Kit Li
Prostatitis (1) symptoms include pain in the pelvic area, lower back, testicles, or penis, painful or difficult urination, and pain during ejaculation. Some people experience flue-like symptoms such as fever and chills, particularly with acute prostatitis. Chronic prostatitis symptoms often develop slowly and can come and go.
Sign and symptoms:
- Pain or a burning sensation when urinating
- Difficulty starting the urine steam or a weak/interrupted stream
- Needling to urinate often, especially at night (nocturia)
- Feeling a sudden need to urinate (urgency)
- Blood in urine
- A weak or slow urine stream
Pain and discomfort:
- Pain in the lower back, groin, or lower abdomen
- Pain in the penis or testicles
- Pain with bowel movements or ejaculation
- A feeling of pressure in the rectal area
- Fever and chills (more common with acute prostatitis)
- Discharge from the urethra
- Erectile dysfunction or a reduced sex drive
- Blood in the semen
- Feeling generally unwell, tired, or experiencing muscle aches
How is Prostatitis Addressed in TCM?
Case Study:
Mr. S, Male, 50+ years old
This is his first visit to our clinic. He has been experiencing prostatitis symptoms since July. These include urinary urgency and frequency, along with a burning sensation and a dull, aching pain in the perineal region. He reports no fever. He previously consulted his local GP, where he was diagnosed with a chronic bacterial condition and completed a course of antibiotics. Despite this, his symptoms have continued, therefore he has been so stressful.
Treatment Principles:
- Soothe Liver Qi stagnation
- Strengthen Kidney deficiency
- Clear damp-heat from the Lower Jiao
Point selections for this case focus on addressing the underlying patterns identified in the assessment.
- soothe Liver-Qi stagnation, points such as LV-3 may be included.
- support Kidney deficiency, points like KI-3 can be considered.
- clearing damp-heat in the lower-jiao, points commonly used for regulating fluids and transforming phlegm, such as KI-7, SP-6, and ST-40.
- improve urinary systems and Kidneys' functions, points like Baliao (八髎).
Additional points along the Ren Mai may be selected to regulate the lower abdomen, with Dao-qi techniques; Scalp acupuncture areas, such as Foot-Motor-Sensory Area (FMSA) and Spirit-Emotions Area (SEA), to support symptom relief and overall regulation.
Chinese Herbal Medicine:
In TCM, this refers to Urinary difficulty, frequency, burning or painful urination caused by patterns such as Damp-Heat, Qi-Stagnation, Blood Stasis or Deficiency, we also called 'Lin Zheng' （Stranguria, 淋证）
Modified Ba Zhen San (八正散)(2): Clears heat and damp-heat from the Lower Jiao, promotes urination, relieves painful urinary dysfunction, commonly used for acute damp-heat presentations with symptoms such as burning urination, or scanty urine, urgency, or discomfort in the lower abdomen.
- Chē Qián Zǐ (Plantago Seed / Plantain Seed, 車前子)
- Biǎn Xù (Knotgrass Herb, 扁蓄)
- Qú Mài (Dianthus / Fringed Pink Herb, 瞿麦)....etc
