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.
Desire to drink in small sips 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 desire to drink in small sips 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 desire to drink in small sips is often associated with feeling of heat in the afternoon and dry mouth in the pattern “Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of desire to drink in small sips we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause desire to drink in small sips
In Chinese Medicine desire to drink in small sips is a symptom for the pattern "Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Softshell Turtle Shells (Bie Jia) is the king ingredient for Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a formula used for Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency
Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
When Yin Deficiency lasts for a long it may lead to Interior Heat
In addition to desire to drink in small sips, other symptoms associated with Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency include feeling of heat in the afternoon and dry mouth.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Lupus.
Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency is often treated with Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Softshell Turtle Shells - Bie Jia - as a key herb). Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat from deficiency", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Yin and clears Heat".
A herbal formula that might help with desire to drink in small sips
Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang
Why might Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency' of which desire to drink in small sips is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Empty-Heat Caused By Yin Deficiency include feeling of heat in the afternoon and dry mouth.
The two Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat desire to drink in small sips
Why might Sweet Wormwood Herb (Qing Hao) help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because it is a key herb in Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with desire to drink in small sips as a symptom)
Sweet Wormwood Herbs is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Treats malaria. Treats summer Heat and clears symptoms of deficient Heat. Clears Blood Heat and stops bleeding.
Why might Softshell Turtle Shell (Bie Jia) help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because it is a key herb in Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with desire to drink in small sips as a symptom)
Softshell Turtle Shells is a Neutral herb that tastes Salty. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Nourishes Yin and subdues exuberant Yang. Resolves hardness.