Blood in urine 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.
bloody urine, hematuria and red urine redirect here
Blood in urine can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like blood in urine here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here blood in urine is often associated with bloody sputum, bloody stools and epistaxis in the pattern “Loss of Blood”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause blood in urine.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of blood in urine we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat blood in urine.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause blood in urine
In Chinese Medicine blood in urine is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) is the king ingredient for Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a formula used for Loss of Blood
Loss of Blood
In addition to blood in urine, other symptoms associated with Loss of Blood include bloody sputum, bloody stools and epistaxis.
Loss of Blood is often treated with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Water Buffalo Horns - Shui Niu Jiao - as a key herb). Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear nutritive-level heat", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system".
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Bladder
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
In addition to blood in urine, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Bladder include fever, dark urine and feeling of heat.
Damp-Heat in the Bladder is often treated with Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Chinese Pink Herbs - Qu Mai - as a key herb). Ba Zheng San belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat and Fire".
The Small Intestine is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Small Intestine in Chinese Medicine
Full-Heat in the Small Intestine
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu)
In addition to blood in urine, other symptoms associated with Full-Heat in the Small Intestine include insomnia, abdominal pain and burning urination.
Full-Heat in the Small Intestine is often treated with Dao Chi San, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Akebia Stems - Mu Tong - as a key herb). Dao Chi San belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat from the organs", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears the Heart".
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood
Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
In addition to blood in urine, other symptoms associated with Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood include restlessness, hypogastric distention and hypogastric fullness.
Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood is often treated with Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Tao He Cheng Qi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dispels Heat and".
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Fire blazing
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Full (Shi), Hasty (Cu)
In addition to blood in urine, other symptoms associated with Heart Fire blazing include insomnia, dark urine and feeling of heat.
Heart Fire blazing is often treated with Xie Xin Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Rhubarb - Da Huang - as a key herb). Xie Xin Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and resolve toxicity", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Drains Fire".
Five herbal formulas that might help with blood in urine
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Why might Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang help with blood in urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Loss of Blood' of which bloody urine is a symptom.
Ba Zheng San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire. Promotes urination. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling.
Why might Ba Zheng San help with blood in urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Bladder' of which blood in urine is a symptom.
Dao Chi San
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Clears the Heart. Promotes urination.
Why might Dao Chi San help with blood in urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Full-Heat in the Small Intestine' of which blood in urine is a symptom.
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Dispels Heat and. Eliminates Blood Stagnation.
Why might Tao He Cheng Qi Tang help with blood in urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Greater Yang Accumulation of Blood' of which blood in urine is a symptom.
Xie Xin Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Drains Fire. Resolves Toxicity. Dries Dampness.
Why might Xie Xin Tang help with blood in urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Fire blazing' of which bloody urine is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for blood in urine
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat blood in urine
Why might Chinese Pink Herb (Qu Mai) help with blood in urine?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat blood in urine and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat blood in urine as a symptom (such as Ba Zheng San for instance).
Chinese Pink Herbs is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder, the Heart and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and expels Damp-Heat. Dissolves Blood Stasis and assists blocked menstruation.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with blood in urine?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat blood in urine as a symptom, like Liu Yi San or Dao Chi San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Rhubarb (Da Huang) help with blood in urine?
Because Rhubarb is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat blood in urine as a symptom, like Xie Xin Tang or Tao He Cheng Qi Tang for instance.
Rhubarb is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Large intestine, the Liver and the Pericardium.
Its main actions are: Drains Excess Heat and eliminates Dampness, especially when in the Bright Yang stage according to the Six Stages Theory. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding. Invigorates Blood, breaks up Stasis and relieves pain. Clears Heat and toxins from Excess. Applied topically for Hot sores and Blood Stasis.
Why might Baikal Skullcap Root (Huang Qin) help with blood in urine?
Because Baikal Skullcap Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat blood in urine as a symptom, like Pai Shi Tang or Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin for instance.
Baikal Skullcap Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Lung, the Small intestine and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome.
Why might Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with blood in urine?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat blood in urine as a symptom, like Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang or Liu Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Mudan Peony Bark is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, activates Blood circulation and resolves Blood stasis.
Other symptoms often associated with blood in urine
Bloody sputum Hematochezia Nosebleed Abnormal uterine bleeding Sores Insomnia Dizziness Carbuncles Bloody stools Epistaxis