Slight desire to drink 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.
slight thirst redirects here
Slight desire to drink 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 slight desire to drink 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 slight desire to drink is often associated with aversion to cold, fever and urinary retention in the pattern “Greater Yang Accumulation of Water”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause slight desire to drink.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of slight desire to drink 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 slight desire to drink.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause slight desire to drink
In Chinese Medicine slight desire to drink is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Greater Yang Accumulation of Water
Greater Yang Accumulation of Water
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to slight desire to drink, other symptoms associated with Greater Yang Accumulation of Water include aversion to cold, fever and urinary retention.
Greater Yang Accumulation of Water is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Stomach Yin Deficiency causes Dryness and Heat, which harms the Organ's ability of receiving and ripening foods and drinks. It is the result of prolonged unbalanced diet and irregular eating habits.
In addition to slight desire to drink, other symptoms associated with Stomach Yin Deficiency include epigastric pain, dry mouth and poor appetite.
Stomach Yin Deficiency is often treated with Mai Men Dong Tang, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Dwarf Lilyturf Roots - Mai Dong - as a key herb). Mai Men Dong Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that enrich yin and moisten dryness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Stomach".
Four herbal formulas that might help with slight desire to drink
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with slight desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Greater Yang Accumulation of Water' of which slight thirst is a symptom.
Mai Men Dong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Stomach. Generates Body Fluids. Directs Rebellious Qi downward.
Why might Mai Men Dong Tang help with slight desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' of which slight thirst is a symptom.
Yi Wei Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Strengthen the Stomach. Creates Body Fluids.
Why might Yi Wei Tang help with slight desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' of which slight thirst is a symptom.
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Augments the Qi. Strengthens the Spleen. Leaches out Dampness. Stops diarrhea.
Why might Shen Ling Bai Zhu San help with slight desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach Yin Deficiency' of which slight thirst is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat slight desire to drink
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with slight desire to drink?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat slight desire to drink as a symptom, like Wu Ling San or Shen Ling Bai Zhu San 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 Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with slight desire to drink?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat slight desire to drink as a symptom, like Shen Ling Bai Zhu San or Mai Men Dong Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with slight desire to drink?
Because Ginseng is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat slight desire to drink as a symptom, like Shen Ling Bai Zhu San or Mai Men Dong Tang for instance.
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 Dwarf Lilyturf Root (Mai Dong) help with slight desire to drink?
Because Dwarf Lilyturf Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat slight desire to drink as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Yi Wei Tang for instance.
Dwarf Lilyturf Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Why might Jujube Date (Da Zao) help with slight desire to drink?
Because Jujube Date is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat slight desire to drink as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Jujube Dates is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula.
Other symptoms often associated with slight desire to drink
Aversion to cold Fever Urinary retention Vomiting of fluids soon after drinking Epigastric pain Dry mouth Poor appetite Feeling of heat in the afternoon Dry throat Feeling of fullness