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.
excessive vaginal discharge, heavy vaginal discharge redirect here
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 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 vaginal discharge is often associated with dizziness, depression and abdominal pain in the pattern “Kidney Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause vaginal discharge.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of vaginal discharge 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 vaginal discharge.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause vaginal discharge
In Chinese Medicine vaginal discharge 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 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 vaginal discharge, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include dizziness, depression and abdominal pain.
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".
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Yin Excess
Yin Excess
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Excess Yin is a Full Yin state pattern. Its symptoms are like those of the Cold and Damp Heat Pernicious Influences such as Edema. It is a result of over-exposure to cold environments and bad diet.
In addition to vaginal discharge, other symptoms associated with Yin Excess include loose stools, feeling of cold and frequent urination.
Yin Excess 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,".
Coco-Grass Rhizomes (Xiang Fu) is the king ingredient for Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, a formula used for Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
In addition to vaginal discharge, other symptoms associated with Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus include dizziness, depression and scanty periods.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Scanty Menstruation or Absence Of Menstruation.
Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus is often treated with Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Coco-Grass Rhizomes - Xiang Fu - as a key herb). Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Resolves Dampness and Phlegm".
Five herbal formulas that might help with vaginal discharge
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Why might Ba Wei Di Huang Wan help with vaginal discharge?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which vaginal discharge is a symptom.
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 vaginal discharge?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Excess' of which heavy vaginal discharge is a symptom.
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 vaginal discharge?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Excess' of which heavy vaginal discharge is a symptom.
Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan
Why might Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan help with vaginal discharge?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which excessive vaginal discharge is a symptom.
Wei Ling Tang
Source date: 1481 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Drains Dampness. Promotes the movement of Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Wei Ling Tang help with vaginal discharge?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus' of which excessive vaginal discharge is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for vaginal discharge
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat vaginal discharge
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with vaginal discharge?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vaginal discharge as a symptom, like Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang 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 Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with vaginal discharge?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vaginal discharge as a symptom, like Wu Pi Yin or Wu Ling San for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with vaginal discharge?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vaginal discharge as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) help with vaginal discharge?
Because Tangerine Peel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vaginal discharge as a symptom, like Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with vaginal discharge?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat vaginal discharge as a symptom, like Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang for instance.
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.
Other symptoms often associated with vaginal discharge
Dizziness Depression Abdominal pain Insomnia Tinnitus Scanty periods Fatigue Palpitations Loose stools Night sweats