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.
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Low sperm count 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 low sperm count 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 low sperm count is often associated with lower back pain, premature ejaculation and lassitude in the pattern “Kidney Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause low sperm count.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of low sperm count 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 low sperm count.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause low sperm count
In Chinese Medicine low sperm count 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.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
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 low sperm count, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, premature ejaculation and lassitude.
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
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 low sperm count, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency include lower back pain, premature ejaculation and lassitude.
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)".
Three herbal formulas that might help with low sperm count
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Why might Ba Wei Di Huang Wan help with low sperm count?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which low sperm count is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, premature ejaculation and lassitude.
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 low sperm count?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency' of which low sperm count is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yin Deficiency include lower back pain, premature ejaculation and lassitude.
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui Wan help with low sperm count?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which low sperm count is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, premature ejaculation and lassitude.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat low sperm count
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with low sperm count?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat low sperm count as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or You 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 Yam (Shan Yao) help with low sperm count?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat low sperm count as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Zuo Gui Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with low sperm count?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat low sperm count as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Raises the collapse of Yang. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold. Reduces Damp caused by Deficiency in Yang.
Why might Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with low sperm count?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat low sperm count as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi 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 Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with low sperm count?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat low sperm count as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Er Xian Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Liver.
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.
Other symptoms often associated with low sperm count
Lower back pain Premature ejaculation Lassitude Depression Cold and weak knees Feeling of cold Weak legs Bright-white complexion Impotence Oedema of legs