Flooding and leaking 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.
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, night sweats and tinnitus in the pattern “Heat in the Blood”. As you will see below, we have in record three 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 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 flooding and leaking.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause flooding and leaking
In Chinese Medicine flooding and leaking 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.
Water Buffalo Horns (Shui Niu Jiao) is the king ingredient for Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a formula used for Heat in the Blood
Heat in the Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue color: Red
Heat in the Blood (or Blood-Heat) refers to a condition whereby Heat, as a so-called "Pernicious Influence", entered the Blood. This invasion tends to accelerate Blood flow (leading to a faster pulse) and to manifest itself in various types of bleeding as well as other symptoms.
In addition to flooding and leaking, other symptoms associated with Heat in the Blood include dizziness, night sweats and tinnitus.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Heat in the Blood is associated with health issues such as Early Menstruation or Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.
Heat in the Blood is often treated with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Water Buffalo Horns - Shui Niu Jiao - as a key herb). Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear nutritive-level heat", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system".
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, restlessness and flooding suddenly before schedule.
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".
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a formula used for Blood Stagnation
Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Firm (Lao), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Reddish-Purple
Blood Stagnation, like the name indicates, is when Blood flow becomes Stagnant. It can happen in the whole body or in specific Organs. It is one of the most important diagnostic conditions in Chinese Medicine because it is frequently the cause of intractable pain syndromes anywhere in the body.
In addition to flooding and leaking, other symptoms associated with Blood Stagnation include dizziness, restlessness and dark clots in menstrual blood.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blood Stagnation is associated with health issues such as Scanty Menstruation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding or Heavy Menstruation.
Blood Stagnation is often treated with Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Tao He Cheng Qi 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: "Dispels Heat and".
Five herbal formulas that might help with flooding and leaking
Gu Jing Wan
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin . Clears Heat. Stops bleeding. Stabilizes the menses.
Why might Gu Jing Wan help with flooding and leaking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' of which flooding and leaking is a symptom.
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.
Huai Jiao Wan
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Clears heat from the Intestines. Stops bleeding. Disperses wind. Regulates Qi.
Why might Huai Jiao Wan 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.
Dan Shen Yin
Source date: 1801 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation . Promote Qi movement . Relieves pain .
Why might Dan Shen Yin help with flooding and leaking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Stagnation' of which flooding and leaking is a symptom.
Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Treats severe fevers and Heat in the Blood system. Removes Blood Stagnation.
Why might Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang help with flooding and leaking?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in the Blood' of which flooding and leaking is a symptom.
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 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 Baikal Skullcap Root (Huang Qin) help with flooding and leaking?
Because Baikal Skullcap Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat flooding and leaking as a symptom, like Qing Re Gu Jing Tang or Huai Jiao Wan for instance.
Baikal Skullcap Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Lung, the Small intestine and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome.
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 Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong) help with flooding and leaking?
Because Szechuan Lovage Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat flooding and leaking as a symptom, like Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang or Wen Jing Tang for instance.
Szechuan Lovage Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Gallbladder, the Liver and the Pericardium.
Its main actions are: Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches.
Other symptoms often associated with flooding and leaking
Dizziness Night sweats Tinnitus Hot flushes Constipation Malar flush Thin and watery periods Restlessness Weak knees Poor appetite