Infertility 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.
Infertility factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat
Symptoms: Red eyes Dry mouth Tidal fever and seven other symptoms
Recommended formula: Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus
Symptoms: Painful period Abdominal pain Lochia retention and four other symptoms
Recommended formula: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
In Chinese Medicine, infertility can be associated with seven 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 infertility can be caused by seven different patterns.
To understand whether someone's infertility 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 infertility alone. For instance when infertility is caused by the pattern Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat, patients also experience symptoms such as irritability, spontaneous sweating, red eyes and dry mouth.
We've listed below a description of the seven patterns associated with infertility 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 infertility, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The seven "patterns of disharmony" associated with infertility
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat
Recommended herbal formula: Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Symptoms: Red eyes Dry mouth Tidal fever Irritability Palpitations Heavy periods Painful urination Spontaneous sweating Lower abdominal pressure Abnormal uterine bleeding
Infertility might be due to Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as irritability, spontaneous sweating, red eyes and dry mouth.
Read more about Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat here
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the key herb for Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a formula used for Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus
Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus
Recommended herbal formula: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Symptoms: Painful period Abdominal pain Lochia retention Irregular menstruation Fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen Persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood Lower abdominal distension and pain that increases with pressure
Infertility might be due to Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood, lower abdominal distension and pain that increases with pressure, fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen and painful period.
Read more about Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus here
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the key herb for Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a formula used for Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
Recommended herbal formula: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Symptoms: Anxiety Breast pain Irritability Restlessness Breast lumps Painful period Umbilical pain Lochia retention Abdominal masses Breast distention Tendency to worry Dark colored blood Lower abdominal pain Irregular menstruation Brown vaginal discharge Dark clots in menstrual blood
Infertility might be due to Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as irregular menstruation, brown vaginal discharge, dark clots in menstrual blood and painful period. Similarly, patients with Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels typically exhibit choppy (Se) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a bluish-purple tongue.
Read more about Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels here
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Recommended herbal formula: You Gui Wan
Symptoms: Impotence Incontinence Spermatorrhea Aversion to cold Cold extremities Edema of the lower extremities Weakness and aching in the knees Exhaustion from long-term illness Soreness and weakness in the lower back
Infertility might be due to Kidney Yang Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as exhaustion from long-term illness, aversion to cold, cold extremities and impotence. Similarly, patients with Kidney Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
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
Infertility 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
Infertility 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.
Motherwort Herbs (Yi Mu Cao) is the key herb for Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang, a formula used for Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation
Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Recommended herbal formula: Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang
Symptoms: Poor appetite Weak extremities Abdominal distension Irregular menstruation Red and white vaginal discharge Soreness and weakness in the lower back
Infertility might be due to Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as poor appetite, weak extremities, soreness and weakness in the lower back and abdominal distension. Similarly, patients with Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation typically exhibit weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
Read more about Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation here
The seven herbal formulas that might help with infertility
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes Blood and lymphatic circulation, thus eleminates Blood Stagnation. Softens and resolves hard lumps such as cysts and fibroids.
Why might Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan help with infertility?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus and Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels which are sometimes associated with infertility. 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).
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 infertility?
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 infertility. 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).
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Source date: Ming dynasty
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Clears Liver and Spleen Qi Stagnation. Tonifies Spleen. Clears Deficient Heat. Nourishes the blood.
Why might Jia Wei Xiao Yao San help with infertility?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat, a pattern sometimes associated with infertility. If it looks like you might suffer from Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui Wan help with infertility?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Kidney Yang Deficiency, a pattern sometimes associated with infertility. If it looks like you might suffer from Kidney Yang Deficiency, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi and Blood. Invigorates the Blood.
Why might Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang help with infertility?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation, a pattern sometimes associated with infertility. If it looks like you might suffer from Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
