TRADITIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE – DISEASES & FORMULAS
Incontinence & Urinary Frequency
Incontinence and Urinary frequency is a loss of bladder control (in the first instance) or a loss of Bladder tone in the second.
These conditions may be acute or chronic. In acute cases, Heat or Damp-Heat are often involved, and these may be associated with infection.
Cause:
“The Cure is wrought by amending the cold and moist distemper”. (The Practice of Physick, 1663)
Cold and Damp is often related to the loss of tone in the Kidney and Bladder.
Chronic cases are often due to deficiency, especially in the aged. Kidney Yin or Yang deficiency can be causitive factors, and with these, there is often a loss of Kidney function, resulting in Incontinence, Frequent Urination, or Nocturnal Urination.
The Kidneys can lose their ability to withhold Urine, and may have Qi, Yin or Essence depletion associated. This was part of what was called the “Retentive Faculty” in the Western Tradition, that is, that part which allows for the proper holding of food and fluids until the proper time for them to be eliminated. The retentive Faculty of the lower abdomen is especially associated with the Kidneys, the Kidney Yang in particular.
Treatment:
“Purging is always necessary in this Disease”. (The Practice of Physick, 1663)
Removing the cause such as Cold or Damp is necessary. Medicines that strengthen and astringent are required in chronic cases and in old age.
Western Tradition
General for Incontinence & Urinary Frequency
1. Purslane, Pomegranate and Shepherd’s Purse taken in food.
2. Galangal stops incontinence when it comes from a Cold cause.
3. Myrrh taken with wine
4. Confected Yellow Myrobalan taken every morning.
5. Chicken Gizzard skin with Agrimony
6. A Hares Brain, dried and powdered and taken with wine stops Incontinence. (Culpeper)
7. The dried and powdered Bladder of a Sheep or Goat was commended for Incontinence of urine.
Decoction of Hemp Seed
Decoction for Bedwetting
Syrup of Betony (Pharmacopoeia Augustana)
Powder Against Incontinence
Powder for Incontinence
Powder for Incontinence (Alexander Benedictus)
Powder for Incontinence (Rhasis)
Powder for Incontinence (Unani)
Electuary for Incontinence (Riverius)
Electuary of Frankincense (Unani)
Wine for Incontinence
Tincture of St. John’s wort
Incontinence & Frequent Urination from Cold
1. Agrimony powder 1 dram with wine
2. Chew Cumin seed before bed.
3. “Filberts [Hazelnuts] roasted are wholesome against the distillation of Urine”.
4. Ashes of Sheep or Goat bladder taken with water and vinegar. Or Ram or Pig bladder boiled and drunk; Or Sheep or Goat Bladder dried and powdered and taken in wine.
“Against this disease give the patient the bladder of a Goat or of a black Sheep, or else of a Bull made to powder, give it to him to drink with vinegar & water when he goes to bed”, (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
5. Fox, Rabbit, Hare or Rooster testicles boiled in wine, or powdered and taken with wine.
6. Comb of a Rooster, burnt and taken in powder. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘)
7. Dried Liver of a Crow
8. Brain of a Hare or Rabbit powdered and taken in wine “causes the patient to withhold his urine”.
9. Chicken Gizzard skin ½ oz., Burnt Hedgehog 3/4 oz., Agrimony 1 oz,. Powder. Take 2 drams before bed with wine or broth. (A famous powder from Montagnana)
“Above all are commended the Powder of Agrimony, and the inward Skins of Hens Gizzards dried, given either by themselves, or mixed together with red Wine”. (The Practice of Physick, 1663)
10. Snails burnt with their shells given in drink.
11. Throat of a Cock dried and powdered, taken in wine for several days was found to be successful.
Mithridate
Cardamon 19 (Sug smel bcu dgu) (Tibetan)
Incontinence & Frequent Urination from Heat
1. Yellow Myrobalan with Cassia Fistula
2. Powdered Snails taken in wine was commended as effective.
TCM Classification
Damp Heat
frequent burning urine, incontinence or urgent urination with high colored smelling urine, pain in the pubic area, lower back pain, nausea, bitter taste, thirst, fever in acute case.
Ba Zheng San
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Qi Stagnation
frequent urine, hypochondriac discomfort, dizziness, fatigue, depression, irritability, maybe constipation and diarrhea, irregular menstruation, PMS, tender breasts.
Xiao Yao San
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Qi Deficiency
frequent urination, incontinence, fatigue, poor appetite, shortness of breath, abdominal distension, pale face, weak pulse
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Yang Deficiency
frequent urine, incontinence, nocturnal urination, pale complexion, fatigue, hates the cold, cold feet, back pain, weak knees, impotence, deep, slow pulse.
Sang Piao Xiao San
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
You Gui Wan
Tu Si Zi Wan
Yin Deficiency / Deficient Heat
frequent scanty urine, incontinence, dry mouth, night sweats, restless, insomnia, heat in the palms and soles, facial flushing, dizziness, tinnitus, lower back pain, dry skin
Zhi Bai Ba Wei Wan
Loss of Kidney Retention / Loss of Essence
frequnet urine, dribbling urine, lower back pain, similkar to Yang deficiency, but with more weakness and wasting (Yang deficiency principally marked by Cold symptoms).
Fu Tu Dan
Special Formulas
Bedwetting in Children:
1. Agrimony (1–2 drams) with broth
2. Powder of a Goats Bladder
3. Chicken Gizzard skin 1 part
Agrimony 2 parts
Powder and give 1–2 drams in broth.
POWDER FOR INCONTINENCE
Acorn 50 drams
Frankincense 30 drams
Coriander
Armenian Earth
Gum Arabic 10 drams ea.
Dose: 3 drams. (Formulary of al Samarqandi)
ANOTHER POWDER:
Acorn
Frankincense
Cumin
Myrtle berries equal parts
Dose: 3 drams (Formulary of al Samarqandi)
POWDER FOR URINARY INCONTINENCE OF RHAZES
Acorns, roasted 7 dirhams
Frankincense
Gum Arabic
Burnt Deer horn 5 dirhams ea.
Dried Goat Bladder
Mastic
Myrrh 3 dirhams ea.
Powder. Strengthens the Bladder and its sphincter, preventing involuntary release of urine. The dose is two dirhams with quince juice. (Continens)
ELECTUARY FOR INCONTIENENCE
Tabasheer, Balsam wood,
Costus, Sandalwood,
Purslane seed, Tragacanth,
Gum Arabic, Starch, Madder,
Barberry root, Endive seed,
Armenian Earth 4 drams ea.
Sugar 1 oz.
Powder and with sufficient Honey of Roses, form an Electuary. Take 1 oz. each morning. (Secrets of Alexis)
INFUSION FOR INCONTINENCE
Comfrey roots ½ oz.
Cypress roots, Galangal 1 dram ea.
Plantain, Horsetail,
Cinquefoil with the roots 1 handful
Cypress nuts, Acron cups 4 scruples ea.
Rue seed, Agnus Castus,
Frankincense, Ivory ½ scruple ea.
Red Roses 1 pugil
Infuse in Red Wine (4 pints), strain and add Cinnamon (½ oz.), sugar sufficient to taste. (The Practice of Physick, 1663)
Research:
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