Excessive sexual desire 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.
Excessive sexual desire 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 excessive sexual desire 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 excessive sexual desire is often associated with insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus in the pattern “Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause excessive sexual desire.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of excessive sexual desire 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 excessive sexual desire.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause excessive sexual desire
In Chinese Medicine excessive sexual desire 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.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to excessive sexual desire, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing include insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus.
Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing 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)".
Read more about Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing here
Softshell Turtle Shells (Bie Jia) is the king ingredient for Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a formula used for 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 excessive sexual desire, other symptoms associated with Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency include insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus.
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 Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Cracked
Kidney Yin Deficiency causes false Heat symptoms, such as night sweats, thirst and five palm heat. These signs are from a depletion of Body Fluids and Essence. It can be caused by prolonged overwork, excessive sexual activity, chronic long term illnesses, consumption of Body Fluids by Heat, prolonged blood loss, overdosage of Kidney Yang tonics herbs, smoking and Kidney depleting foods such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, and fruit juices.
In addition to excessive sexual desire, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency include insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Menopausal Syndrome, Prolonged Periods or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney 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)".
Five herbal formulas that might help with excessive sexual desire
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 excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing' of which excessive sexual desire is a symptom.
Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan
Why might Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan help with excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing' of which excessive sexual desire is a symptom.
Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang
Why might Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang help with excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' of which excessive sexual desire 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 excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' of which excessive sexual desire is a symptom.
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 excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency' of which excessive sexual desire is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat excessive sexual desire
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sexual desire as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Zuo Gui Wan for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sexual desire as a symptom, like Qing Hao Bie Jia 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.
Why might Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sexual desire 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 Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhi Mu) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because Anemarrhena Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sexual desire as a symptom, like Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan or Yu Nu Jian 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 Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat excessive sexual desire as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Other symptoms often associated with excessive sexual desire
Insomnia Dizziness Tinnitus Night sweats Malar flush Anxiety Feeling of heat in the afternoon Dry stools Nocturnal emissions Diminished hearing