No desire to drink 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.
No desire to drink 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 no desire to drink 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 no desire to drink is often associated with shortness of breath, coughing and oedema in the pattern “Phlegm-Fluids”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause no desire to drink.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of no desire to drink 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 no desire to drink.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause no desire to drink
In Chinese Medicine no desire to drink 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.
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) is the king ingredient for Er Chen Tang, a formula used for Phlegm-Fluids
Phlegm-Fluids
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
In addition to no desire to drink, other symptoms associated with Phlegm-Fluids include shortness of breath, coughing and oedema.
Phlegm-Fluids is often treated with Er Chen Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Er Chen Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm".
Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the king ingredient for Da Qing Long Tang, a formula used for Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs
Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick white coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
This is when Body Fluids stagnate in the four limbs instead of flowing in the body and getting released as sweat.
In addition to no desire to drink, other symptoms associated with Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs include coughing of copious thin and white sputum, swollen limbs and feeling of heaviness.
Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs is often treated with Da Qing Long Tang, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Ephedra - Ma Huang - as a key herb). Da Qing Long Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear wind-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes sweating".
Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi) is the king ingredient for Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang, a formula used for Empty-Cold
Empty-Cold
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to no desire to drink, other symptoms associated with Empty-Cold include cold limbs, poor appetite and loose stools.
Empty-Cold is often treated with Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Milkvetch Roots - Huang Qi - as a key herb). Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang 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 and tonifies the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach)".
Five herbal formulas that might help with no desire to drink
Er Chen Tang
Source date: 1148 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm. Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Middle Burner (Stomach and Spleen).
Why might Er Chen Tang help with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fluids' of which no desire to drink is a symptom.
Xiao Qing Long Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Releases the Exterior. Transforms Phlegm-Fluids. Warms the Lungs. Directs Rebellious Qi downward.
Why might Xiao Qing Long Tang help with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs' of which no desire to drink is a symptom.
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fluids' of which no desire to drink is a symptom.
Da Qing Long Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Promotes sweating. Releases the Exterior. Clears Interior Heat.
Why might Da Qing Long Tang help with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs' of which no desire to drink is a symptom.
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach). Tonifies Qi. Relieves spasmodic pain.
Why might Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang help with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Cold' of which no thirst is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat no desire to drink
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with no desire to drink?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat no desire to drink as a symptom, like Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang or Si Ni 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 Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with no desire to drink?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat no desire to drink as a symptom, like Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang or Wu Pi Yin 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 Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with no desire to drink?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat no desire to drink as a symptom, like Wu Zhu Yu Tang or Gui Zhi Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might Crow-Dipper Rhizome (Ban Xia) help with no desire to drink?
Because Crow-Dipper Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat no desire to drink as a symptom, like Er Chen Tang or Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Drains Dampness and reduces Phlegm. Reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi. Reduces hardenings and relieves distention.
Why might Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) help with no desire to drink?
Because Tangerine Peel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat no desire to drink as a symptom, like Shi Shen Tang or Er Chen Tang for instance.
Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs.
Other symptoms often associated with no desire to drink
Cold limbs Poor appetite Loose stools Feeling of cold Coughing of copious thin and white sputum Frequent urination Aversion to cold Shortness of breath Coughing Swollen limbs