Is TCM effective in treating chronic urinary tract infection?

Chronic urinary tract infection is a disease of the urinary system that can cause great pain to patients. There are many causes of urinary tract infection. Only when we find the cause can we treat it symptomatically. People with chronic urinary tract infection generally suffer from the disease for more than half a year. They often feel back pain and general weakness, which has a great impact on our lives. So is traditional Chinese medicine effective in treating chronic urinary tract infection?

1. Spleen and Kidney Qi Deficiency

Symptoms: fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal distension, back pain, frequent and clear urination or frequent urination at night, loose and soft stools, occasional feeling of urination being difficult but not very noticeable and coming and going, pale tongue with a thin white coating, and a deep, thready and weak pulse.

Syndrome differentiation and analysis: Long-term stranguria will damage the Qi, resulting in fatigue and weakness; in the early stage of stranguria, excessive intake of cold food will damage the stomach, or overwork will damage the spleen, resulting in the spleen failing to transport and transform, and the stomach failing to receive food, so there will be poor appetite, abdominal distension, and loose and soft stools; dampness and heat will damage the kidney, or congenital deficiency, or excessive sexual intercourse and indulgence will damage the kidney Qi. The waist is the home of the kidney, and if the kidney is deficient and not nourished, the waist will be sore and painful; the kidney Qi is weak and cannot evaporate, so there will be frequent urination or nocturia; the remaining dampness and heat have not been cleared away and linger, causing poor urination, but it is not very obvious and comes and goes. A pale tongue with a thin white coating and a deep, thready, and weak pulse are all signs of spleen and kidney qi deficiency.

Treatment method: Invigorate Qi, strengthen the spleen and tonify the kidney, while assisting with the effect of removing dampness.

Prescription: Qingquan Drink (experienced prescription).

Codonopsis pilosula 15g, Astragalus membranaceus 15g, Dioscorea batatas 15g, Poria cocos 15g, Lycium barbarum 15g, Cuscuta australis 12g, Coix seed 30g, Plantago seed 15g (wrapped in cloth), Pyrola 30g, Licorice root 3g.

Prescription meaning and additions and subtractions: Codonopsis, Astragalus and Chinese yam replenish Qi and strengthen the spleen, which enables the spleen to transport and transform dampness and turbidity. Lycium barbarum and Cuscuta australis can nourish the kidneys and help the kidneys transform their qi. Poria cocos and coix seed can strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness. Plantago seed and Pseudostellaria baicalensis can eliminate dampness and relieve stranguria. Licorice harmonizes all medicines. "Medical Essence: Stranguria" points out: "If the qi is deficient in the lower part and is not flowing, it should be supplemented and raised. Although it is said that supplementation and raising cannot be used alone, and diuretics cannot be used alone, it must be used in conjunction with the appropriateness of the ingredients." This prescription has both supplementation and purgation, and both purgation and nourishment, so that the supplementation does not retain evil, and the purgation does not hurt the body. It has the functions of strengthening the spleen and kidney, replenishing qi and eliminating dampness. For those with pale complexion, chills and cold limbs, add cooked aconite. For those with anorexia and greasy tongue coating, add tangerine peel and white atractylodes.

This type is more common when the disease progresses to a certain extent, the pathogenic factors enter the internal organs from the viscera, the spleen and kidneys are injured, and the vital energy is damaged. Therefore, in treatment, we must pay attention to both strengthening the body and eliminating the pathogenic factors, and use both tonification and purgation.

2. Liver and kidney yin deficiency

Symptoms: dizziness, tinnitus, or even headache, hot flashes, night sweats, fever in the five parts of the body, dry mouth and lips, back pain, short, astringent and yellow urine, high blood pressure, red tongue with thin yellow or little coating, and deep and thin pulse or stringy and thin pulse.

Syndrome differentiation and analysis: Damp-heat accumulates in the lower part of the body for a long time and is not resolved. Excessive heat damages yin, excessive dampness is blocked, and the source of transformation is insufficient, resulting in damage to kidney yin. Yi and Gui have the same origin, kidney yin is insufficient, water cannot contain wood, liver and kidney yin is deficient, liver yang is hyperactive, causing dizziness, tinnitus, or even headache, or high blood pressure. Yin deficiency and internal heat will cause hot flashes, night sweats, and fever in the five hearts; Yin deficiency and inability of body fluid to flow upward will cause dry mouth and lips; kidney yin deficiency and lumbar malnutrition will cause back pain; Yin deficiency and excessive fire and lingering dampness and heat will cause short, astringent and yellow urine. The red tongue with thin yellow or little coating, and a deep and thin or stringy and thin pulse are all signs of liver and kidney yin deficiency and internal damp heat.

Treatment method: Nourish yin, clear heat and remove dampness.

In fact, traditional Chinese medicine is effective in treating chronic urinary tract infections and has no side effects. It just takes a longer time. If any of your friends have a urinary tract infection, especially female friends, you must seek timely treatment to avoid more serious symptoms. You should also pay attention to private hygiene in your daily life.