Kidney stones 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.
Kidney stones factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Exterior Cold invading the Interior
Symptoms: Chills Constipation Abdominal pain and three other symptoms
Recommended formula: Da Huang Fu Zi Tang
Symptoms: Asthma Dysuria Coughing and eight other symptoms
Recommended formula: Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
In Chinese Medicine, kidney stones can be associated with two 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 kidney stones can be caused by two different patterns.
To understand whether someone's kidney stones 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 kidney stones alone. For instance when kidney stones is caused by the pattern Exterior Cold invading the Interior, patients also experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, hypochondriac pain and chills. Similarly, patients with Exterior Cold invading the Interior typically exhibit tight (Jin) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with thick white coating.
We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with kidney stones 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 two formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with kidney stones, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The two "patterns of disharmony" associated with kidney stones
Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) is the key herb for Da Huang Fu Zi Tang, a formula used for Exterior Cold invading the Interior
Exterior Cold invading the Interior
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Recommended herbal formula: Da Huang Fu Zi Tang
Symptoms: Chills Constipation Abdominal pain Low-grade fever Hypochondriac pain Cold hands and feet
Kidney stones might be due to Exterior Cold invading the Interior if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, hypochondriac pain and chills. Similarly, patients with Exterior Cold invading the Interior typically exhibit tight (Jin) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with thick white coating.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Recommended herbal formula: Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Symptoms: Asthma Dysuria Coughing Impotence Spermatorrhea Frequent urination Persistent diarrhea Prostatic hypertrophy Spasms of the lower abdomen Cold in the lower extremities Soreness and weakness in the lower back
Kidney stones might be due to Kidney Yang Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as soreness and weakness in the lower back, cold in the lower extremities, impotence and spermatorrhea.
The two herbal formulas that might help with kidney stones
Da Huang Fu Zi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Interior. Disperses Cold. Unblocks the bowels. Alleviates pain.
Why might Da Huang Fu Zi Tang help with kidney stones?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Exterior Cold invading the Interior, a pattern sometimes associated with kidney stones. If it looks like you might suffer from Exterior Cold invading the Interior, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Why might Ba Wei Di Huang Wan help with kidney stones?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Kidney Yang Deficiency, a pattern sometimes associated with kidney stones. If it looks like you might suffer from Kidney Yang Deficiency, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
