04 Herbal Medicine Treatments

01 Urinary Problems

In addition to gynecological diseases, urinary incontinence is a common chronic condition in the elderly. In women, it is similar to prostatitis in men, with symptoms like frequent urination, urgency, and sometimes urinary pain when taking medicine. These symptoms are caused by the coldness of the kidneys.

A patient may check if his kidneys are cold by feeling the middle of the lower abdomen. If the kidneys are cold, the middle of the lower abdomen or the two waist points in the middle of the lower back will feel chilly.

The human urethra functions like a water pipe, with the male prostate acting as a ring that controls urination by tightening and loosening. Women have a muscle at the bottom of the urethra that functions similarly. For convenience, we will refer to this muscle as the prostate.

Prostate inflammation is generally aseptic, meaning antibiotics are ineffective. The prostate, like a rubber band, loses elasticity when inflamed, causing leakage and urinary incontinence. Coldness and dampness descending to the lower body can lead to aseptic inflammation of the prostate, causing it to swell.

When the bladder is full, the inflamed prostate, like a rope with poor elasticity, cannot tighten properly, increasing pressure on the urethra and causing frequent urination. Women, having shorter urethras, are more prone to urinary incontinence.

Inflammation also causes difficulty in urination, known as urine waiting or urine dribbling.

Western medicine struggles to treat prostate problems due to their aseptic nature. However, herbal medicine treats these cold symptoms with hot medicine, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the spleen to ensure sufficient vital yuanqi.

02 A Story to Illustrate the Point

An ancient story tells of an old monk who asked his three disciples how to prevent weeds from growing on a wasteland. The first disciple suggested pulling out the weeds, the second suggested burning them, and the third suggested planting crops. The monk praised the third disciple, as planting crops would prevent weeds from growing again.

This story illustrates that maintaining sufficient vital yuanqi in the body, like planting crops, prevents the recurrence of diseases caused by cold evil spirits.

03 Sufficient Vital Yuanqi is Key

Chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, rheumatism, bone diseases, insomnia, and constipation, are ultimately caused by problems with vital yuanqi. To treat conditions like prostatitis or urinary incontinence, it is essential to strengthen the spleen, kidneys, and stomach, and replenish vital yuanqi.

05 Heat the Kidneys

Once the cause of the problem is identified as cold kidneys, the solution is to heat the kidneys. However, it is crucial to first strengthen the spleen and stomach to replenish vital yuanqi.

01 Moxibustion

This is the most effective method. Use fresh ginger slices on the lower abdomen and waist, applying moxa sticks to them. The heat should be as high as tolerable without burning the patient. Assistance from a moxibustion technician may be needed.

02 Feet Soaking

Boil water with fresh ginger and mix it with warm water in a bucket. Test the temperature of the water until it is just right. Soak the feet for no more than thirty minutes. This method, also known as foot bathing or foot massage, is quite effective.

03 Rubbing

Rub the lower abdomen and waist points with warm palms. The rubbing should be done rapidly with latent force to warm the intended parts. Assistance from a technician may be helpful.

04 Other Methods

Infra-red lamps or other heating methods can also be effective.

05 External Application of Herbal Medicine

For vaginitis, boil twenty grams of she-chuang-zi in water for daily external washing. This is more effective than lotion and has no side effects.

06 Brief Summary

As practitioners of life cultivation, we learn and practice techniques that will help us to revitalize our health as we age.

We learn that most diseases of the reproductive organs and urinary system are caused by coldness in the lower abdomen, not fire. Treating them with warm methods provides lasting effects and prevents recurrence.

Treatments include moxibustion, foot soaking, and rubbing the kidneys, but fundamentally, strengthening the spleen, stomach, and kidneys is essential for a healthy body.

07 What Is Up

In the next issue, we will learn specific manifestations of heavy coldness and dampness and how to revitalize our health under these conditions. Stay tuned.

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