Acupuncture for Urinary Disorders - Treatment Protocols

Submitted by yyh_staff on Sun, 2006-08-20 11:57.

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for urinary disorders (also known as "lin disease" in tcm theory). There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.

Differentiation - 5 Types of Lin Disease:

Qi Lin
Blood Lin
Damp Lin
Stone Lin
Fatigue Lin

Qi Lin

Signs & Symptoms:

Interrupted a/or stagnant urination, distention and pain in the hypogastrium
Tongue: Thin white coat, possibly a little purplish
Pulse: Deep, wiry or Firm

Treatment Points:

Valaskatagis Point Selection:
LV 3 - move LV Qi
LV 5 a/or LV 8 - clear damp-heat
CV 3 - move Qi in the hypogastric area
ST 30 - resolve stagnation in the urethra
UB 63 - xi-cleft point
PC 6 - resolve stagnation
CV 5 - TH Mu, resolve stagnation
If severe genital pain - CV 2

Blood Lin

Signs & Symptoms:

Burning urination w/Blood, women may have these symptoms with urinary tract infections
Tongue: Yellow coat
Pulse: Rapid

Treatment Points:

Valaskatagis Point Selection:
UB 27 - SI Shu, clear heat from the SI
SI 2 - water point, clear heat from the SI
HT 8 - clear heat from the HT
UB 28 - UB Shu
CV 3 - clear excess in the lower abdomen
SP 6 - move Blood in the lower abdomen

SP 9 - clear damp
SP 10 - clear heat in the Blood
UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
UB 22 - TH Shu, clear heat from the UB

Damp Lin

Signs & Symptoms:

2 general differentiations, damp-heat (clear heat, resolve damp) and damp w/KD Yin Deficiency (tonify KD Yin, resolve damp)
Turbid obstructed urination w/pain a/or burning, many times related to a urinary tract infection
Tongue: Red w/greasy coat
Pulse: Thin, rapid

Treatment Points:

Valaskatagis Point Selection:
Damp-Heat Treatment
SP 6 - tonify SP
SP 9 - resolve damp
CV 12 - ST Mu, tonify ST/SP
CV 3 - clear excess from lower abdomen
UB 22 - TH Shu
UB 28 - UB Shu
Damp w/KD Yin Deficiency
KD 6 - tonify KD Yin
KD 3 - tonify KD
CV 4 - tonify Yin
SP 9 - resolve damp
UB 22 - TH Shu
UB 28 - UB Shu

Stone Lin

Signs & Symptoms:

Obstructed dark yellow urination w/small stones a/or gravel discharge, severe pain in the hypogastrium a/or low back
Tongue: Yellow coat possibly a little greasy
Pulse: Deep, wiry, rapid

Treatment Points:

Valaskatagis Point Selection:
UB 39 - lower he sea, resolves stagnation causing urinary issues
KD 2 - clear KD heat
SP 6 - clear damp from lower warmer
SP 9 - resolve damp
CV 3 - clear excess in lower abdomen
UB 28 - UB Shu, clear UB heat
CV 12 - ST Mu, tonify ST/SP
UB 20 - SP Shu
Acute Passing of a Stone
Use electrical stimulation from UB 23 to GB 25 (Shu/Mu Combination) on the side of the pain, higher frequency works best
You can use CV 4 w/SP 6 to help relax the ureter

Fatigue Lin

Signs & Symptoms:

Incomplete urination (i.e. starts and stops) with an urge to urinate upon exertion a/or when fatigued, may show up in men with englarged prostates or in women with mild bladder prolapses
Tongue: Pale, swollen w/greasy coat, possibly yellow
Pulse: Thin, weak

Treatment Points:

Valaskatagis Point Selection:
CV 6 - tonify Qi
SP 6 - tonify SP
KD 3 - tonify KD
CV 4 - tonify KD
SP 9 - resolve damp
UB 20 - SP Shu
UB 23 - KD Shu
With severe deficiencies (w/o high blood pressure) - GV 20 w/moxa to raise the Qi

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:

St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes

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