One of our diagnostic tools is abdominal palpation. Some acupuncturists palpate a client’s abdomen to observe the muscular tension, aortic pulsation, and tenderness of the acupuncture points and channels in the abdomen to assess the overall condition of the client.
On the abdomen, there are some areas that imply the stagnation of the blood. These areas feel tender to palpation especially when the client shows some other signs of poor circulation of blood. These areas are located under the belly button, and the left (sometimes the right, too) lower quadrant of the abdomen.
There are a couple of anatomical reasons why these areas tend to be tender. In the abdominal wall, there are diverging and branching connections of blood vessels. Because of their complicated structures, congestion of blood is likely to occur. Also, the hepatic portal vein, which brings blood to the liver from the spleen and gastrointestinal tract, has no valves. This type of blood stagnation tends to appear in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. It often forms a mass and is tender to touch.
By improving these types of blood stagnation with acupuncture, the healthy circulation of blood could be restored.
*Individual results may vary.
