Natural Treatment for Frequent Urination (Nocturia)
By Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto | Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Wokingham
Frequent urination — particularly nocturia (waking at night to urinate) — significantly disrupts sleep and quality of life. While conventional medicine typically investigates for UTI, overactive bladder, prostate enlargement, or diabetes, many cases reflect an underlying pattern of kidney yang deficiency in traditional Chinese medicine — and respond well to warming, kidney-tonifying treatment.
TCM Patterns
Kidney yang deficiency — the most common pattern for nocturia and clear, frequent, pale urination. The kidneys fail to transform and hold urine. Accompanied by cold lower back, fatigue, cold extremities, and low libido. Kidney qi deficiency — weak bladder control, stress incontinence, frequent urge to urinate without large volumes. Damp-heat in the bladder — frequent, urgent, burning urination suggesting a UTI-like pattern. Liver qi stagnation — intermittent urinary urgency related to stress and anxiety.
Treatment
For kidney yang deficiency, warming formulas including Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan and You Gui Wan tonify kidney yang and consolidate urination. For kidney qi deficiency, formulas that consolidate and astringe the bladder are used. Acupuncture at kidney, bladder, and CV meridian points — including CV 4 (Guanyuan), KD 3 (Taixi), and BL 23 (Shenshu) — tonifies kidney yang and regulates bladder function. I prescribe pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan.
To discuss frequent urination, contact me or book a consultation in Wokingham.
