Epigastric pain:
Epigastrium refers to the part below the xiphoid process where the stomach is located. Epigastric pain is usually caused by failure of the stomach to descend food and stagnant flow of qi due to cold, heat, retention of food in the stomach and qi stagnation, etc. Stagnation leads to pain. If pain becomes worsened after intake of food, it is a sthenia syndrome) if pain becomes alleviated after intake of food, it is an asthenia syndrome.
 
Abdominal pain:
Abdomen may be further divided into large abdomen, small abdomen and lower abdomen. The part between the epigastrium and the navel is large abdomen; the part between the navel and the margin of pubic region is the small abdomen where the kidney, bladder, intestines and uterus are located; the two sides of the small abdomen are lateral part of small abdomen where the liver meridian penetrates. Besides, pain over the lateral parts of the small abdomen is also related to the large intestine disorder. The causes of abdominal pain are various. Sthenia syndrome of abdominal pain is usually caused by cold stagnation, heat retention, qi obstruction, blood stasis, retention of food and parasitic infestation, while asthenia syndrome of abdominal pain is usually caused by asthenia of qi, blood and yang, etc. In the examination of patients with abdominal pain, inquiry should be done together with pulse taking in order to exactly locate the region of pain and decide the viscera involved and differentiate the cause and nature of the problem.