Night urination 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.
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Night urination 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 night urination 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 night urination is often associated with feeling of cold, premature ejaculation and fatigue in the pattern “Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause night urination.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of night urination 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 night urination.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause night urination
In Chinese Medicine night urination 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
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 night urination, other symptoms associated with Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang include feeling of cold, premature ejaculation and fatigue.
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 Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to night urination, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency include feeling of cold, premature ejaculation and lower back pain.
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency is often treated with Li Zhong Wan, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Dried Ginger - Gan Jiang - as a key herb). Li Zhong Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm the middle and dispel cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Middle Burner".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Characterised by frequent urination as the most distinguishing symptom. Kidney Qi Deficiency can be a precursor of Heart Qi Deficiency.
In addition to night urination, other symptoms associated with Kidney Qi Deficiency include dizziness, premature ejaculation and tinnitus.
Kidney Qi Deficiency is often treated with Qing E Wan, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Eucommia Bark - Du Zhong - as a key herb). Qing E Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm yang and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and Reinforces Kidney Yang".
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 night urination, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include dizziness, feeling of cold and premature ejaculation.
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".
Five herbal formulas that might help with night urination
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 night urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' of which night time urination is a symptom.
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 night urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' of which night time urination is a symptom.
Li Zhong Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle Burner. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Li Zhong Wan help with night urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which urination at night is a symptom.
Qing E Wan
Why might Qing E Wan help with night urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi Deficiency' of which urination at night is a symptom.
Er Xian Tang
Source date: 1950 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin and tonifies Yang of the Kidneys. Clears Empty Heat. Regulates the Directing and Penetrating Vessels.
Why might Er Xian Tang help with night urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which night time urination is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat night urination
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with night urination?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat night urination as a symptom, like Er Xian Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi 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 Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with night urination?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat night urination as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
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.
Why might Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi) help with night urination?
Because Goji Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat night urination as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Goji Berries is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Yin of the Kidneys. Brightens the eyes. Moistens the Lungs.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with night urination?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat night urination as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with night urination?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat night urination as a symptom, like Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang or Gui Pi Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Other symptoms often associated with night urination
Dizziness Feeling of cold Premature ejaculation Fatigue Lower back pain Tinnitus Frequent urination Lassitude Loose stools Impotence