Nocturia 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.
Nocturia 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 nocturia 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 nocturia is often associated with frequent urination, lower back pain and dizziness in the pattern “Bladder Deficient and Cold”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of nocturia we’ve identified two 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 nocturia.
Bladder Deficient and Cold, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause nocturia
In Chinese Medicine nocturia is a symptom for the pattern "Bladder Deficient and Cold". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Bladder Deficient and Cold
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to nocturia, other symptoms associated with Bladder Deficient and Cold include frequent urination, lower back pain and dizziness.
Bladder Deficient and Cold is often treated with Sang Piao Xiao San, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Praying Mantis Egg-Cases - Sang Piao Shao - as a key herb). Sang Piao Xiao San belongs to the category of "formulas that secure essence and stop enuresis", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Regulates and tonifies the Heart and Kidneys".
Two herbal formulas that might help with nocturia
Sang Piao Xiao San
Source date: 1116 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Regulates and tonifies the Heart and Kidneys. Stabilizes the Essence. Stops leakage.
Why might Sang Piao Xiao San help with nocturia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficient and Cold' of which nocturia is a symptom.
Suo Quan Wan
Source date: 1227 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Kidneys. Dispels cold. Reduces urinary frequency. Stops leakage.
Why might Suo Quan Wan help with nocturia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficient and Cold' of which nocturia is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for nocturia
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat nocturia
Why might Praying Mantis Egg-Case (Sang Piao Shao) help with nocturia?
Because it is a key herb in Sang Piao Xiao San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficient and Cold' (a pattern with nocturia as a symptom)
Praying Mantis Egg-Cases is a Neutral herb that tastes Salty and Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidneys and strengthens Yang. Restrains Essence and decreases urination.
Why might Dragon Bone (Long Gu) help with nocturia?
Because it is a key herb in Sang Piao Xiao San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficient and Cold' (a pattern with nocturia as a symptom)
Dragon Bones is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Calms the spirit. Anchors ascendant Liver Yang. Stops leakage of Bodily Fluids.
Why might Tortoise Plastron (Gui Ban) help with nocturia?
Because it is a key herb in Sang Piao Xiao San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficient and Cold' (a pattern with nocturia as a symptom)
Tortoise Plastrons is a Cool herb that tastes Salty and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Nourishes the Yin and holds down the Yang. Strengthens the Kidneys and strengthens the bones. Cools the Blood, stops uterine bleeding. Nourishes the Heart. Promotes Healing.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with nocturia?
Because it is a key herb in Sang Piao Xiao San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficient and Cold' (a pattern with nocturia as a symptom)
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit).
Why might Host-Wood Poria (Fu Shen) help with nocturia?
Because it is a key herb in Sang Piao Xiao San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficient and Cold' (a pattern with nocturia as a symptom)
Host-Wood Poria is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Heart.
Its main actions are: Calms the Mind (Shen) and promote urination.
Other symptoms often associated with nocturia
Frequent urination Lower back pain Dizziness White urethral discharge Feeling of cold Pale and abudant urination Enuresis Disorientation Forgetfulness