Appendicitis Definition and Symptoms

What is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is an inflammation/infection of the appendix. Your appendix is an internal organ that is found in your lower right abdomen. It’s thin and sits where the small intestines join up to become the large intestines. Appendicitis can occur when there are blockages in your appendix. These blockages can be caused by faecal matter, mucus, and sometimes even eggs or parasites. Your immune system triggers inflammation and acidity in your appendix. This can be painful and cause a lot of discomfort including nausea, fever, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea. It’s important to get yourself checked out if you have any pain, burning sensations or swelling of the right side of your abdomen. If you don’t get treatment for an inflamed appendix quickly, it can rupture and release deadly bacteria into your abdomen. This is a life-threatening situation that requires medical attention immediately. Bacterial infection of the appendix is called peritonitis and this condition has a high rate of fatality if not treated properly and right away. 

Symptoms of Appendicitis 

Appendicitis symptoms include:

  • Pain in the upper abdomen and around belly button
  • Pain in the lower right side of the abdomen
  • Loss of appetite
  • Indigestion
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Inability to pass gas
  • Low-grade fever

Appendicitis symptoms can begin as mild abdominal or stomach pain. Over time, symptoms often become steadier, ranging from mild to severe pain. The symptoms of appendicitis typically originate in the upper abdomen or around the belly button, before moving over to the lower right quadrant of your abdomen. If your appendix is causing you to experience severe abdominal pain, especially if it’s tender to the touch, get in contact with your physician. Do not take it lightly even if the pain seems isolated because this could lead to a life-threatening medical emergency.

Risk Factors

Age: appendicitis most commonly affects those aged from 15 to 30

Sex: males are generally more susceptible to the condition

Family history: A history of appendicitis in one’s family raises the likelihood of developing it

The exact cause of appendicitis is not confirmed but professionals believe it happens when there is a burst or blockage in the appendix.

These occurrences happen after things like:

  • A build up of hardened stool 
  • Enlarged lymphoid follicles 
  • Intestinal worms
  • Traumatic injury
  • Tumors 

When your appendix becomes blocked, bacteria can multiply within it. It may lead to the formation of pus and swelling, causing painful pressure in your abdomen.

Types of Appendicitis

Appendicitis can be acute or chronic. In acute cases, appendicitis symptoms are often severe and develop suddenly resulting in an immediate need for surgical removal of the appendix. On the other hand, chronic cases of appendicitis may present pain that comes and goes over the course of several weeks, months, or even years.

This condition is usually uncomplicated, but sometimes it’s complicated by an abscess or perforated appendix. 

Treatment

Appendicitis is a very severe condition and must be treated as soon as possible. It can be treated with surgery by removing the appendix but if you’d prefer to not have surgery it can also be treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.

At Centre of Balance we specialise in TCM and acupuncture treatment and have had cases of appendicitis in the past. Our methods use a natural approach without surgery or pharmaceutical drugs that can have unwanted side effects. Visit our website or contact us to see how we can help you today.

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References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/appendicitis#risk-factors

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.