URINARY INCONTINENCE

Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary incontinence, the loss of bladder control, is a common and often embarrassing problem. The severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine when coughing or sneezing to having an urge to urinate that's so sudden and strong you don't get to a toilet in time.

    Though it occurs more often as people get older, urinary incontinence isn't an inevitable consequence of aging. For most people, simple lifestyle changes or medical treatment can ease discomfort or stop urinary incontinence.

    Many people experience occasional, minor leaks of urine. Others may lose small to moderate amounts of urine more frequently.

    Types of urinary incontinence include:

    • Stress incontinence. Urine leaks when pressure is exerted on the bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy.
    • Urge incontinence. There a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. There may be a need to urinate often, including throughout the night. Urge incontinence may be caused by a minor condition, such as infection, or a more-severe condition such as a neurological disorder or diabetes.
    • Overflow incontinence. Frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to a bladder that doesn't empty completely.
    • Functional incontinence. A physical or mental impairment prevents making it to the toilet in time.
    • Mixed incontinence. More than one type of urinary incontinence.
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Cold extremities
  • No thirst
  • Dry throat
  • Excessive salivation with spitting up of clear Fluids
  • No coughing
  • Spontaneous sweating
  • A bland taste in the mouth
  • Cold breath
  • Frequent, clear urination
  • Irritability
  • Dizziness
  • Frequent urination
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Cold limbs
  • A pale complexion
  • Abdominal pain which is alleviated by warmth and pressure and aggravated by Cold
  • T: Pale and moist
  • C: None
  • P: Frail or Deep and slow or Wiry and tight
Treatment Principle
  • Warm the Lungs
  • Strengthen the Stomach
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Frequent, copious, clear urine or
  • Incontinence or enuresis
  • Worse with exertion and fatigue or when sneezing or coughing
  • Protracted, incessant cough or
  • Cough
  • Panting
  • Expectoration of copious, clear, watery or white Phlegm
  • Short, weak, breathing
  • Soft, low voice or
  • Reluctance to speak
  • Asthma
  • Pale complexion and lips
  • Mild edema of the eyelids or fingers which is worse in the morning
  • Facial edema
  • Dizziness
  • Chest oppression
  • Four limbs tired
  • Anorexia
  • General lassitude
  • Cold body
  • Fatigue
  • Lassitude
  • Weakness
  • Poor appetite
  • Distention and pain of the epigastrium and abdomen on food intake
  • Loose stools
  • Severe cases: Frightens easily
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Weak or Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Reinforce the Spleen
  • Benefit the Lungs
  • Aid ascent of Yang
  • Tonify Qi
  • Warm and transform Phlegm-Dampness
  • Secure the Bladder
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Unproductive cough or
  • Scanty, sticky phlegm or
  • Sometimes blood-streaked sputum
  • Dry mouth
  • Dry throat
  • Low back and knees sore and weak
  • "Steaming Bone" tidal fever
  • Night sweats
  • Malar flush
  • Maybe hoarse voice
  • Maybe pain in shin, foot, and heel
  • Sterility
  • Spermatorrhea
  • T: Red and dry
  • C: None
  • P: Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Moisten the Lungs
  • Reinforce the Kidneys
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Shortness of breath (difficult to inhale)
  • Dyspnea exacerbated by exertion
  • Asthma (inhalation difficult)
  • Soft, weak voice
  • Spontaneous perspiration
  • Aversion to Wind
  • Emaciated body
  • Exhausted Shen
  • Dispirited
  • Limbs cold
  • Face blue-green-colored
  • Maybe superficial edema of limbs and body
  • Maybe dysuria
  • Maybe stress incontinence on coughing
  • T: Pale, moist and swollen
  • C: White
  • P: Deep and thready or Weak
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish the Lungs
  • Soothe asthma
  • Reinforce the Kidneys to Grasp Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Prolapse of one or more organs
  • Sallow complexion
  • Anorexia
  • Four limbs feel tired and heavy
  • Abdominal and epigastric distention after eating
  • Maybe acid regurgitation or vomiting
  • Loose stools
  • Shortness of breath
  • T: Pale and flabby - may have teethmarks
  • C: White
  • P: Even or Soft and thready
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen the Spleen
  • Benefit Qi
  • Reinforce the Center
  • Invigorate Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
  • DU-20, other points are selected according to the type of prolapse
