Suo Quan Wan — Reduce the Stream Pill

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

Overview

Suo Quan Wan — the “Reduce the Stream Pill” — is a Song-dynasty formula. The name evokes shrinking down an overflowing stream — the patient who urinates too frequently, leaks at night or has cold-pattern bedwetting. Just three herbs: Yi Zhi Ren (warming and astringent), Wu Yao (warming and Qi-moving) and Shan Yao (Spleen-Kidney tonifying) — combine to warm the Kidney Yang and astringe urinary leakage.

I prescribe Suo Quan Wan as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Suo Quan Wan is prescribed for Kidney Yang deficiency with urinary leakage:

• Frequent clear urination
• Nocturia (waking to pass urine at night)
• Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting in children or adults)
• Stress urinary incontinence with cold pattern
• Pale, possibly cold lower body
• Tongue — pale, white moist coat
• Pulse — deep, weak, slow at proximal positions

Key herbs

1. Yi Zhi Ren (black cardamom, Alpinia oxyphylla) — warms Kidney Yang and astringes urinary leakage
2. Wu Yao (Lindera aggregata) — warms and moves Qi in the lower burner
3. Shan Yao — tonifies Spleen and Kidney; astringes

Formula actions

1. Warms Kidney Yang
2. Astringes urinary leakage
3. Reduces urinary frequency

Conditions treated

1. Childhood nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) with cold pattern
2. Adult nocturnal enuresis from Kidney Yang deficiency
3. Frequent urination in older adults
4. Nocturia — see natural treatment for frequent urination
5. Stress urinary incontinence with Kidney Yang deficiency pattern
6. Overactive bladder with cold pattern
7. Diabetes insipidus pattern with cold lower body

Cautions

Frequent urination in older adults needs medical assessment to exclude UTI, prostate enlargement, diabetes, bladder dysfunction or cancer.

Persistent bedwetting in older children warrants paediatric assessment.

Not appropriate for Heat-pattern frequent urination (burning, dark concentrated urine).

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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