Urinary dribbling 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.
dribbling after urination and dripping urine redirect here
Urinary dribbling 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 dribbling 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 dribbling is often associated with frequent urination, premature ejaculation and sore lower back in the pattern “Kidney Qi not Firm”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of urinary dribbling 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 dribbling.
Kidney Qi not Firm, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause urinary dribbling
In Chinese Medicine urinary dribbling 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 urinary dribbling, other symptoms associated with Kidney Qi not Firm include frequent urination, premature ejaculation and sore lower back.
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 urinary dribbling
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 urinary dribbling?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which dribbling after urination 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 urinary dribbling?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which dribbling after urination 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 urinary dribbling?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which dribbling after urination 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 urinary dribbling?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which dribbling after urination is a symptom.
Qing E Wan
Why might Qing E Wan help with urinary dribbling?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Qi not Firm' of which dribbling after urination is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for urinary dribbling
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat urinary dribbling
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with urinary dribbling?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary dribbling as a symptom, like Fu Tu Dan or Ba Wei Di Huang 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 Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with urinary dribbling?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary dribbling as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Cornelian Cherries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Preserves and tonifies the Kidney, Liver and Essence. Stops sweating and benefits the Yang and Qi. Assists menstruation and stops bleeding.
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with urinary dribbling?
Because Cuscuta Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary dribbling as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
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.
Why might Schisandra Berry (Wu Wei Zi) help with urinary dribbling?
Because Schisandra Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary dribbling as a symptom, like Fu Tu Dan or Wu Zi Yan Zong 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 Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with urinary dribbling?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat urinary dribbling 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.
Other symptoms often associated with urinary dribbling
Frequent urination Premature ejaculation Sore lower back Fatigue Feeling of cold Cold limbs Back pain Nocturnal emissions Weak lower back Abundant urination