Concretions, conglomerations, accumulations, and gatherings

Four kinds of abdominal masses associated with pain and distension. Concretions and accumulations are masses of definite form and fixed location, associated with pain of fixed location. They stem from disease in the viscera and blood aspect.

Conglomerations and gatherings are masses of indefinite form, which gather and disperse at irregular intervals and are attended by pain of unfixed location. They are attributed to disease in the bowels and qì aspect. Accumulations and gatherings chiefly occur in the center burner. Concretions and conglomerations chiefly occur in the lower burner, and in many cases are the result of gynecological diseases. In general, concretions and gatherings arise when emotional depression or dietary intemperance causes damage to the liver and spleen. The resultant organ disharmony leads to obstruction and stagnation of qì, which in turn causes static blood to collect gradually. Most often the root cause is insufficiency of right qì. See List below. Concretions, conglomerations, accumulations, and gatherings also include other specific masses such as strings and aggregations.

Etymology

Chin 癥 zhēng is composed of the illness signifier 疒 with the phonetic 正 (sign, proof); jiǎ, 瘕 is composed of the illness signifier with the phonetic 假 (false, fake); 积 jī, accumulate; 聚 jù, gather.