Urinary Tract Calculi in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different urinary tract calculi patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Urinary tract calculi, commonly known as urinary stones, are hardened mineral deposits that form in the kidneys and can travel down to other parts of the urinary tract. These stones can cause severe pain, urinary obstruction, and infections.
Symptoms often include sharp pain in the back or lower abdomen, hematuria (blood in urine), and sometimes nausea or vomiting. The formation of stones can be influenced by dietary factors, hydration status, and genetic predisposition.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), urinary tract calculi are seen as a physical manifestation of an underlying imbalance in the body's natural energies. TCM identifies various disharmonious patterns that may contribute to the formation of calculi, such as a concentration of Damp-Heat or a Stagnation of the body's Qi and Blood.
The diagnosis and treatment in TCM, therefore, are focused not just on the stones themselves but on rectifying the patterns of imbalance that have led to their formation.
TCM Patterns for Urinary Tract Calculi
Each pattern represents a distinct underlying imbalance that can cause urinary tract calculi
Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner
Diagnostic signs
Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Recommended herbal formulas
Herbal Formulas for Urinary Tract Calculi
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address urinary tract calculi