As mentioned earlier, this symptom relates to a few of zang-fu viscera. Furthermore, meridians like Three Yin Channels of Hand and Foot, Shaoyang Gallbladder Channel of Foot, Chong channel, Conception Channel, and Belt Channel also circulate through abdomen. Both zang-fu viscera and meridians, impaired by exogenous disease and internal damage, could lead to abdominal pain and bloating due to disorder of Qi movement, hampering of Qi and blood movement, and lack of nourishing due to deficiency of Qi and blood. Clinically the most common patterns, however, are cold pathogen obstructing and deficient cold of spleen and stomach. So, the following discussion will focus only on these two patterns for the sake of extra emphasis. Common list of Chinese herbs used are as follows:

1. Cold pathogen obstructing
Gao Liang Jiang (Galangal Rhizome), Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit), Bi Bo (Fructus Piperis Longi), Bi Cheng Qie (Cubeb Fruit), Wu Yao (Lindera Root), Ding Xiang (Clove Flower Bud), Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel Seed), Hua Jiao (Pericarpium Zanthoxyli Bungeani), Hu Jiao (Black Pepper), Bai Zhi (Angelica Root), Tan Xiang (Sandalwood), Cao Dou Kou (Katsumadai).

2. Deficient cold of spleen and stomach
Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger Root), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Yi Zhi Ren (Black Cardamon), Wu Tou (Radix Aconiti Carmichaeli), Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root), Rou Gui (Dried Cinnamon Bark), Feng Mi (Honey), Yi Tang (barley malt sugar).

Mind you, the diagnosis for abdominal bloating and pain should concentrate upon the pathogenesis, position, and property to define the afflicted zang-fu viscera, Qifen or Xuefen, and cold-heat-deficiency-excess pattern. TCM holds the view that aches won't occur during smooth running of Qi and blood, and vice versa. So the prime task is to choose different suitable therapeutic principles for the connecting purpose, purging through in excess, tonifying through in deficiency, heating through in cold, cooling through in heat, regulating through in Qi stagnation, and removing through in blood stasis.