You probably have heard of solar plexus and its associated pain. When you talk of solar plexus, it consists of a complex network of arteries and nerves located below the xiphoid process, a part of the breast bone. The nerves and arteries are found above the stomach and below the breast bone’s xiphoid process. To further try explain where solar plexus is located, it is below the middle of an individual’s ribs.
In spiritual healing therapy, solar plexus has a lot of importance. The solar plexus chakra has been known to help in controlling the functioning of various organs found within the abdomen including the pancreas, liver, stomach, kidneys, small intestine, and spleen.
Many nerves and arteries that come from different body areas connect to solar plexus or celiac plexus. Because the clusters of arteries and nerves that attach to solar plexus, and the central position of the organ in body, it has been perceived to play an important role as an energy center for an individual’s body.
Causes of Solar Plexus Pain
People who experience pain in solar plexus say that they feel like there are some butterflies flying in their stomach. Many things may cause the pain and they include:
Poor breathing
Proper breathing helps in sending or receiving positive signals in different nerves without having pain. If you have poor breathing as a result of anxiety, tension, stress or other factors, it may cause pain within the solar plexus. In turn, the pain could result in insufficient supply of oxygen to the abdomen area. That’s why you find that in times of difficult situations, some people may have pain in solar plexus.
Gastric issues
The pain you are having in solar plexus may be due to issues with the gastric system. Gastrointestinal problems that cause bloating, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea may result in solar plexus pain. In this case, an individual may experience dizziness.
Injury or Trauma in Solar Plexus
A blow directed to the abdomen area may cause damage or injury to nerves thus leading to abdominal pain. When this happens, the pain may radiate and affect the solar plexus area.
Pulled Muscle
A common cause of solar plexus pain is pulled muscle. Your muscles may experience pulling when you indulge in exercises or workouts. For example, workout routines that target the abdomen area can pull muscles that in turn cause pain to be felt in the solar plexus area.
Diseases and Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions may bring about this pain for example, pancreatic cancer, metastatic cancer, and ulcers.
Symptoms Associated with Solar Plexus Pain
You should seek immediate help from a doctor if you have solar plexus pain. There are symptoms that may accompany solar plexus pain and they include:
- Nerve failure
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Organ failure
- Improper digestion
- Bloating
- Gas problems
- Burning sensation
- Stomach ulcers
- Hypoglycemia
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Asthma or other respiratory problems
Diagnosis
A doctor will do examination and tests to help bring out the cause of the pain affecting the solar plexus area. The doctor will ask information about your medical history to help determine what could be causing the pain. Further tests may be ordered including abdominal scans and blood tests to get the exact cause.
Solar Plexus Pain- Treatment
The treatment and prognosis of solar plexus pain largely depends on what the cause is. Metastatic cancer may lead to this kind of pain, and it is a very serious health condition, which can spread through the nerve network to affect the local internal organs. Prompt diagnosis can help bring out any serious disease or health condition, which may be contributing to the pain.
Much of the treatment will be based on the causative factor meaning that it will vary from an individual to another.
- A patient having solar plexus pain is advised that they avoid taking pain killers or NSAIDs. This is because, it could worsen the problem, especially if the pain is occurring due to duodenal or stomach ulcer.
- A patient may need to apply hot water fomentation while alternating with cold water, particularly if the problem is being caused by strained or pulled muscles of the abdomen
- In case the pain is due to reflux acid, antacid medication may help, but it’s important you seek help of a doctor.
- You can use chamomile oil to relieve pain. You can have the oil on cloth and then place it on the painful area and cover with a blanket.
- A patient may also keep his or her hand over the area and then they chant loudly for some few minutes. The patient can also deep breath to help ease the pain.
