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.
Infertility 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 infertility 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 infertility is often associated with impotence, fatigue and feeling of cold in the pattern “Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause infertility.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of infertility 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 infertility.
In Chinese Medicine infertility is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a formula used for Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Empty (Xu), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Yang Deficiency is an Empty-Cold condition characterized by Coldness and Deficiency. It can cause a general hypoactivity of Organ functions and Oedema. Qi and Blood is more likely to stagnate. Yang Deficiency is mostly related to Spleen Yang, Kidney Yang, Heart Yang or Lung Qi. It is a result of lack of activity or exercise, excessive sex, over-exposure to cold environments and bad diet.
In addition to infertility, other symptoms associated with Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang include impotence, fatigue and feeling of cold.
Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba 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: "Tonifies Yang".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness.
In addition to infertility, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include impotence, tinnitus and fatigue.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba 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: "Tonifies Yang".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Pale
Kidney Essence (Jing 精) Deficiency usually involves Deficiency of Kidney Yin and, to some extent, Kidney Yang. Its symptoms are typically in relation to growth, development, reproduction, sexuality, bones, marrow, the brain, teeth, memory and hair.
In addition to infertility, other symptoms associated with Kidney Essence Deficiency include tinnitus, dizziness and lower back pain.
Kidney Essence 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".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
In addition to infertility, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency include tinnitus, fatigue and dizziness.
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".
The top herbs in Ba Wei Di Huang Wan are Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang), Cornelian Cherries (Shan Zhu Yu) and Yam (Shan Yao)
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' of which infertility is a symptom.
The top herbs in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan are Cuscuta Seeds (Tu Si Zi), Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi) and Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi)
Source date: 1550 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Kidney Yang. Strengthens the Essence.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which infertility is a symptom.
The top herbs in Zuo Gui Wan are Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang), Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi) and Cornelian Cherries (Shan Zhu Yu)
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys. Fills the Essence. Augments the marrow.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which infertility is a symptom.
The top herbs in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan are Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang), Cornelian Cherries (Shan Zhu Yu) and Yam (Shan Yao)
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency' of which infertility is a symptom.
The top herbs in Tu Si Zi Wan are Cuscuta Seeds (Tu Si Zi), Pilose Antlers (Lu Rong) and Desert-Living Cistanches (Rou Cong Rong)
Source date: 1253 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Kidneys. Prevents abnormal leakage such as urinary incontinence or seminal emissions.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which infertility is a symptom.
Because it is a key herb in Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with infertility 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.
Because it is a key herb in Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with infertility as a symptom)
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.
Because it is a key herb in Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with infertility as a symptom)
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.
Because it is a key herb in Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with infertility as a symptom)
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
Because it is a key herb in Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with infertility as a symptom)
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.
Impotence Tinnitus Irregular menstruation Fatigue Painful period Dizziness Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal pain Lower back pain Late period