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 “Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record two 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 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 excessive sexual desire.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause excessive sexual desire
In Chinese Medicine excessive sexual desire is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them 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 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 and clears Heat".
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 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
Three herbal formulas that might help with excessive sexual desire
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.
Other symptoms characteristic of Empty-Heat Or Fire Caused By Yin Deficiency include insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus.
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.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty Heat Blazing include insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus.
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.
Other symptoms characteristic of Empty-Heat Or Fire Caused By Yin Deficiency include insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat excessive sexual desire
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 Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a key herb in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with excessive sexual desire as a symptom)
Donkey-Hide Gelatin is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies and nourishes Blood. Stops bleeding. Moistens and lubricates Yin.
Why might Sweet Wormwood Herb (Qing Hao) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a key herb in Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with excessive sexual desire 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 Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a key herb in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty Heat Blazing' (a pattern with excessive sexual desire as a symptom)
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 Softshell Turtle Shell (Bie Jia) help with excessive sexual desire?
Because it is a key herb in Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with excessive sexual desire 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.
Other symptoms often associated with excessive sexual desire
Insomnia Dizziness Tinnitus Feeling of heat in the afternoon Night sweats Dry stools Malar flush Anxiety Fidgeting Insomnia with very restless sleep