Mengchong Dang (Flank Pain)
Overview
In Miao medicine, flank pain is called Mengchong Dang. It arises when constitutional weakness or emotional irritability injures the meridians, or when dietary indiscretion harms the digestive system, leading to internal damp-heat, or when external trauma causes qi stagnation and blood stasis. The result is pain in one or both flanks. This condition is divided into two minor patterns: heat–meridian flank pain and cold–meridian flank pain, similar to TCM’s “flank pain.”
In TCM, flank pain (xie tong) manifests as pain in one or both hypochondria due to disharmony of the liver and gallbladder meridians. In Western medicine, various digestive or hepatic conditions—hepatitis, cirrhosis, cholecystitis, gallstones, biliary parasites, or intercostal neuralgia—may present with flank pain and can be approached with similar differentiation.
Huhoujipeng · Miao Classification
Mengchong Dang is a minor disorder with two subtypes: heat–meridian flank pain and cold–meridian flank pain.
Aiduojiang · Causes
Key predisposing factors are constitutional weakness, insufficient congenital endowment, emotional agitation, dietary indiscretion, internal damp-heat, or external injury leading to qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Gengduomeng · Pathogenesis
Any cause of qi–blood deficiency weakens blood circulation. Qi deficiency fails to move blood, slowing flow and leading to malnourished meridians. External cold injures qi–blood, causing cold–meridian flank pain. External or internal heat leads to heat–meridian flank pain.
Diagnostic Key Points
Diagnosis
(1) Pain in one or both flanks, described as stabbing, burning, distending, dull, or intermittent.
(2) May accompany chest fullness, abdominal distension, belching, hiccup, irritability, bitter mouth, poor appetite, or nausea.
(3) Often a history of dietary excess, emotional upset, wind–cold invasion, trauma, or overstrain.
Related Tests
Liver function, infection markers, X-ray, ultrasound, or CT to assess hepatic, biliary, or muscular causes.
Differential Diagnosis
Menggang Gu (Chest Pain) shares emotional stagnation and meridian obstruction. Chest pain localizes to the anterior chest with palpitations, tightness, or insomnia. Flank pain localizes to the liver/gallbladder area with bitter mouth and irritability.
Mengbudou (Stomach Pain) also involves liver qi stagnation. But stomach pain centers on the upper abdomen, with nausea, vomiting, or acid reflux, whereas flank pain centers on the hypochondrium with bitter taste and sighing.
Treatment by Pattern
Heat–Meridian Flank Pain
Manifestations: Bilateral flank pain radiating to shoulders/back, bitter dry mouth, nausea, alternating chills and fever, scant yellow urine, dry stools.
Meridian: Heat meridian, heat disease.
Principle: Regulate qi and relieve pain (li qi zhi tong).
Prescription & Explanation:
Xiangfu (Nutgrass, xiang fu) 10g
Wuzhuying (Evodia, wu zhu yu) 6g
Jixueteng (Millettia vine, ji xue teng) 12g
Jianghuang (Turmeric, jiang huang) 10g
Zhi zi (Gardenia fruit, zhi zi) 8g
Yinchen (Artemisia, yin chen) 12g
Chaihu (Bupleurum, chai hu) 12g
Decoction orally.
Cold–Meridian Flank Pain
Manifestations: Dull flank ache, worsened by labor, sensation of cold, dizziness.
Meridian: Cold meridian, cold disease.
Principle: Invigorate blood, resolve stasis (huo xue hua yu); regulate qi and relieve pain (li qi zhi tong).
Prescription & Explanation:
Bohe (Mint, bo he) 10g
Xuchangqing (Radix Changqing, xu chang qing) 8g
Maidong (Ophiopogon, mai dong) 12g
Jijiannuo (Millettia vine, ji xue teng) 10g
Bai shao (White peony root, bai shao) 10g
Decoction orally.
Prevention & Care
Regulate emotions; avoid frustration.
Protect against wind–cold; maintain moderate temperature.
Adjust diet; avoid smoking and alcohol.
Balance activity and rest with regular routine.
Notes
Mengchong Dang parallels TCM flank pain. Constitutional deficiency, emotional upset, or dietary errors lead to qi–blood–fluid imbalance and meridian malnourishment. Treatment focuses on clearing heat or warming cold, moving qi, and relieving pain.
This article is provided solely for the cultural and educational study of traditional medicine. It should not be construed as medical diagnosis or (used in traditional contexts). Before applying any of the therapies described above, you must first consult a licensed physician in your jurisdiction.
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