Thin and watery vaginal discharge 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.
Thin and watery vaginal discharge 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 thin and watery vaginal discharge 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 thin and watery vaginal discharge is often associated with loose stools, poor appetite and tiredness in the pattern “Cold in the Uterus”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of thin and watery vaginal discharge we’ve identified three 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 thin and watery vaginal discharge.
Cold in the Uterus, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause thin and watery vaginal discharge
In Chinese Medicine thin and watery vaginal discharge is a symptom for the pattern "Cold in the Uterus". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the king ingredient for Wen Jing Tang, a formula used for Cold in the Uterus
Cold in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Soggy (Ru)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
There are two types of cold patterns: Full Cold or Empty Cold. Full cold refers to actual Cold Evil invading the Uterus and Dampness Stagnation often come along with this Full pattern. Empty cold is the result of Yang Deficiency, especially the Spleen and Kidney Yang.
In addition to thin and watery vaginal discharge, other symptoms associated with Cold in the Uterus include loose stools, poor appetite and tiredness.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Cold in the Uterus is associated with health issues such as Menstrual Cramps or Late Menstruation.
Cold in the Uterus is often treated with Wen Jing Tang, a herbal formula made of 12 herbs (including Cinnamon Twigs - Gui Zhi - as a key herb). Wen Jing Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Uterus and vessels".
Three herbal formulas that might help with thin and watery vaginal discharge
Wen Jing Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Uterus and vessels. Nourishes Blood. Dispels Cold. Dispels Blood Stagnation.
Why might Wen Jing Tang help with thin and watery vaginal discharge?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold in the Uterus' of which thin and watery vaginal discharge is a symptom.
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Expels Cold and warm the menstruation Blood. Stops pain. Invigorates Blood. Dispels Blood stagnation.
Why might Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang help with thin and watery vaginal discharge?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold in the Uterus' of which thin and watery vaginal discharge is a symptom.
Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang
Source date: 1827 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Supports Kidney Yang. Supplies Spleen Qi. Expels Cold and Dampness from the Uterus.
Why might Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang help with thin and watery vaginal discharge?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold in the Uterus' of which thin and watery vaginal discharge is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat thin and watery vaginal discharge
Why might Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong) help with thin and watery vaginal discharge?
Because Szechuan Lovage Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thin and watery vaginal discharge as a symptom, like Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang or Wen Jing Tang for instance.
Szechuan Lovage Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Gallbladder, the Liver and the Pericardium.
Its main actions are: Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with thin and watery vaginal discharge?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thin and watery vaginal discharge as a symptom, like Wen Jing Tang or Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with thin and watery vaginal discharge?
Because it is a key herb in Wen Jing Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold in the Uterus' (a pattern with thin and watery vaginal discharge as a symptom)
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with thin and watery vaginal discharge?
Because it is a key herb in Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold in the Uterus' (a pattern with thin and watery vaginal discharge as a symptom)
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.
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with thin and watery vaginal discharge?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern '' (a pattern with thin and watery vaginal discharge as a symptom)
Cuscuta Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver.
Other symptoms often associated with thin and watery vaginal discharge
Sticky vaginal discharge Loose stools Poor appetite Dizziness Tiredness Depression Cold limbs White vaginal discharge Amenorrhea Sore back