Damp-Cold in the Bladder
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.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of Dampness The concept of Cold The Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Key attributes
Chinese name: 膀胱湿寒 Pinyin name: Páng Guāng Shī Hán
Pattern nature: Full
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yang Deficiency Spleen Qi Deficiency
Common causes: Excessive exposure to exterior Dampness and Cold
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Pale urine Turbid urine Frequent and urgent urination Feeling of heaviness in urethra Urination stopping in the middle of flow and one other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Slow (Chi)
Tongue description: White sticky coating on root
Treatment
Treatment principle: Resolve Dampness, expel Cold and remove obstruction from the Lower Burner’s Water passages.
Common formulas: Ba Zheng San Wu Lin San Shi Wei San
Pathology
This pattern is distinguished by the presence of Cold and Dampness in the Bladder.
The Coldness and Dampness obstruct the passages of Fluids in the Lower Burner and interfere with the Bladder functions.
The urgent and difficult urination as well as the feeling of heaviness are typical of Dampness. The 'dirty' nature of Dampness causes the urine to be turbid.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Damp-Cold in the Bladder can derive from Kidney Yang Deficiency Spleen Qi Deficiency
Excessive exposure to exterior Dampness and Cold: Exposure to Exterior Dampness and Cold, typically from humid and damp cold environments, may lead to this pattern
Diagnosing Damp-Cold in the Bladder
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua) or slow (Chi)
Tongue description: White sticky coating on root
Main symptoms: Pale urine Turbid urine Frequent and urgent urination Feeling of heaviness in urethra Urination stopping in the middle of flow Feeling of heaviness in the hypogastrium
Diagnosis commentary: Difficult urination, a feeling of heaviness of the hypogastrium and pale urine are enough in and of themselves to diagnose Damp-Cold in the Bladder
Treating Damp-Cold in the Bladder
Treatment principle
Resolve Dampness, expel Cold and remove obstruction from the Lower Burner’s Water passages.
Herbal formulas used to treat Damp-Cold in the Bladder
Ba Zheng San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire. Promotes urination. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling.
Formula summary
Ba Zheng San is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness.
Besides Damp-Cold in the Bladder, Ba Zheng San is also used to treat Damp-Heat or Damp-Heat in the Bladder.
Wu Lin San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Clears heat. Cools the Blood. Promotes urination. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling.
Formula summary
Wu Lin San is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness.
Shi Wei San
Source date: 1687 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Clears heat. Promotes the resolution of Dampness. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling. Expels stones.
Formula summary
Shi Wei San is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1687 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness.
Diet recommendations
Try to avoid excessive exposure to cold and damp environments
Consequence patterns
Damp-Cold in the Bladder obstructs the Lower Burner, which may lead to Kidney Yang Deficiency