: back, neck and knee pain, stress and anxiety, obesity and weight loss. It can also help to strengthen both the upper and lower back, reduce swelling and help with brain-related problems.
Abdominal Acupuncture – What Can it Help With?
Abdominal acupuncture is rooted more in Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) than in western acupuncture applications. In modern times, Dr. Zhiyun Bo discovered just how useful abdominal acupuncture is and its many applications.
Provided that the correct abdominal acupuncture points have been selected, TOM claims that it can help with the following functions:
- Chief points (Jun) – top-level complaints; also regulates and harmonises the organs
- Deputy points (Chen) – enhances the organ regulating effects of the Chief points
- Assistant points (Zuo) – enhances Chief and Deputy functions, as well as regulating affected channels
- Envoy points (Shi) – provides symptomatic relief and are often used as guide points
TOM also claims that abdominal acupuncture is also effective against a number of symptoms, pains and concerns. These include:
- Back, knee and neck pain
- Multi-site pain, such as with Fibromyalgia
- Anxiety, stress and depression
- Obesity and weight loss
Benefits of Abdominal Acupuncture
As well as being able to help with a range of conditions, there are a number of benefits that make abdominal acupuncture particularly useful according to TOM philosophy:
- Typically, there is less needle sensation and discomfort than with other acupuncture points
- Needles are not inserted into joints, therefore there is less risk of infection
- It can treat a number of problems at once
- Rapid results
Abdominal Acupuncture Points
To reap the benefits of abdominal acupuncture, an acupuncture practitioner need to know where the relevant points are. In line with TOM, these point are:
CV Points
These abdominal acupuncture points image the spine and correspond with the vertebrae and GV points.
- CV12 (Zhongwan) – Treats head, brain and sensory organs
- CV11 (Jianli) – Used to treat brain problems
- CV 10 (Xiawan) – Treats back problems associated with the C7 vertebrae
- CV9 (Shuifen) – Reduces swelling associated with acute back and neck pain
- CV6 (Qlhal) – Treats a number of chronic conditions
- CV3 (Zhongji) – Treats conditions associated with the sacrum
Other abdominal acupuncture points to be aware of:
In addition to the CV points above, the following abdominal acupuncture points support the upper and lower extremities.
- ST24 (Huaroumen) – Used for arm and hand issues. It also helps to strengthen the upper back
- ST26 (Wailing) – Used for back and leg issues. It also helps to strengthen the lower back
Abdominal Acupuncture Contraindications
For the most part, the contraindications to abdominal acupuncture are similar to acupuncture contraindications as a whole. These include:
Absolute Contraindications
The use of acupuncture is forbiddenin the following circumstances:
- The use of points LI 4; SP 6; UB 60, 67 and sacral foraminal points B 31, 32, 33, 34 during pregnancy
- On clients with uncontrolled movements
- On those at risk of lymphoedema
- On areas of spinal instability
- On scars, keloid, recent incisional wounds
- On skin with sensory deficit
- If the patient is on anticoagulant therapy or is a haemophiliac
Relative Contraindications
Acupuncture may be used in the following circumstances with careful consideration of the relevant risk factors and against the client’s medical history.
- Acute stroke
- Cancer
- Poor skin condition
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
Special Precautions
Whilst not strictly forbidden, the following conditions require special precautions.
- Imuno-supression
- Pregnancy
- Unclear diagnosis
- Abnormal physical structure
- Patients that have previously had strong or adverse reactions to acupuncture.
Whilst not rooted in western medicine, TOM abdominal acupuncture appears to be a particularly beneficial form of the treatment with its ability to treat a wide range of conditions simultaneously.
If you are experiencing abdominal issues, consider scheduling an acupuncture appointment for your stomach pain in Tokyo to help alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life. At Fuji Wellness, we specialize in combining traditional acupuncture with dry needling, so you get a more holistic and effective treatment for your abdominal pain.
Fuji Wellness
- Address: 132-0031 Matsushima 1-chome, 21-14, Tokyo, Japan
- Contact: Click here
- Email: sunnyphamsensei@gmail.com
