Dehydration 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.
Dehydration 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 dehydration 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 dehydration is often associated with dry skin, dry mouth and dry nose in the pattern “Body Fluids Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of dehydration we’ve identified three 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 dehydration.
Body Fluids Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause dehydration
In Chinese Medicine dehydration is a symptom for the pattern "Body Fluids Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren) is the king ingredient for Xing Su San, a formula used for Body Fluids Deficiency
Body Fluids Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue shape: Cracked
If Body Fluids - all liquids in the body other than Blood - are Deficient, then this leads to many symptoms of Dryness.
In addition to dehydration, other symptoms associated with Body Fluids Deficiency include dry skin, dry mouth and dry nose.
Body Fluids Deficiency is often treated with Xing Su San, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Apricot Seeds - Xing Ren - as a key herb). Xing Su San belongs to the category of "formulas that disperse dryness and moisten", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Dry-Cold".
Three herbal formulas that might help with dehydration
Xing Su San
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Clears Dry-Cold. Disseminates the Lung Qi and relieves cough. Transforms thin mucus.
Why might Xing Su San help with dehydration?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Body Fluids Deficiency' of which dehydration is a symptom.
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Source date: 1573 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Lung and Kidney Yin. Lubricates the Lung and clears phlegm.
Why might Bai He Gu Jin Tang help with dehydration?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Body Fluids Deficiency' of which dehydration is a symptom.
Zeng Ye Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin and Essence. Lubricates Dryness.
Why might Zeng Ye Tang help with dehydration?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Body Fluids Deficiency' of which dehydration is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat dehydration
Why might Ningpo Figwort Root (Xuan Shen) help with dehydration?
Because Ningpo Figwort Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dehydration as a symptom, like Zeng Ye Tang or Bai He Gu Jin Tang for instance.
Ningpo Figwort Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Large intestine, the Liver and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Expels true or Internal Heat and cools the Blood. Tonifies the Yin. Reduces inflammations and drains Fire toxicity. Reduces hard nodules, especially associated with the lymph.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with dehydration?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dehydration as a symptom, like Bai He Gu Jin Tang or Xing Su 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 Dwarf Lilyturf Root (Mai Dong) help with dehydration?
Because Dwarf Lilyturf Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dehydration as a symptom, like Zeng Ye Tang or Bai He Gu Jin Tang for instance.
Dwarf Lilyturf Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Why might Platycodon Root (Jie Geng) help with dehydration?
Because Platycodon Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dehydration as a symptom, like Xing Su San or Bai He Gu Jin Tang for instance.
Platycodon Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung.
Its main actions are: Opens the Lungs and smoothes the flow of Lung Qi. Expels Phlegm and pus from the Lungs and throat, can be used for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat according to the other herbs in the formula. Directs the actions of other herbs to the Upper Warmer.
Why might Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with dehydration?
Because Unprepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dehydration as a symptom, like Zeng Ye Tang or Bai He Gu Jin Tang for instance.
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Other symptoms often associated with dehydration
Dry skin Dry mouth Dry nose Dry cough Dry lips Dry tongue Dry throat Dry stools Phlegm Vomiting