bubble_chart Concept

The rising of qi from the lower abdomen refers to the patient's sensation of qi rushing upward from the lower abdomen, occurring intermittently. Because the rising qi rushes to the chest and throat like a running piglet, it is also called running-piglet qi.

Jingui Yaolue．The treatment of running-piglet qi disease describes this symptom as: "Running-piglet disease starts from the lower abdomen, rushes up to the throat, causes a feeling of impending death, and then stops, all resulting from fright and fear." Later, Zhouhou Beiji Fang, Zhubing Yuanhou Lun, "Beiji Qianjin Fang, Waitai Miyao and others have similar descriptions.

bubble_chart Common symptoms and signs

1. The qi of the liver channel rising from the lower abdomen: Clinically, it mainly manifests as a sudden onset after fright or anger, with a sensation of qi rushing from the lower abdomen to the chest and throat, a feeling of impending death, palpitations, aversion to human voices, or abdominal pain, panting, vomiting, thirst, alternating chills and fever, which stops when the qi returns, often recurring, with a thin white or thin yellow tongue coating, and a wiry and tight pulse, returning to normal after the attack.
2. The cold water qi rising from the lower abdomen: Patients usually have symptoms of yang deficiency, with a throbbing sensation below the navel before the onset, followed by rebellious qi rising from the lower abdomen, cold limbs, a pale tongue with white greasy coating, and a wiry and tight pulse.

1. The rising of liver qi from the lower abdomen and the rising of cold water qi from the lower abdomen: The rising of liver qi from the lower abdomen is mostly caused by fright, emotional discomfort, or anger. It may result from sudden fright, or chronic liver qi depression, which travels upward along the channel, causing qi counterflow and disharmony between nutrient and defensive qi. This syndrome is characterized by heat accumulation due to qi stagnation and liver qi rising, representing an excess pattern. Suwen．Zhizhenyao Da Lun: "All disorders with upward perversion are ascribed to fire," also includes this situation. The rising of cold water qi from the lower abdomen is mostly due to inherent cold in the lower energizer, or mistaken sweating leading to heart yang deficiency, with cold water qi rising to invade the heart, resulting from yang decline and yin excess, and cold qi rising. This syndrome is a deficiency cold pattern.

   The clinical manifestations of the two are different: those with liver qi ascending counterflow often have pre-existing symptoms of liver depression and qi stagnation (irritability, depression, chest tightness, frequent sighing, fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, bitter taste in the mouth, and dry throat). Due to fright, worry, or anger, it suddenly occurs, with qi rushing up from the lower abdomen to the chest and throat. In cases of water-cold qi ascending counterflow, there are usually symptoms of yang deficiency (cold body and limbs, pale face, clear eyes, clear and long urination, etc.). Due to improper sweating damaging heart yang, it causes water-cold qi ascending counterflow, with a sensation of qi rushing up from the lower abdomen, feeling restless, hence the throbbing below the navel. For liver qi ascending counterflow, the treatment focuses on descending adverse-rising qi, regulating qi and harmonizing the nutrient system, and clearing liver heat, using Decoction for Running-Pig Syndrome with modifications, or Inula and Hematite Decoction to lower counterflow, tonify qi, and harmonize the stomach. For water-cold qi ascending counterflow, the treatment should focus on warming yang and excreting water, regulating qi and lowering counterflow. For throbbing below the navel, Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Liquorice, and Chinese Date Decoction can be used; if accompanied by external cold, Cinnamon Twig plus Cinnamon Twig Decoction can be used to unblock yang and disperse cold. If there is cold in the lower energizer and liver qi ascending counterflow, warming yang to dispel cold and regulating qi to lower counterflow are appropriate, using the "Qianjin" Decoction for Running-Pig Syndrome with modifications.

1. Nan Jing．Chapter 56: "The accumulation of the kidney is called running-piglet, originating from the lower abdomen, ascending to the area below the heart, resembling the shape of a piglet, moving up and down irregularly. If it persists for a long time, it causes panting and counterflow, bone wilting, and shortness of breath."
2. Zhubing Yuanhou Lun．On the Symptoms of Running-piglet: "The running-piglet is an accumulation of qi in the kidney, arising from fear, fright, worry, and overthinking. Fear and fright injure the spirit, as the heart houses the spirit; worry and overthinking injure the will, as the kidney stores the will. When the spirit and will are injured, the qi moves and accumulates in the kidney, descending and then ascending like a running piglet, hence the name running-piglet. When this qi affects the heart, it feels as if the heart is leaping, as if startled by something, as if frightened by someone, the five zang-organs become unsettled, eating and drinking induce vomiting, the chest is filled with qi, leading to madness and confusion, delusional speech and visions—these are the symptoms of running-piglet caused by fear and fright. If the qi fills and supports the heart, causing a sense of oppression and chaos below the heart, aversion to hearing human voices, intermittent relief and exacerbation, short and rapid breathing, cold extremities, internal vexation and knotted pain, a warm sensation with a desire to vomit—these are the symptoms of running-piglet caused by worry and overthinking."