Erectile dysfunction according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Erectile dysfunction factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp
Symptoms: No thirst Cold extremities Generalized body pain and two other symptoms
Recommended formula: Fu Zi Tang
Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels
Symptoms: Infertility Late period Painful period and three other symptoms
Recommended formula: Wen Jing Tang
In Chinese Medicine, erectile dysfunction can be associated with three so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here erectile dysfunction can be caused by three different patterns.
To understand whether someone's erectile dysfunction might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from erectile dysfunction alone. For instance when erectile dysfunction is caused by the pattern Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp, patients also experience symptoms such as generalized body pain, aching bones and joints, cold extremities and no thirst. Similarly, patients with Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen), minute (Wei) or slow (Chi) pulses as well as a tongue with thin white coating.
We've listed below a description of the three patterns associated with erectile dysfunction so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below seven formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with erectile dysfunction, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The three "patterns of disharmony" associated with erectile dysfunction
Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) is the key herb for Fu Zi Tang, a formula used for Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp
Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Minute (Wei), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Recommended herbal formula: Fu Zi Tang
Symptoms: No thirst Cold extremities Generalized body pain Aching bones and joints Aversion to cold - especially at the back
Erectile dysfunction might be due to Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as generalized body pain, aching bones and joints, cold extremities and no thirst. Similarly, patients with Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen), minute (Wei) or slow (Chi) pulses as well as a tongue with thin white coating.
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the key herb for Wen Jing Tang, a formula used for Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels
Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Tight (Jin)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple, Pale
Recommended herbal formula: Wen Jing Tang
Symptoms: Infertility Late period Painful period Cold in the lower abdomen Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal pain after childbirth
Erectile dysfunction might be due to Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as painful period, cold in the lower abdomen, infertility and late period. Similarly, patients with Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or tight (Jin) pulses as well as a bluish-purple, pale tongue.
Read more about Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels here
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the key herb for Wen Jing Tang, a formula used for Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus
Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
Recommended herbal formula: Wen Jing Tang
Symptoms: Cold limbs Late period Infertility Purple lips Painful period Feeling of cold Lochia retention Irregular menstruation Cold feeling in vagina Brown vaginal discharge White vaginal discharge Cold in the lower abdomen Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal pain after childbirth
Erectile dysfunction might be due to Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as late period, painful period, dark clots in menstrual blood and brown vaginal discharge. Similarly, patients with Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a bluish-purple tongue.
The seven herbal formulas that might help with erectile dysfunction
Wen Jing Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Uterus and vessels. Nourishes Blood. Dispels Cold. Dispels Blood Stagnation.
Why might Wen Jing Tang help with erectile dysfunction?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels and Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus which are sometimes associated with erectile dysfunction. If any of these patterns look like something you might suffer from, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Fu Zi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Meridians. Assists the Yang. Dispels Cold. Transforms Dampness.
Why might Fu Zi Tang help with erectile dysfunction?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp, a pattern sometimes associated with erectile dysfunction. If it looks like you might suffer from Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the Yin. Causes Fire to descend. Eliminates irritability. Calms the spirit.
Why might Huang Lian E Jiao Tang help with erectile dysfunction?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with erectile dysfunction. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Tonifes the Yang. Releases the Exterior.
Why might Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang help with erectile dysfunction?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with erectile dysfunction. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Unblocks the three Yang warps. Sedates and calms the Spirit.
Why might Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang help with erectile dysfunction?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with erectile dysfunction. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Symptoms related to erectile dysfunction
Painful period Cold in the lower abdomen Infertility Late period Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal pain after childbirth Generalized body pain Aching bones and joints Cold extremities No thirst
