Premature ejaculation 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.
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 impotence, frequent urination and feeling of cold in the pattern “Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause premature ejaculation.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of premature ejaculation 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 premature ejaculation.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause premature ejaculation
In Chinese Medicine premature ejaculation 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 premature ejaculation, other symptoms associated with Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang include impotence, frequent urination and feeling of cold.
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 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 premature ejaculation, other symptoms associated with Kidney Qi Deficiency include frequent urination, tinnitus and back pain.
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 premature ejaculation, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include spermatorrhea, impotence and frequent urination.
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".
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 premature ejaculation, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency include impotence, diarrhea 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".
Five herbal formulas that might help with premature ejaculation
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 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' of which premature ejaculation is a symptom.
Qing E Wan
Why might Qing E Wan help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi Deficiency' of which premature ejaculation is a symptom.
Tu Si Zi Wan
Source date: 1253 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Kidneys. Prevents abnormal leakage such as urinary incontinence or seminal emissions.
Why might Tu Si Zi Wan help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which premature ejaculation is a symptom.
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 premature ejaculation?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which premature ejaculation 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 premature ejaculation?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which premature ejaculation is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for premature ejaculation
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat premature ejaculation
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 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with premature ejaculation as a symptom)
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Spleen.
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.
Why might Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is a key herb in You Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with premature ejaculation as a symptom)
Cinnamon Bark is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and Kidneys and tonifies the Yang. Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, promotes circulation of Qi and Blood and relieves pain. Used with tonics to assist in the generation of Qi and Blood.
Why might Deer Antler Glue (Lu Jiao Jiao) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is a key herb in You Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with premature ejaculation as a symptom)
Deer Antler Glue is a Warm herb that tastes Salty and Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Yang tonification of the Kidneys and Liver, and to nourish vital Essence and Blood
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is a key herb in You Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with premature ejaculation as a symptom)
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with premature ejaculation?
Because it is a key herb in You Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' (a pattern with premature ejaculation as a symptom)
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.
Other symptoms often associated with premature ejaculation
Spermatorrhea Impotence Diarrhea Frequent urination Enuresis Urinary incontinence Tinnitus Vaginal discharge Lower back pain Feeling of cold