Urinary infection is the common name of pyelonephritis,
cystitis and urethritis. The urinary infection is caused by
bacteria, and it is common among females (especially among
pregnant women). The main clinical symptoms are fever,
lumbago, frequent micturition, urgent urination, urodynia,
etc. According to the symptoms, urinary infection falls into
two kinds: acute and chronic cases. Most of the acute
infections may be cured, but a small number of the cases
will become protracted and recurrent, which eventually
develop into chronic state due to various causes. In the
final state of the decease it can lead to a renal
insufficiency. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) urinary
infections are included in two categories: "strangury" and
"lumbago." In the chronic urinary infections there are more
complex pathogenesis and different clinical manifestations.
The one with remarkable symptoms due to deficiency such as
edema, acratia and emaciation should be included in the
syndromes of "edema" and "consumptive disease" of TCM.
Etiology and Pathogenesis
Because of eating too much food, which is pungent and sweet
in flavour, and hot and fatty in nature; or because of
excessive drinking [NOTE: this means usually alcoholic
beverages; this can be stated also; or because of excessive
drinking of water], damp-heat is led to flow downward into
the urinary bladder. Because of the low orifices are
unclean, dirty and turbid pathogens seize the opportunity to
invade the urinary bladder; a damp-heat is formed; and
because of damp-heat is accumulated in the lower-warmer, the
qi of the urinary bladder fails to perform its function
normally. In this case there will be urgent urination,
frequent micturition and urodynia. If the disease is
protracted, both the spleen and kidney will become weakened,
and in turn, syndromes due to both deficiency and excess
will be brought about.
Type and
Treatment
1.
Type of Damp-Heat in the Urinary Bladder (usually seen in
acute urinary infection)
Symptoms: Fever, aversion to cold, frequent micturition ,
urgent urination, urodynia, distending pain in the low
abdomen, lumbago, yellow greasy tongue coating, and slippery
rapid pulse.
Therapeutic Method: Clearing away heat, removing toxic
material and inducing diuresis to treat strangury.
Prescription: Shiwei Tonglin Fang (Pyrrosia Leaf Recipe for
Treating Strangury).
Ingredients:
Shiwei
Folium Pyrrosiae
Bianxu
Herbal polygoni Avicularis
Qumai
Herba Dian Thi
Dahuang Radix et Rhizoma Rhei
Danzhuye Herba Lophatheri
Baimaogen Rhizoma Imperatae
Cheqianzi Semen Plantaginis (decocted after being wrapped in
a piece of cloth)
Huashi
Talcum
Kuncao
Herba Leonuri
Gancao
Radix Glycyrrhizae
Administration: Decocted in water for oral use, 1 dose
daily.
Modification: In case of more severe chills and fever,
bitter taste, nausea and vomiting, the drugs added are
Chaihu Radix Bupleuri, Banxia Rhizoma Pinelliae and Huangqin
Radix Scutellariae.
If the
number of pus cells fails to be reduced and the tongue
coating is yellow and greasy, the herbs added are Pugongying
Herbal Taraxaci, Tufuling Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae.
In
case of hematuria, the herbs added are Xiaoji Herbal Cirii,
Shendi Radix Rehmanniae and Oujie Nodus Nelumbinis Rhizoma.
Simple
Prescription 1
Pugongying Herba Taraxaci
Decocted in water for oral use.
Simple
Prescription 2
Xianshuweigen Radix Pyrrosiae
Cleaned, pounded and then decocted in water to get thick
decoction for oral use.
Proven
Prescription 1
Ingredients:
Diding
Herba Violae
Cheqianzi Semen Plantaginis
Administration: Decocted in water for oral use.
Proven
Prescription 2
Ingredients
Shuanghua Flos Lonicerae
Maogen
Rhizoma Imperatae
Kuncao
Herba Lonicerae
Cheqiancao Herb Plantaginis
Zhuye
Herba Lophatheri
Administration: Decocted in water for oral use.
2.
Type of Retention of Damp-heat due to Insufficiency of the
Kidney-Yin (usually seen in chronic urinary infection).
Symptoms: Dizziness, tinnitus, soreness and weakness of the
loins and knees, dry throat and lips, low fever, mild or
severe frequent and urgent urination and urodynia, reddish
tongue with thin coating, and taut thready rapid pulse.
Therapeutic Method: Nourishing Yin, invigorating the kidney,
clearing away heat and descending fire.
Prescription: Modified Zhi Bai Dihuang. Tang (Decoction of
Anemarrhena, Phellodendron and Rehmannia).
Ingredients:
Shengdi Radix Rehmanniae
Shanyao Rhizoma Dioscroeae
Shanyurou Fructus Corni
Danpi
Cortex Moutan
Fuling
Poria
Zexie
Rhizoma Alismatis
Zhimu
Rhizoma Anemarrhenae
Huangbai Cortex Phellodendri
Shiwei
Herba Pyrrosiae
Danzhuye Herba Lophatheri
Administration: Decocted in water for oral use, 1 dose
daily.
3.
Type of Deficiency of Both the Spleen and Kidneys, and
Weakened Body Resistance and Retention of Pathogens (usually
seen in chronic pyelonephritis)
Symptoms: Edema of the face and feet, listlessness, acratia,
soreness and weakness of the loins and knees, dizziness,
tinnitus, anorexia, distension of the abdomen, loose stools,
frequent and dribbling urination, pale tongue with thin
white coating, and deep thready weak pulse.
Therapeutic Method: Strengthening the spleen, invigorating
the kidney, clearing way heat and inducing diuresis.
Prescription: Wubi Shanyao Wan (Incomparable Pill of Chinese
Yam).
Ingredients:
Shanyao Rhizoma Dioscoreae
Fuling
Poria
Zexie Rhizoma Alismatis
Shudi Radix Rehmanniae Preparata
Shanyurou Fructus Corni
Bajitian Radix Morindae Officinalis
Tusizi
Semen Cuscutae
Duzhong Cortex Eucommiae
Niuxi
Radix Achyarn this Bidentatae
Wuweizi Fructus Schisandrae
Roucongrong Herba Cistanches
Chishizhi Halloysitum Rubrum
Administration: decocted in water for oral use, 1 dose
daily.
