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.
Urinary difficulties 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 urinary difficulties 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 urinary difficulties is often associated with back pain, gallstones and kidney stones in the pattern “Phlegm in Kidneys or Gallbladder”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause urinary difficulties.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of urinary difficulties 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 urinary difficulties.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause urinary difficulties
In Chinese Medicine urinary difficulties is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm in Kidneys or Gallbladder
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
According to Chinese medicine, gallstones or kidney stones are a form of Phlegm.
In addition to urinary difficulties, other symptoms associated with Phlegm in Kidneys or Gallbladder include back pain, gallstones and kidney stones.
Phlegm in Kidneys or Gallbladder is often treated with Si Ni San, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Bupleurum Roots - Chai Hu - as a key herb). Si Ni San belongs to the category of "formulas that harmonize liver-spleen", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Regulates Liver and Spleen".
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Oedema
Oedema
Pulse type(s): Slowed-down (Huan), Hidden (Fu)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Oedema manifests itself as swellings due to the retention of Body Fluids. Chinese Medicine believes that it originates from the leaking of Body Fluids from their normal pathways into the space between skin and muscles.
In addition to urinary difficulties, other symptoms associated with Oedema include sore knees, poor appetite and feeling of heaviness.
Oedema 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 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 urinary difficulties, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include coughing, back pain and poor appetite.
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".
Talc (Hua Shi) is the king ingredient for Liu Yi San, a formula used for Summer Heat
Summer Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Soggy (Ru)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
In addition to urinary difficulties, other symptoms associated with Summer Heat include irritability, diarrhea and vomiting.
Summer Heat is often treated with Liu Yi San, a herbal formula made of 2 herbs (including Talc - Hua Shi - as a key herb). Liu Yi San belongs to the category of "formulas that dispel summer-heat and facilitate resolution of dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Summer-Heat".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Deficiency with Dampness
In addition to urinary difficulties, other symptoms associated with Spleen Deficiency with Dampness include edema, diarrhea and dark urine.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Spleen Deficiency with Dampness is associated with health issues such as Vaginal Itching.
Spleen Deficiency with Dampness 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,".
Five herbal formulas that might help with urinary difficulties
Liu Yi San
Source date: 1172 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Clears Summer-Heat. Drains Dampness. Supplements Qi.
Why might Liu Yi San help with urinary difficulties?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Summer Heat' of which urinary difficulties is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Summer Heat include irritability, diarrhea and vomiting.
Si Ni San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Regulates Liver and Spleen. Eliminates Internal Heat.
Why might Si Ni San help with urinary difficulties?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm in Kidneys or Gallbladder' of which urinary difficulties is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm In Kidneys Or Gallbladder include back pain, gallstones and kidney stones.
Wu Pi Yin
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Reduces edema, diuretic. Regulates and strengthens Spleen Qi.
Why might Wu Pi Yin help with urinary difficulties?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which urinary difficulties is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Oedema include sore knees, poor appetite and feeling of heaviness.
Shen Qi Wan
Why might Shen Qi Wan help with urinary difficulties?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which urinary difficulties is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include coughing, back pain and poor appetite.
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 urinary difficulties?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Deficiency with Dampness' of which urinary difficulties is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen Deficiency With Dampness include edema, diarrhea and dark urine.
Acupuncture points used for urinary difficulties
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat urinary difficulties
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with urinary difficulties?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary difficulties as a symptom, like Liu Yi San or Si Ni San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
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 Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with urinary difficulties?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary difficulties as a symptom, like Wu Pi Yin or Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with urinary difficulties?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary difficulties as a symptom, like Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
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 Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with urinary difficulties?
Because Water Plantain is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary difficulties as a symptom, like Wu Ling San or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with urinary difficulties?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary difficulties as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Kidney.
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.
Other symptoms often associated with urinary difficulties
Edema Urinary tract infection Scanty urination Low milk supply Amenorrhea Joint pain Irritability Diarrhea Coughing Vomiting