Clinical Manifestations
  • Frequent, copious, clear urine or
  • Incontinence or enuresis
  • Worse with exertion and fatigue or when sneezing or coughing
  • Protracted, incessant cough or
  • Cough
  • Expectoration of copious, clear, watery or white Phlegm
  • Short, weak, breathing
  • Soft, low voice or
  • Reluctance to speak
  • Asthma
  • Pale complexion and lips
  • Mild edema of the eyelids or fingers which is worse in the morning
  • Facial edema
  • Dizziness
  • Chest oppression
  • Four limbs tired
  • Anorexia
  • General lassitude
  • Cold body
  • Fatigue
  • Lassitude
  • Distention and pain of the epigastrium and abdomen
  • Loose stools
  • Severe cases:
    Frightens easily
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Weak or Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Reinforce the Spleen
  • Benefit the Lungs
  • Aid ascent of Yang
  • Warm and transform Phlegm-Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Stress incontinence
  • Frequent nocturia
  • Body cold
  • Limbs icy
  • Complexion white and shiny
  • Fatigue
  • Lassitude
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness upon standing
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Low back, knees and abdomen feel cold and painful
  • Lower abdomen feels cold and painful
  • Loose stools containing undigested food
  • “Cock-crow” diarrhea (occurs at about 5 am)
  • Maybe chronic hemorrhoids
  • Edema of face and limbs
  • Dysuria
  • Vaginal discharge
  • Decreased sexual desire
  • Severe:
    Abdominal ascites
  • T: Pale, moist and swollen
  • C: Thin and white or White and greasy
  • P: Deep, thready, weak and maybe slow
Treatment Principle
  • Warm and Reinforce the Spleen and Kidneys
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Sudden collapse with loss of consciousness
  • Mouth open and hands relaxed
  • Eyes closed
  • Limbs cold
  • Snoring
  • Perspiration ("flows like oil")
  • Incontinence of urine and feces
  • T: Not described
  • P: Minute and thready - about to collapse or Superficial and big but with no root (with a red face)
Treatment Principle
  • Support Zheng Qi
  • Consolidate Exhaustion
  • Strengthen Qi
  • Return Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Frequent urination
  • Cloudy urine that resembles rice-water
  • Seminal emissions
  • Enuresis
  • Dribbling urination
  • Maybe turbid urine
  • Insomnia
  • Disorientation
  • Palpitations
  • Poor appetite
  • Constipation
  • Forgetfulness
  • Fatigue
  • Emaciation
  • Pale facial complexion
  • Shortness of breath
  • T: Pale or Light pink
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Thin, slow and frail or Deep and weak or Weak and thready
Treatment Principle
  • Regulate and tonifies the Heart and Kidneys
  • Stabilize Jing
  • Stop seminal emissions
  • Stop incontinence
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary frequency or incontinence that is initiated by stress or emotional upset
  • Urination feels incomplete or hesitant
  • Fullness in the lower abdomen
  • Tightness or fullness in the chest
  • Difficulty getting a satisfying breath
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Hypochondriac discomfort or tightness
  • Dizziness
  • Occasional fatigue, better with exercise
  • Abdominal distention
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Irregular menses
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Menstrual lower abdominal distention and pain
  • Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • Premenstrual syndrome
  • Flatulence
  • Alternating diarrhea and constipation
  • T: Pink or Dark and slightly enlarged
  • C: Thin and white or White and slimy
  • P: Wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Soothe the Liver
  • Clear Stagnation
  • Resolve Dampness
  • Disinhibit urination
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urine leaks when pressure is exerted on the bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy
  • Abdominal distention and pain
  • Gas
  • Borborygmus
  • Diarrhea
  • Distention and pain in the sides or flanks
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Tendency to sigh
  • Melancholy
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Inappropriate anger
  • Women:
    Irregular menses
    Dysmenorrhea
    Breast distention and pain before and during menses
  • T: Pink
  • C: White and greasy
  • P: Slippery and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Soothe the Liver
  • Invigorate the Spleen
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Astringent passage of scanty, dark urination
  • Facial complexion pale and sallow
  • Both cheeks slightly red
  • Dizziness
  • Dry eyes
  • Blurred vision
  • Spots before the eyes
  • Numbness of limbs
  • Flaccid paralysis (Wei syndrome), weakness
  • Tinnitus
  • Deafness
  • Forgetfulness
  • Low back and knees sore and painful
