Thirst with no 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.
Contents
- The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause thirst with no desire to drink
- Four herbal formulas that might help with thirst with no desire to drink
- Acupuncture points used for thirst with no desire to drink
- The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat thirst with no desire to drink
Thirst with no 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 thirst with no 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 thirst with no desire to drink is often associated with feeling of heat, feeling of heaviness and dull-yellow complexion in the pattern “Damp-Heat in the Stomach”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause thirst with no desire to drink.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of thirst with no 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 thirst with no desire to drink.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause thirst with no desire to drink
In Chinese Medicine thirst with no desire to drink is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
In addition to thirst with no desire to drink, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Stomach include feeling of heat, feeling of heaviness and dull-yellow complexion.
Damp-Heat in the Stomach is often treated with Lian Po Yin, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Goldthread Rhizomes - Huang Lian - as a key herb). Lian Po Yin belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat".
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Bladder
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
In addition to thirst with no desire to drink, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Bladder include feeling of heat, fever and burning urination.
Damp-Heat in the Bladder is often treated with Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Chinese Pink Herbs - Qu Mai - as a key herb). Ba Zheng San belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat and Fire".
The Gallbladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to thirst with no desire to drink, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder include feeling of heaviness, fever and scanty and dark urine.
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder is often treated with Yin Chen Hao Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Virgate Wormwood - Yin Chen - as a key herb). Yin Chen Hao Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears heat".
Four herbal formulas that might help with thirst with no desire to drink
Lian Po Yin
Source date: 1862 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Transforms Dampness. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Middle Burner.
Why might Lian Po Yin help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Stomach' of which thirst without a desire to drink is a symptom.
Ba Zheng San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire. Promotes urination. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling.
Why might Ba Zheng San help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Bladder' of which thirst with no desire to drink is a symptom.
Yin Chen Hao Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Clears heat. Resolves dampness. Reduces jaundice.
Why might Yin Chen Hao Tang help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder' of which thirst without a desire to drink is a symptom.
Ge Hua Jie Cheng San
Source date: 13th century
Number of ingredients: 13 herbs
Key actions: Separates and reduces alcohol-dampness. Warms the Middle. Strengthens the Spleen .
Why might Ge Hua Jie Cheng San help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Stomach' of which thirst without a desire to drink is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for thirst with no desire to drink
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat thirst with no desire to drink
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thirst with no desire to drink as a symptom, like Liu Yi San or Ba Zheng San 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 Cape Jasmine Fruit (Zhi Zi) help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because Cape Jasmine Fruit is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thirst with no desire to drink as a symptom, like Yin Chen Hao Tang or Lian Po Yin for instance.
Cape Jasmine Fruits is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Lung and the Sanjiao.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and calms spirit. Drains Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears Heat in the Blood and stops bleeding. Anti-inflammatory.
Why might Talc (Hua Shi) help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because Talc is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thirst with no desire to drink as a symptom, like Liu Yi San or Ba Zheng San for instance.
Talc is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination. Expels Damp-Heat from the Urinary Bladder. Dispels Summer Heat. Dries Dampness when applied topically.
Why might Goldthread Rhizome (Huang Lian) help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because it is a key herb in Lian Po Yin, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Stomach' (a pattern with thirst with no desire to drink as a symptom)
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Liver, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
Why might Fish-Poison Yam (Bi Xie) help with thirst with no desire to drink?
Because it is a key herb in Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Bladder' (a pattern with thirst with no desire to drink as a symptom)
Fish-Poison Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder, the Stomach and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and eliminates cloudy urine. Eliminates Wind-Damp. Relieves Damp-Heat from the skin.
Other symptoms often associated with thirst with no desire to drink
Feeling of heat Feeling of heaviness Fever Scanty and dark urine Bitter taste in the mouth Dull-yellow complexion Burning urination Dark Urine Blood in urine Hypochondrial distention