Urinary Tract Infection — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach
Urinary tract infection is a general term for bacterial diseases including pyelonephritis, cystitis, and urethritis, and falls within the TCM categories of strangury (linzheng) and retention of urine (longbi).
Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns
In TCM, this condition is differentiated into several patterns, each with a classical herbal formula:
Heat Strangury
Treatment principle: Clear Heat and Drain Damp to Unblock Strangury
Formula: Bazheng San (Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification) — from *Formulary of the Bureau of the People's Welfare Pharmacies*
Stone Strangury
Treatment principle: Clear Heat and Drain Damp, Expel Stones and Unblock Strangury
Formula: Shiwei San (Pyrrosia Powder) — from *Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library*
Blood Strangury
Treatment principle: Clear Heat and Unblock Strangury, Cool Blood and Stop Bleeding
Formula: Xiaoji Yinzi (Field Thistle Drink) — from *Formulas to Aid the Living*
Qi Strangury
Treatment principle: Regulate Qi and Dispel Stagnation, Unblock Strangury and Promote Urination
Formula: Chenxiang San (Agarwood Powder) — from *Jin Gui Yi*
Chylous Strangury
Treatment principle: Clear Heat and Drain Damp, Separate the Clear and Discharge the Turbid
Formula: Chengshi Bixie Fenqing Yin (Cheng's Dioscorea Decoction to Separate the Clear) — from *Yi Xue Xin Wu*
Overstrain Strangury
Treatment principle: Supplement the Spleen and Benefit the Kidney
Formula: Wubi Shanyao Wan (Incomparable Dioscorea Pill) — from *Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies*
These formulas are for reference under TCM syndrome differentiation and should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
Food Therapy & Diet
Dietary Therapy Recipes
- Mung Bean Sprout Juice: Juice 500g fresh mung bean sprouts and add an appropriate amount of white sugar; drink frequently as tea in any amount. Effective for urinary tract infection, dark-red hot urine and frequent urination.
- Bamboo Leaf and Imperata Tea: Put 10g each of fresh bamboo leaves and imperata rhizome in a thermos cup, steep in boiling water, cover for 30 minutes and drink frequently as tea. For urinary tract infection with red blood cells in the urine.
- Astragalus, Imperata, Cistanche and Watermelon Rind Decoction: Decoct 30g raw astragalus, 30g imperata rhizome, 20g cistanche and 60g watermelon rind in water, add an appropriate amount of white sugar. Take 2-3 times daily. Replenishes qi, benefits the kidney, promotes urination and reduces swelling; especially effective for urinary tract infection.
- Sugarcane and Lotus Root Juice: Peel, cut and juice 500g fresh sugarcane; remove the nodes, cut and juice 500g tender lotus root; mix the juices and finish drinking in 3 divided doses daily. Treats dark-red hot urine and related conditions.
- Plantain and Pig Bladder Soup: Cut 200g pig bladder into small pieces and cook into soup with 60-90g fresh plantain herb (20-30g dried) and an appropriate amount of water, season with a little salt; drink the soup and eat the bladder. Twice daily. Effective for cystitis and urethritis.
- Talc, Dianthus and Rice Porridge: Wrap 20-30g talc in cloth and decoct with 10g dianthus (qumai) in a clay pot, strain, then add 50-100g polished rice and cook into thin porridge. Eat in 2 divided doses daily; 3-5 days is one course. For difficult urination, frequent and urgent urination, and dribbling hot painful urination due to acute cystitis.
Understanding the Condition
Urinary tract infection is a general term for bacterial diseases including pyelonephritis, cystitis, and urethritis, and falls within the TCM categories of strangury (linzheng) and retention of urine (longbi). The main clinical features are generally low back pain, urinary frequency, urgency, and pain. In TCM this disease is mostly attributed to damp-heat pouring downward to invade the kidney and bladder, impairing qi transformation in the lower energizer.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.