Enuresis

1. Involuntary loss of urine. See urinary incontinence.

2. Involuntary loss of urine during sleep, mostly observed in children; commonly referred to as bed-wetting. Enuresis is attributable to bad eating habits (excessive eating and drinking) or fatigue due to excessive play, reducing the ability to waken from sleep to urinate. It may also be due to vacuity cold of the lower origin with insecurity of kidney qì, or to spleen-lung qì vacuity affecting regulation of the waterways.

Medicinal therapy: Stream-Reducing Pill (缩泉丸 suō quán wán) and Mantis Egg-Case Powder (桑螵蛸散 sāng piāo xiāo sǎn) are good general formulas. For vacuity cold of the lower origin, use Garlic Chive Seed Pill (家韭子丸 jiā jiǔ zǐ wán) or Oyster Shell Pill (牡蛎丸 mǔ lì wán), which consists of oyster shell (Ostreae Concha, 牡蛎 mǔ lì) and halloysite (Halloysitum Rubrum, 赤石脂 chì shí zhī). Spleen-lung qì vacuity can be treated with Center-Supplementing Qì-Boosting Decoction (补中益气汤 bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng). In addition to treatment, cultivate proper habits in the child.

Acumoxatherapy: For vacuity cold of the lower origin, base treatment mainly on CV and back transport points. Select CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), BL-28 (Bladder Transport, 膀胱俞 páng guāng shù), and KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī); needle with supplementation and add moxa.

Point selection according to signs: For frequent enuresis, add moxa at LR-1 (Large Pile, 大敦 dà dūn). For heavy sleep, add GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì) and HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén). For spleen-lung qì vacuity, base treatment mainly on CV, LU, SP, and ST. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), LU-9 (Great Abyss, 太渊 tài yuān), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ); needle with supplementation and add moxa.

Point selection according to signs: For sloppy stool, add BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù) and BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù). For frequent urination, add GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì) and BL-32 (Second Bone-Hole, 次髎 cì liáo).

See urine.