Dry vagina 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.
Dry vagina 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 dry vagina 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 dry vagina is often associated with insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus in the pattern “Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of dry vagina we’ve identified four 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 dry vagina.
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause dry vagina
In Chinese Medicine dry vagina is a symptom for the pattern "Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
In addition to dry vagina, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency include insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Absence Of Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Vaginal Itching.
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency is often treated with Zuo Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Zuo Gui 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: "Nourishes the Yin".
Four herbal formulas that might help with dry vagina
Zuo Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys. Fills the Essence. Augments the marrow.
Why might Zuo Gui Wan help with dry vagina?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency' of which dry vagina is a symptom.
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1350 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin. Improves vision.
Why might Qi Ju Di Huang Wan help with dry vagina?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency' of which dry vagina is a symptom.
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 dry vagina?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency' of which dry vagina is a symptom.
Qing Gu San
Source date: 1602 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat from Deficiency. Alleviates steaming bone disorder.
Why might Qing Gu San help with dry vagina?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency' of which dry vagina is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat dry vagina
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with dry vagina?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry vagina as a symptom, like Qi Ju Di Huang Wan or Liu Wei Di Huang 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 Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with dry vagina?
Because Water Plantain is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry vagina as a symptom, like Qi Ju Di Huang Wan or Liu Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
Why might Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhi Mu) help with dry vagina?
Because Anemarrhena Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry vagina as a symptom, like Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan or Qing Gu San for instance.
Anemarrhena Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and Fire from the Qi level. Clears Heat and Fire from the Lung and Stomach. Clears Heat and tonifies the Yin.
Why might Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi) help with dry vagina?
Because Goji Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry vagina as a symptom, like Zuo Gui Wan or Qi Ju Di Huang Wan for instance.
Goji Berries is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Yin of the Kidneys. Brightens the eyes. Moistens the Lungs.
Why might Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with dry vagina?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry vagina as a symptom, like Qi Ju Di Huang Wan or Liu Wei Di Huang 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.
Other symptoms often associated with dry vagina
Insomnia Dizziness Tinnitus Vulvar itching Dark Urine Excessive vaginal discharge Smelly Vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Diminished hearing Lower back pain