  • Throat dry and painful
  • Five Sole Heat
  • Low-grade fever
  • Tidal malar flush
  • Dull flank pain
  • Night sweats
  • Steaming bones
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Stools difficult to pass
  • Constipation
  • Men:
    Spermatorrhea
  • Women:
    Irregular menses or
    Scanty menses or
    Amenorrhea
    Vaginal discharge
  • T: Red
  • C: None
  • P: Thready and rapid or Thready, wiry and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish and Reinforce the Liver and Kidneys
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Frequent, scanty, yellow urine
  • Maybe with a sense of Heat or irritation
  • Later stage: Maybe incontinence
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus or deafness
  • Poor memory
  • Aching, soreness or weakness of the low back and knees
  • Steaming bones
  • Spermatorrhea or
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Aching in the bones
  • Aching in the leg and heel
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Thirst
  • Night sweats
  • Five sole Heat
  • Malar flush
  • Facial flushing
  • Red lips
  • Low grade fever in the afternoon
  • Restlessness
  • Dry throat, maybe recurrent sore throat
  • Dry stools and/or
  • Constipation
  • Heightened libido
  • Vexation
  • If Heart Fire also Flares:
    Insomnia
    Frequent dreams
    Palpitations
  • If Liver Yang also Rises:
    Dizziness
    Blurred vision
  • T: Red
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Kidney Yin
  • Clear Deficiency Heat
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Involuntary urination upon increased intra-abdominal stress
  • Lower and upper back feel cold, weak and aching
  • Feeling chilled
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Cold limbs
  • General debility
  • Pale or bright white face
  • Urinary frequency with abundant, clear urine or
  • Oliguria with edema
  • Nocturia
  • Fatigue
  • Lassitude
  • Withdrawn, subdued behavior
  • Knees feel cold and aching
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus
  • Weakness
  • Impotence
  • Spermatorrhea
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Low libido
  • Female infertility ("uterus cold and infertile")
  • Maybe leukorrhea or menorrhagia
  • Maybe anorexia
  • Maybe loose stools
  • Maybe chronic diarrhea or "cock crow" diarrhea
  • T: Pale and swollen (may have teethmarks)
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Deep and thready - maybe slow and forceless
Treatment Principle
  • Warm and Reinforce Kidney Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Involuntary urination upon increased intra-abdominal stress
  • Nocturia
  • Frequent, clear, abundant urination
  • Dribbling after urination
  • Upper and lower back pain
  • Knees aching and weak
  • Hearing deficit
  • A bright, white facial complexion
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Cold limbs
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • Impotence
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Seminal emission
  • Possible white vaginal discharge
  • Possible incessant menstrual leakage
  • T: Pale and swollen with teethmarks
  • C: Thin white
  • P: Deep, forceless and thready
Treatment Principle
  • Consolidate the Kidneys
  • Conserve Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Dyspnea which is worse on exertion
  • Difficult to inhale but not to exhale
  • Shortness of breath, shallow breathing
  • Soft voice
  • Perspiration
  • In chronic cases:
    Thin physique
    Mental weariness
    Urinary incontinence on coughing
    Cold limbs
    Facial edema of Deficiency type
  • T: Pale and swollen
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Superficial and Deficient or Deep and thready
Treatment Principle
  • Reinforce the Kidneys to Grasp Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Frequent urination
  • Copious amounts of clear urine
  • Incontinence of urine
  • Enuresis
  • Either a tendency towards being too hot of too cold
  • Shortness of breath
  • Asthma
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Cold limbs
  • Weak lower back and knees
  • Lingering tinnitus or deafness
  • Seminal emission
  • Impotence
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of strength
  • Maybe anorexia
  • Maybe loose stools
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Deep, weak possibly tight or Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify and warm Kidney Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Urinary frequency
  • Urinary urgency
  • Painful urination or
  • Continuous dripping of urine or
  • A sagging sensation in the lower abdomen
  • Sudden interruption to the urinary stream
  • Turbid urine or
  • Pus and blood in the urine or
  • Sand and stones in the urine
  • A bitter taste in the mouth
  • In Damp-Heat Pouring Downward there may also be:
    Fever
    Thirst
    Dry mouth
