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 retention 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 retention 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 retention is often associated with scanty and dark urine, painful urination and dry mouth in the pattern “Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of urinary retention we’ve identified two herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the three medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat urinary retention.
Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause urinary retention
In Chinese Medicine urinary retention is a symptom for the pattern "Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Triple Burner is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Triple Burner in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating
In addition to urinary retention, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner include scanty and dark urine, painful urination and dry mouth.
Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner is often treated with Er Miao San, a herbal formula made of 2 herbs (including Phellodendron Bark - Huang Bo - as a key herb). Er Miao San belongs to the category of "formulas that expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Expels Dampness from the Lower Burner".
Two herbal formulas that might help with urinary retention
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 urinary retention?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner' of which urinary retention is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Damp-Heat In The Lower Burner include scanty and dark urine, painful urination and dry mouth.
Er Miao San
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Expels Dampness from the Lower Burner. Drains Heat from the Lower Burner.
Why might Er Miao San help with urinary retention?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner' of which urinary retention is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Damp-Heat In The Lower Burner include scanty and dark urine, painful urination and dry mouth.
The three Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat urinary retention
Why might Knotgrass (Bian Xu) help with urinary retention?
Because it is a key herb in Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner' (a pattern with urinary retention as a symptom)
Knotgrass is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Bladder.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat and encourages urination. Drains Dampness and stops itching. Kills parasites.
Why might Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo) help with urinary retention?
Because it is a key herb in Er Miao San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner' (a pattern with urinary retention as a symptom)
Phellodendron Bark is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder, the Kidney and the Large intestine.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner. Clears Kidney Yin Deficient Heat. Applied externally or toxic Fire, especially associated with Dampness.
Why might Chinese Pink Herb (Qu Mai) help with urinary retention?
Because it is a key herb in Ba Zheng San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner' (a pattern with urinary retention as a symptom)
Chinese Pink Herbs is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder, the Heart and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and expels Damp-Heat. Dissolves Blood Stasis and assists blocked menstruation.
Other symptoms often associated with urinary retention
Scanty and dark urine Painful urination Dry mouth Dry throat Lower abdominal pain Lower back pain Weakness of the lower extremities Cold sensation in the lower half of the body Lower abdominal pressure