Frequent Urination in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Understanding different frequent urination patterns according to TCM theory

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10
TCM Patterns
46
Formulas
Overview
What causes it 10 TCM patterns documented
How to recognize Symptoms specific to each frequent urination pattern
Classical remedies 46 herbal formulas documented

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perceives frequent urination as a symptom of imbalance within the body's energetic systems, particularly the Kidney and Bladder. TCM emphasizes the importance of identifying the underlying pattern of disharmony—be it a deficiency, excess, or stagnation—to tailor an effective treatment plan.

TCM Patterns for Frequent Urination

Yang Deficiency

Causes: Frequent urination, Night time urination, Frequent pale urination, Urination at night

8 variations documented
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination, Night time urination

Along with: Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills,

Lung Yang Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Coughing and wheezing with copious sputum, Cold extremities, Spontaneous sweat, Frequent colds or flu, Pale face, Generalized fatigue,

Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination, Night time urination

Along with: Chills, General cold feeling, Pale urine, Undigested food in stools, General weakness, Abdominal pain relieved by pressure and warmth,

Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent pale urination

Along with: Chills, Diarrhea, Absence of thirst, Desire to lie down curled up, Apathy, Hypersomnia,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Urination at night

Along with: Lower back pain, Weak and cold knees, Back cold sensation, Chills, Weak legs, Bright pale face,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Menopausal symptoms, Hypertension, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Abdominal pain that worsens with cold, Urinary dysfunction, Deep pain and heaviness in limbs, Dizziness, Heavy sensation in the head, Edema,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Pale face, Facial edema, Oedema of limbs, Abdominal distention, Cold extremities, Shortness of breath,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Qi Deficiency

Causes: Frequent urination, Nocturia, Urination at night, Frequent night urination

6 variations documented
Bladder Deficient and Cold
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination, Nocturia

Along with: Pale and abudant urination, Urinary or fecal incontinence, Enuresis, Lower back pain, Dizziness, White urethral discharge,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Kidney Qi Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination, Urination at night

Along with: Hearing loss, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Back pain, Nocturia, Premature ejaculation,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Kidney Qi not Firm
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Lower back pain, Lower back weakness, Polyuria, Weak urine stream, Enuresis, Nocturnal emission,

Qi Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Kidney and Heart Qi Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Urinary incontinence, Nocturnal emission, Absentmindness, Poor memory, Pediatric nocturnal enuresis, Diabetes,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent night urination

Along with: Early menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Lower back pain, Dizziness, Chills, Nocturia,

Cold

Causes: Frequent urination, Nocturia, Frequent pale urination, Frequent and urgent urination

5 variations documented
Bladder Deficient and Cold
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination, Nocturia

Along with: Pale and abudant urination, Urinary or fecal incontinence, Enuresis, Lower back pain, Dizziness, White urethral discharge,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Empty-Cold
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Chills, Cold extremities, Pale face, Absence of thirst, Apathy, Excessive sweating,

Cold in the Uterus
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Diarrhea, Loss of appetite, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Thin vaginal discharge

Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent pale urination

Along with: Chills, Diarrhea, Absence of thirst, Desire to lie down curled up, Apathy, Hypersomnia,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Damp-Cold in the Bladder
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent and urgent urination

Along with: Urination stopping in the middle of flow, Upper abdominal heaviness, Urethral heaviness, Cloudy urine, Pale urine

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Dampness

Causes: Frequent urination, Frequent and urgent urination

4 variations documented
Damp-Heat
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst,

Damp-Cold in the Bladder
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent and urgent urination

Along with: Urination stopping in the middle of flow, Upper abdominal heaviness, Urethral heaviness, Cloudy urine, Pale urine

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Damp-Heat in the Bladder
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent and urgent urination

Along with: Urinary burning, Urination stopping in the middle of flow, Dark urine, Cloudy urine, Hematuria, Fever,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent and urgent urination

Along with: Scanty and yellow urine, Lower back pain, Weakness of lower extremities, Red and swollen feet, Swollen knee, Thick greasy vaginal secretions,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Heat

Causes: Frequent urination, Frequent and urgent urination

3 variations documented
Damp-Heat
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst,

Damp-Heat in the Bladder
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent and urgent urination

Along with: Urinary burning, Urination stopping in the middle of flow, Dark urine, Cloudy urine, Hematuria, Fever,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent and urgent urination

Along with: Scanty and yellow urine, Lower back pain, Weakness of lower extremities, Red and swollen feet, Swollen knee, Thick greasy vaginal secretions,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Yin Deficiency

Causes: Frequent urination

2 variations documented
Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Menopausal symptoms, Hypertension, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability,

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Kidney-Deficiency
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Scanty menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Back pain, Knee pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus,

Qi Sinking

Causes: Frequent urination, Frequent and urgent urination

2 variations documented
Spleen Qi Sinking
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Loss of appetite, Slight abdominal distension after eating

Traditional Herbal Formulas
Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent and urgent urination

Along with: Uterine prolapse, Prolapsed bladder, Stomach prolapse, Nephroptosis, Anus prolapse, Bearing down sensation in abdomen,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Yang Collapse

Causes: Frequent urination

1 variation documented
Collapse of Yang
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Apathy, Chills, Cold extremities, Bright pale face, Sweating on forehead, Absence of thirst,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Yin Excess

Causes: Frequent urination

1 variation documented
Yin Excess
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent urination

Along with: Absence of thirst, Slow and forceful movement, Epigastric pain worsen by pressure, Polyuria, Feeling of chest oppression, Nausea,

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Phlegm

Causes: Frequent and urgent urination

1 variation documented
Phlegm in Kidneys or Gallbladder
How it presents with frequent urination

Frequent and urgent urination

Along with: Urinary dysfunction, Hematuria

Traditional Herbal Formulas

Herbal Formulas for Frequent Urination

Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address frequent urination

Ba Zheng San

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Dampness Heat Cold

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Dampness Heat

Sang Piao Xiao San

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Qi Deficiency Cold

Ban Liu Wan

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Cold Yang Deficiency

Er Xian Tang

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Yang Deficiency Yin Deficiency

He Che Da Zao Wan

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Yin Deficiency Qi Deficiency

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Qi Sinking Qi Deficiency

Yi Huang Tang

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Dampness Heat

Suo Quan Wan

Addresses these frequent urination patterns:

Qi Deficiency Cold