Ovarian cysts 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.
Ovarian cysts 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 ovarian cysts 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 ovarian cysts is often associated with amenorrhea, late period and scanty periods in the pattern “Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of ovarian cysts we’ve identified four 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 ovarian cysts.
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause ovarian cysts
In Chinese Medicine ovarian cysts is a symptom for the pattern "Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu) is the king ingredient for Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, a formula used for Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
In addition to ovarian cysts, other symptoms associated with Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus include amenorrhea, late period and scanty periods.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Scanty Menstruation or Absence Of Menstruation.
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus is often treated with Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Coco-Grass Rhizomes - Xiang Fu - as a key herb). Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan 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: "Resolves Dampness and Phlegm".
Four herbal formulas that might help with ovarian cysts
Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan
Why might Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan help with ovarian cysts?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which ovarian cysts is a symptom.
Wei Ling Tang
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Drains Dampness. Promotes the movement of Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Wei Ling Tang help with ovarian cysts?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which ovarian cysts is a symptom.
Wan Dai Tang
Source date: 1826 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies the Middle Burner. Removes Dampness. Stops vaginal discharge. Strengthens the Spleen.
Why might Wan Dai Tang help with ovarian cysts?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which ovarian cysts is a symptom.
Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang
Source date: 1575 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Resolves Damp-Phlegm. Nourishes Blood.
Why might Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang help with ovarian cysts?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which ovarian cysts is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat ovarian cysts
Why might Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) help with ovarian cysts?
Because Tangerine Peel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat ovarian cysts as a symptom, like Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang or Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan 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.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with ovarian cysts?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat ovarian cysts as a symptom, like Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan or Wei Ling Tang 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 Black Atractylodes Rhizome (Cang Zhu) help with ovarian cysts?
Because Black Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat ovarian cysts as a symptom, like Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan or Wei Ling Tang for instance.
Black Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Dries Damp and tonifies the Spleen. Relieves the Exterior for invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp. Relieves Wind-Damp painful obstruction. Dries Damp for either Damp-Cold or Damp-Heat when combined with the correct herbs. Clears the eyes and improves sight.
Why might Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with ovarian cysts?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat ovarian cysts as a symptom, like Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan or Xiong Gui Er Chen 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 Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with ovarian cysts?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat ovarian cysts as a symptom, like Wan Dai Tang or Wei Ling 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 ovarian cysts
Amenorrhea Late period Scanty periods Lower abdominal pain Feeling of oppression of the chest Fatigue Loose stools Dull-pale complexion Overweight Infertility