Recurrent miscarriage 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.
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Recurrent miscarriage 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 recurrent miscarriage 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 recurrent miscarriage is often associated with feeling of cold, cold limbs and white vaginal discharge in the pattern “Kidney Qi not Firm”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of recurrent miscarriage 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 recurrent miscarriage.
Kidney Qi not Firm, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause recurrent miscarriage
In Chinese Medicine recurrent miscarriage 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 recurrent miscarriage, other symptoms associated with Kidney Qi not Firm include feeling of cold, cold limbs and white vaginal discharge.
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".
Five herbal formulas that might help with recurrent miscarriage
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 recurrent miscarriage?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which recurrent miscarriage is a symptom.
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 recurrent miscarriage?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which recurrent miscarriage is a symptom.
Fu Tu Dan
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Stabilizes the Kidney Qi. Strengthens the Spleen. Stops leakage.
Why might Fu Tu Dan help with recurrent miscarriage?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which recurrent miscarriage is a symptom.
Qing E Wan
Why might Qing E Wan help with recurrent miscarriage?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which recurrent miscarriage 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 recurrent miscarriage?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which recurrent miscarriage is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat recurrent miscarriage
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with recurrent miscarriage?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat recurrent miscarriage as a symptom, like Fu Tu Dan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Why might Schisandra Berry (Wu Wei Zi) help with recurrent miscarriage?
Because Schisandra Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat recurrent miscarriage as a symptom, like Fu Tu Dan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Schisandra Berries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Kidneys and preserves the Essence. Astringes the Lung Qi and stops coughing. Retains Bodily Fluids and encourages their production. Tonifies the Heart and calms the spirit (Shen).
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with recurrent miscarriage?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat recurrent miscarriage as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
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 Lotus Seed (Lian Zi) help with recurrent miscarriage?
Because Lotus Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat recurrent miscarriage as a symptom, like Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan or Fu Tu Dan for instance.
Lotus Seeds is a Neutral herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen, stops diarrhea. Strengthens the Kidneys, reinforces Essence. Nourishes the Blood and calms the mind.
Why might Eucommia Bark (Du Zhong) help with recurrent miscarriage?
Because Eucommia Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat recurrent miscarriage as a symptom, like Qing E Wan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Eucommia Bark is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys. Calms ascendant Liver Yang (hypertension/high blood pressure). Calms a restless fetus.
Other symptoms often associated with recurrent miscarriage
Feeling of cold Cold limbs White vaginal discharge Painful period Infertility Late period Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal pain after childbirth Back pain Frequent urination