    Low back pain
  • In Damp-Heat Crystallizes in Urinary Bladder there may also be:
    Colicky pain in the low back, possibly radiating to the groin
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow
  • P: Slippery and rapid or Wiry and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Eliminate Dampness by diuresis
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary incontinence of unknown origin
  • Face withered and dark
  • P: Deep and thready
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary incontinence of unknown origin
  • Red urine
  • P: Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Excessive thirst that is not quenched by substantial intake of fluids
  • Frequent, copious urination or
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Turbid urination
  • Lassitude
  • Shortness of breath
  • Epigastric pain
  • P: Deficient, weak and thready
Treatment Principle
  • Augment Qi
  • Nourish Yin
  • Generate Fluids
  • Moisten Dryness
  • Alleviate thirst
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Palpable masses that may or may not be painful
  • Lower abdominal pain without palpable masses
  • Lower abdominal distention
  • Lower back pain
  • Lower abdominal distention during menstruation
  • Frequent menstruation (3-5 timer per month)
  • Spotting
  • Dark purple menstrual Blood (usually with clots)
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding with abdominal soreness and pain
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Depression
  • Cold extremities
  • White vaginal discharge
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Choppy
Treatment Principle
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Promote the movement of Qi
  • Dispel Blood Stasis
  • Warm and regulate menstruation
  • Unblock the collaterals
  • Unblock painful obstruction
  • Alleviate pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Hemiplegia
  • Paralysis
  • Atrophy of the lower limbs
  • Facial paralysis
  • Slurred speech
  • Drooling
  • Dry stools
  • Frequent urination
  • Deviation of the eyes and mouth
  • Excess salivation
  • Cold extremities
  • Asthenia
  • T: Normal
  • C: White
  • P: Moderate
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify Qi
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Unblock the channels
  • Promote movement in the limbs
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Incontinence of urine
  • Dripping urine
  • Stabbing pain in the low back, feet, testes, penis and lower abdomen
  • Occasional swelling of penis and testes aggravated by resting and sleeping and better with movement
  • Maybe impotence
  • Maybe premature ejaculation
  • Maybe erection without stimulation
  • Maybe ejaculation without stimulation
  • Maybe partial erection during copulation
  • Incomplete ejaculation
  • Maybe ejaculation after copulation
  • Premature graying of the hair
  • Itch or pain of hairy areas
  • Tinnitus
  • Stuffy head
  • Chest oppression
  • Retardation of response to stimulation
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Forgetfulness
  • Insomnia
  • High viscosity sperm with a high number of deformed sperm and abnormal sperm count
  • T: Purple spots
  • C: Normal
  • P: Grating and astringent
Treatment Principle
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Free the flow of Jing
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Acute lower abdominal pain
  • Incontinence of urine
  • Night fevers
  • Delirious speech
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Thirst
  • May be mania (severe)
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Amenorrhea
  • Hard stool
  • Dark red complexion
  • Headache
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus
  • Insomnia
  • Palpitations
  • Constipation
  • Frequent urination
  • Emotional instability
  • Chills in the waist and feet
  • Tremors
  • Excruciating abdominal pain with cold
  • Black stool
  • May be chills and fever
  • Hemoptysis
  • Hematuria
  • Red eyes
  • Pain and distention of the head
  • Toothache
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Lochioschesis
  • Severe wheezing
  • Distention of the chest
  • T: Red and dry
  • C: Yellow
  • P: Deep and forceful or Choppy
Treatment Principle
  • Drain Heat
  • Break up Blood Stasis
  • Resolve Phlegm
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Weakness and soreness of the lower back and knees
  • Deterioration of the sinews and bones with a general reduction in function
  • Wasting of the muscles of the legs and feet
  • Difficulty walking
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Spontaneous emissions
  • Urinary incontinence
  • T: Red
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Thready and rapid or Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Enrich Yin
  • Descend Fire
  • Strengthen the sinews and bones
Herb Formulas
Points