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.
Flooding and leaking 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 flooding and leaking 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 flooding and leaking is often associated with dizziness, hot flushes and irritability in the pattern “Qi And Blood Stagnation”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause flooding and leaking.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of flooding and leaking 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 flooding and leaking.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause flooding and leaking
In Chinese Medicine flooding and leaking 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.
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a formula used for Qi And Blood Stagnation
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
In addition to flooding and leaking, other symptoms associated with Qi And Blood Stagnation include dizziness, hot flushes and irritability.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Qi And Blood Stagnation is associated with health issues such as Menstrual Cramps, Absence Of Menstruation or Menopausal Syndrome.
Qi And Blood Stagnation is often treated with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Invigorates the Blood".
Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) is the king ingredient for Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, a formula used for Heat in Uterus Blood
Heat in Uterus Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to flooding and leaking, other symptoms associated with Heat in Uterus Blood include constipation, anxiety and heavy periods.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Heat in Uterus Blood is associated with health issues such as Heavy Menstruation.
Heat in Uterus Blood is often treated with Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Baikal Skullcap Roots - Huang Qin - as a key herb). Qing Re Gu Jing 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: "Clears Empty Heat".
Three herbal formulas that might help with flooding and leaking
Wen Jing Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Uterus and vessels. Nourishes Blood. Dispels Cold. Dispels Blood Stagnation.
Why might Wen Jing Tang help with flooding and leaking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which flooding and leaking is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Qi And Blood Stagnation can contribute to many health issues, including Menopausal Syndrome.
Qing Re Gu Jing Tang
Source date: 1988
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Clears Empty Heat. Tonifies the Kidney Yin. Stops bleeding. Supplies Body Fluids.
Why might Qing Re Gu Jing Tang help with flooding and leaking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in Uterus Blood' of which flooding and leaking is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Heat In Uterus Blood include constipation, anxiety and heavy periods.
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Blood. Eliminates Blood Stagnation below the diaphragm. Stops pain. Promotes Qi movement.
Why might Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang help with flooding and leaking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which flooding and leaking is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Qi And Blood Stagnation can contribute to many health issues, including Menopausal Syndrome.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat flooding and leaking
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with flooding and leaking?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat flooding and leaking as a symptom, like Wen Jing Tang or Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with flooding and leaking?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat flooding and leaking as a symptom, like Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang or Qing Re Gu Jing 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 flooding and leaking?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat flooding and leaking as a symptom, like Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan or Wen Jing 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 Bitter Orange (Zhi Ke) help with flooding and leaking?
Because Bitter Orange is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat flooding and leaking as a symptom, like Huai Jiao Wan or Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Bitter Oranges is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter, Pungent and Sour. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: To regulate the flow of Qi, remove its stagnation, and alleviate distension.
Why might Peach Kernel (Tao Ren) help with flooding and leaking?
Because Peach Kernel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat flooding and leaking as a symptom, like Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang or Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan for instance.
Peach Kernels is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Large intestine and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Moves Blood and breaks up Stasis. Moistens the Intestines. Relieves coughing.
Conditions associated with flooding and leaking
Other symptoms often associated with flooding and leaking
Dizziness Night sweats Hot flushes Tinnitus Constipation Dry throat Anxiety Malar flush Sore back Dry mouth