bubble_chart Concept

Frequent urination refers to a symptom characterized by a significant increase in the number of times one urinates, even reaching dozens of times a day, and is abbreviated as urinary frequency.

Lingshu.Jingmai and Jingui Yaolue. The section on abnormal pulse patterns and treatment of water qi refers to this symptom as "frequent urination." Suwen.Qibing Lun calls it "retention." Jingui Yaolue. The section on consumptive thirst, difficult urination, abnormal pulse patterns, and treatment refers to it as "frequent urination." Maijue. The section on abnormal pulse patterns of defecation and urination also calls it "frequent and dense urination."

This symptom is distinct from the concepts of clear and copious urination and nocturnal polyuria. Clear and copious urination refers to urine that is clear and abundant in volume; nocturnal polyuria specifically refers to increased urination at night. The characteristic of this symptom is an increase in the frequency of urination, but the volume of urine may be large or small, with no distinction between day and night.

Suwen The term "retention" has multiple meanings, Qibing Lun "Retention refers to urinating dozens of times a day," which refers to this symptom; Xuanming Wuqi Chapter: "Bladder dysfunction leads to retention," referring to difficulty in urination. In later generations, "retention" mostly refers to difficulty in urination or inability to urinate, and care should be taken to distinguish between them.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Bladder Dampness-heat︰Frequent urination, urgency and pain during urination, burning sensation in the urethra, short and turbid yellow urine, dry and sticky mouth, lower abdominal distension and fullness, constipation, or fever and chills, red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse. This is an excess pattern, caused by dampness-heat pouring down to the bladder, resulting in abnormal qi transformation; symptoms include frequent urination with urgency and pain, burning sensation during urination, discomfort in the lower abdomen, and deep yellow or reddish urine. Treatment should focus on clearing and draining damp-heat, and the recommended formula is Eight-Ingredient Rectification Powder.
2. Kidney Yin Deficiency︰Frequent and scanty yellow urine, accompanied by vertigo tinnitus, dry throat and mouth, flushed cheeks and red lips, vexation and insomnia, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, steaming bone fever, vexing heat in the chest, palms and soles, night sweat, hard stool, red tongue with little coating, and thin rapid pulse. It belongs to the deficiency pattern, kidney yin deficiency, and failure of containment, and because yin deficiency leads to internal heat, affecting bladder qi transformation and causing frequent urination. The key points for differentiation are: accompanied by vertigo tinnitus, steaming bone fever, vexation and night sweat, and light yellow urine. The treatment is to nourish yin and reduce fire, and the prescription is Modified Anemarrhena, Phelloendron and Rehmannia Pill.
3. Insecurity of Kidney Qi︰Frequent and clear urination, or accompanied by urinary incontinence, with a {|###|}pallid complexion{|###|}, dizziness, {|###|}tinnitus{|###|}, shortness of breath and panting, weakness in the waist and knees, cold limbs, a {|###|}pale and swollen tongue{|###|} with thin white coating, and deep, thin, weak pulse. Due to constitutional {|###|}yang deficiency{|###|}, prolonged illness damaging yang, the kidneys failing to store essence, and the bladder losing its restraint, leading to frequent urination. Accompanied by dizziness, {|###|}tinnitus{|###|}, soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, and cold limbs, this condition is often seen in elderly individuals with {|###|}kidney deficiency{|###|} or young children with insufficient {|###|}yang qi{|###|}. Treatment involves warming and tonifying {|###|}kidney yang{|###|}, and the recommended formula is the Right-Restoring Pill.
4. Lung-spleen Qi Deficiency︰Frequent and clear urination, or accompanied by enuresis and incontinence, along with pale lips, bland taste in the mouth, coughing with frothy saliva, dizziness, shortness of breath, cold intolerance, mental fatigue, reduced appetite, loose stools, pale tongue with white coating, and weak pulse. Due to excessive consumption of cold foods, overexertion, cold pathogens damaging yang, leading to lung-spleen qi deficiency and inability to control the lower body, resulting in bladder dysfunction and frequent urination. Accompanied by coughing with frothy saliva, reduced appetite, and loose stools, often triggered by overexertion, commonly seen in middle-aged individuals with excessive labor. Treatment should focus on warming the lungs and strengthening the spleen, using a modified formula of Lung-Warming Decoction combined with Middle-Tonifying Qi-Replenishing Decoction.

Frequent urination can be categorized into deficiency and excess. The deficiency pattern is mostly due to yang deficiency, with urine tending to be clear and copious; the excess pattern is often caused by dampness-heat, frequently accompanied by urgency, pain during urination, or discomfort. This condition is often attributed to dysfunction of the lungs, spleen, and kidneys, which can occur in a single organ or multiple organs simultaneously. Additionally, there are cases of frequent urination due to liver qi depression, where emotional disturbances lead to liver qi depression and obstructed qi movement, affecting the bladder and causing frequent urination. The characteristics include frequent urination with a sensation of incomplete voiding, accompanied by discomfort in the hypochondriac region, mild abdominal distension and fullness, vertigo, headache, bitter taste in the mouth, dysphoria, and irritability. Symptoms often fluctuate with emotional changes. Treatment should focus on soothing the liver and relieving depression, and the formula Peripatetic Powder can be modified for use.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. 《Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases．Differentiation of Yangming Disease Pulse and Symptoms and Treatment》: "Taiyang disease, if vomiting, purging, or sweating is induced, followed by mild irritability, frequent urination, and hardened stool, it can be treated with Minor Purgative Decoction to achieve recovery."
2. Zhangshi Yitong．Incontinence of Urine》: "Therefore, the elderly often experience frequent urination due to insufficient blood in the bladder and excessive yang fire. The treatment should focus on nourishing the kidney water and true yin, supplementing bladder fluids, and assisted by astringent formulas, such as Six-Ingredient Pill with Ophiopogon Tuber and five flavors. Warm-natured medicines should not be used."
3. Xiezheng Lun．Constipation Disease》: "Moreover, when there is frequent urination without control but constipation, it is called splenic constipation. This is because the spleen fluids are leaking downward, leaving nothing to moisten the intestines. Zhongjing used Splenic Constipation Pill to treat it. Danxi suggested that clearing lung dryness is appropriate, as clearing the lungs will benefit urination and allow the spleen to be nourished. It is advisable to use Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction for treatment."