Women's Intimate Health — A TCM Perspective
By Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto | Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Wokingham
Women's intimate health — including vaginal dryness, abnormal discharge, recurrent infections, and changes associated with hormonal transitions — is an area that many women feel reluctant to discuss. In traditional Chinese medicine, these symptoms are understood as reflections of internal organ imbalances and are treated with the same clinical rigour as any other presenting complaint.
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is most commonly associated with kidney yin deficiency and blood deficiency — insufficient yin fluids to maintain the moisture of the mucosal tissues. It is most prevalent in perimenopause and menopause as oestrogen declines, but can also occur in younger women on hormonal contraception or with low oestrogen. Treatment with kidney yin tonics — including Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and herbs such as Shu Di Huang and Mai Men Dong — restores the yin fluid foundation.
Vaginal Discharge
The TCM classification of vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea) is detailed. Clear, watery, copious discharge reflects spleen qi deficiency with cold and dampness. Thick, yellow or green, malodorous discharge reflects damp-heat in the lower burner — often associated with candida or bacterial vaginosis. Thin, scanty, slightly red discharge reflects kidney yin deficiency with empty heat. Each pattern requires a different herbal approach.
Recurrent UTIs and Infections
Recurrent urinary tract infections and vaginal infections reflect either damp-heat in the lower burner (acute, infection-type pattern) or kidney qi deficiency (chronic, deficiency pattern where the body lacks the defensive energy to resist recurrence). Herbal treatment clears damp-heat acutely and strengthens kidney qi and wei qi to prevent recurrence. See our article on natural treatment for frequent urination for further information on bladder health.
To discuss women's intimate health, contact me or book a consultation in Wokingham.
