Desire to drink in small sips 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.
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 dry stools, anxiety and insomnia in the pattern “/tcm-education-center/patterns/yin-deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause desire to drink in small sips.
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 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 desire to drink in small sips.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause desire to drink in small sips
In Chinese Medicine desire to drink in small sips is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a formula used for /tcm-education-center/patterns/yin-deficiency
Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Red
In the case of Yin Deficiency, the body is short in the cooling, moistening and nurturing aspects. This leads to Heat and Dryness accompanied by weakness and lack of strength and resistance. Yin becomes Deficient by over-working, lack of sleep, over-exercising, overindulgence in sex, long-term chronic diseases, internal injury due to the seven emotions, and the over-eating of dry and hot-natured foods.
In addition to desire to drink in small sips, other symptoms associated with /tcm-education-center/patterns/yin-deficiency include dry stools, anxiety and insomnia.
/tcm-education-center/patterns/yin-deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
Softshell Turtle Shells (Bie Jia) is the king ingredient for Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a formula used for /tcm-education-center/patterns/empty-heat-or-fire-caused-by-yin-deficiency
Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
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 /tcm-education-center/patterns/empty-heat-or-fire-caused-by-yin-deficiency include dry stools, anxiety and insomnia.
/tcm-education-center/patterns/empty-heat-or-fire-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".
Read more about Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency here
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Stomach Yin Deficiency causes Dryness and Heat, which harms the Organ's ability of receiving and ripening foods and drinks. It is the result of prolonged unbalanced diet and irregular eating habits.
In addition to desire to drink in small sips, other symptoms associated with /tcm-education-center/patterns/stomach-yin-deficiency include dry stools, feeling of heat in the afternoon and dry mouth.
/tcm-education-center/patterns/stomach-yin-deficiency is often treated with Mai Men Dong Tang, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Dwarf Lilyturf Roots - Mai Dong - as a key herb). Mai Men Dong Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that enrich yin and moisten dryness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Stomach".
Five herbal formulas that might help with desire to drink in small sips
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system).
Why might Liu Wei Di Huang Wan help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/yin-deficiency' of which desire to drink in small sips is a symptom.
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 '/tcm-education-center/patterns/empty-heat-or-fire-caused-by-yin-deficiency' of which desire to drink in small sips is a symptom.
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the Yin. Causes Fire to descend. Eliminates irritability. Calms the spirit.
Why might Huang Lian E Jiao Tang help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/empty-heat-or-fire-caused-by-yin-deficiency' of which desire to drink in small sips is a symptom.
Mai Men Dong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Stomach. Generates Body Fluids. Directs Rebellious Qi downward.
Why might Mai Men Dong Tang help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/stomach-yin-deficiency' of which desire to drink in small sips is a symptom.
Yi Wei Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Strengthen the Stomach. Creates Body Fluids.
Why might Yi Wei Tang help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/stomach-yin-deficiency' of which desire to drink in small sips is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat desire to drink in small sips
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to drink in small sips as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Zuo Gui Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Why might Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to drink in small sips as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Zuo Gui Wan for instance.
Cornelian Cherries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Preserves and tonifies the Kidney, Liver and Essence. Stops sweating and benefits the Yang and Qi. Assists menstruation and stops bleeding.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to drink in small sips as a symptom, like Shen Ling Bai Zhu San or Mai Men Dong Tang 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 Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to drink in small sips as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang 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.
Why might Dwarf Lilyturf Root (Mai Dong) help with desire to drink in small sips?
Because Dwarf Lilyturf Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to drink in small sips as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Yi Wei 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.
Other symptoms often associated with desire to drink in small sips
Dry stools Anxiety Insomnia Dizziness Feeling of heat in the afternoon Dry mouth Night sweats Hot palms and soles Malar flush Fidgeting