Urinary incontinence

Involuntary loss of urine, especially in the daytime. Urinary incontinence is involuntary loss of urine during the daytime as opposed to enuresis, which usually denotes loss of urine during sleep. Urinary incontinence most commonly occurs in vacuity patterns, but is sometimes observed in repletion heat patterns.

Patterns

Insufficiency of the kidney origin (肾元不足 shèn yuán bù zú) with vacuity cold in the lower burner causes urinary incontinence with clear urine.

Medicinal therapy: Warm the kidney and secure the bladder with Stream-Reducing Pill (缩泉丸 suō quán wán).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, and KI. 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), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), BL-32 (Second Bone-Hole, 次髎 cì liáo), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo); needle with supplementation and moxa.

Insufficiency of the lung and spleen (肺脾不足 fèi pí bù zú) with vacuous qì failing to retain urine gives rise to urinary incontinence and frequent urination attended by cough, panting, qì timidity, lassitude of spirit and physical fatigue, reduced food intake, sloppy stool, abdominal distension after eating, pale tongue with white fur, and a rapid stringlike pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement qì with formulas such as Center-Supplementing Qì-Boosting Decoction (补中益气汤 bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, GV, LU, SP, and ST. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-43 (Gāo-Huāng Transport, 膏肓俞 gāo huāng shù), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì), CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), 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 moxa.

Frenetic stirring of bladder fire evil (膀胱火邪妄动 páng guāng huǒ xié wàng dòng) can cause frequent urination and difficulty in retaining urine between voidings.

Medicinal therapy: Clear and disinhibit with Poria Four Powder (四苓散 sì líng sǎn) combined with Three Yellows Decoction (三黄汤 sān huáng tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly transport and alarm points of BL, and on SP. Select CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), BL-28 (Bladder Transport, 膀胱俞 páng guāng shù), and LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān); needle with drainage.

Liver depression and binding heat (肝郁热结 gān yù rè jié) can cause urinary urgency and occasional scant involuntary losses of urine.

Medicinal therapy: Course the liver with variations of Supplemented Free Wanderer Powder (加味逍遥散 jiā wèi xiāo yáo sǎn) made into honey or water pills.

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on PC, LR, SP, and CV. Select BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán), KI-1 (Gushing Spring, 湧泉 yǒng quán), CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), and SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán); needle with drainage.

Incontinence with clouded spirit Wind stroke, externally contracted febrile disease, or epilepsy can cause urinary incontinence with clouded spirit, delirious speech, and rolled-back or forward-staring eyes. Such conditions are treated by emergency measures chosen according to presenting signs.

See enuresis; urine.