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.
Premature ejaculation 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 premature ejaculation 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 premature ejaculation is often associated with vaginal discharge, back pain and dribbling after urination in the pattern “Kidney Qi not Firm”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of premature ejaculation 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 premature ejaculation.
Kidney Qi not Firm, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause premature ejaculation
In Chinese Medicine premature ejaculation is a symptom for the pattern "Kidney Qi not Firm". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Qi not Firm
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Kidney Qi not Firm means Kidney Qi Deficiency. Two characteristics are typical in this pattern. Firstly, it is a type of Kidney Yang Deficiency with the associated Cold symptoms. Secondly, it is a type of sinking of Kidneys Qi, thus with many ‘leaking’ downwards symptoms.
In addition to premature ejaculation, other symptoms associated with Kidney Qi not Firm include vaginal discharge, back pain and dribbling after urination.
Kidney Qi not Firm is often treated with You Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). You Gui 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 tonifies Kidney Yang".
Two herbal formulas that might help with premature ejaculation
Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan
Source date: 1682 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Stabilizes the Kidneys. Binds up the semen.
Why might Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which premature ejaculation is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Qi Not Firm include vaginal discharge, back pain and dribbling after urination.
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 premature ejaculation?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which premature ejaculation is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Qi Not Firm include vaginal discharge, back pain and dribbling after urination.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat premature ejaculation
Why might Foxnut Seed (Qian Shi) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat premature ejaculation and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat premature ejaculation as a symptom (such as Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan for instance).
Foxnut Seeds is a Neutral herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and stops diarrhea. Strengthens the Kidneys and restrains Essence. Dispels Dampness and relieves leukorrhea.
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat premature ejaculation and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat premature ejaculation as a symptom (such as You Gui Wan for instance).
Cuscuta Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver.
Why might Lotus Seed (Lian Zi) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat premature ejaculation and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat premature ejaculation as a symptom (such as Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan for instance).
Lotus Seeds is a Neutral herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen, stops diarrhea. Strengthens the Kidneys, reinforces Essence. Nourishes the Blood and calms the mind.
Why might Milkvetch Seeds (Sha Yuan Zi) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat premature ejaculation and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat premature ejaculation as a symptom (such as Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan for instance).
Milkvetch Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang. Consolidates Essence and semen. Strengthens vision.
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is a key herb in You Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' (a pattern with premature ejaculation as a symptom)
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.
Other symptoms often associated with premature ejaculation
Spermatorrhea Urinary incontinence Diarrhea Enuresis Impaired vision Vaginal discharge Impotence Leukorrhea Back pain Tinnitus