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.
In Chinese Medicine, pediatric enuresis is sometimes associated with Bladder Deficiency with Cold, a 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" because both concepts arise from totally different ways of seeing the human body.
To understand whether someone's pediatric enuresis might be caused by the pattern Bladder Deficiency with Cold, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from pediatric enuresis alone. Indeed if pediatric enuresis is caused by Bladder Deficiency with Cold, patients also experience symptoms such as disorientation, forgetfulness, incontinence and lower back pain. Similarly, patients with Bladder Deficiency with Cold typically exhibit deep (Chen) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue with thin white coating.
We've listed below a more detailed description of Bladder Deficiency with Cold so that you can have a better understanding of where pediatric enuresis might find its root 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 Sang Piao Xiao San, a formula that can help treat Bladder Deficiency with Cold.
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Recommended herbal formula: Sang Piao Xiao San
Symptoms: Dizziness Incontinence Forgetfulness Disorientation Lower back pain Feeling of cold Frequent urination White urethral discharge Urine the color of rice water - grey and cloudy
Pediatric enuresis might be due to Bladder Deficiency with Cold if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as disorientation, forgetfulness, incontinence and lower back pain. Similarly, patients with Bladder Deficiency with Cold typically exhibit deep (Chen) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue with thin white coating.
The top herbs in Sang Piao Xiao San are Praying Mantis Egg-Cases (Sang Piao Shao), Dragon Bones (Long Gu) and Tortoise Plastrons (Gui Ban)
Source date: 1116 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Regulates and tonifies the Heart and Kidneys. Stabilizes the Essence. Stops leakage.
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Bladder Deficiency with Cold, a pattern sometimes associated with pediatric enuresis. If it looks like you might suffer from Bladder Deficiency with Cold, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Disorientation Forgetfulness Incontinence Lower back pain Dizziness White urethral discharge Feeling of cold Frequent urination Urine the color of rice water - grey and cloudy