Hematuria (Root Deficiency Pattern)
Blood disorders in TCM are conditions in which blood does not follow its normal pathways and escapes from the vessels. This may be due to heat damaging the blood vessels, qi failing to contain the blood, or blood stasis obstructing the vessels. They are primarily characterized by bleeding from the mouth, nose, or other orifices, bleeding from the urinary or reproductive tracts, or purple spots on the skin. Hematuria refers to a condition characterized by blood or blood clots mixed with the urine. Depending on the amount of bleeding, the urine may appear pale red, bright red, like water used to wash meat, or light soy-sauce colored. This condition is also called “blood in the urine” or “bloody urine.” In Western medicine, hematuria caused by urinary tract diseases such as glomerulonephritis, renal tuberculosis, and kidney tumors may be assessed and treated according to TCM pattern differentiation under the category of blood disorders.
Hematuria refers to an increased number of red blood cells in the urine, with more than 3 red blood cells per high-power field on microscopic examination of the urine sediment. Hematuria is classified as gross or microscopic, depending on whether it can be seen with the naked eye. Gross hematuria must be distinguished from other causes of red-colored urine. A key distinguishing feature is that after centrifugation, the supernatant of urine with gross hematuria is not red, while the sediment contains numerous red blood cells. With red urine due to other causes, the supernatant remains red after centrifugation, and there are few red blood cells in the sediment. Please note: ① Do not rely on dipstick testing to determine whether hematuria is present, because hematuria, hemoglobinuria, and myoglobinuria can all produce a positive result for red blood cells or occult blood on a dipstick. Many other factors can also affect dipstick results, with false-positive rates reaching approximately 50%. ② Exclude pseudohematuria and confirm true hematuria, primarily by taking a medical history and ruling out menstrual contamination of urine and the very rare possibility of fabricated hematuria.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Frequent urination with scant, dark-red, bloody urine; dizziness; tinnitus; fatigue and weakness; dry mouth and irritability; flushed cheeks and tidal fever; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; a red tongue with little coating; and a fine, rapid pulse.
In everyday terms:
- Urinating more often, with only a small amount of urine that is yellow or reddish; blood may be visible when urinating.
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, with vision that seems unsteady.
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears, which may be noticeable even in a quiet setting.
- Feeling tired and weak, and becoming easily exhausted when doing things.
- Having a dry mouth and often wanting to drink, with inner restlessness that is difficult to settle.
- Flushing across the cheeks and occasional waves of heat.
- Soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, with a feeling of poor support when standing or walking.
- The tongue looks redder than usual.
- The tongue has little coating, with almost no obvious thick coating.
- The pulse feels fine and rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish yin, reduce fire, cool the blood, and stop bleeding.
In everyday terms:
- Support nourishment of yin and help reduce deficiency fire, with the aim of easing discomfort such as irritability, insomnia, dry mouth and throat, or tidal fever and night sweats.
- Help cool the blood and stop bleeding, with the aim of easing manifestations such as nosebleeds, coughing up blood, blood in the stool, or pinpoint skin bleeding.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Impaired urination with blood; aversion to cold and cold extremities; cold, aching pain in the lower back; a pale, lustreless complexion; a pale tongue with a white coating; and a deep, fine pulse.
In everyday terms:
- Difficulty urinating with blood in the urine; urination may require straining, and blood streaks or discoloration may be visible.
- Feeling unusually sensitive to cold, with cold hands and feet that are slow to warm up.
- A cold, aching sensation in the lower back that may feel more uncomfortable with movement or touch.
- A pale, bright-looking complexion with little color.
- The tongue looks pale and has a white coating.
- The pulse is felt more clearly only with deeper pressure and feels fine.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm yang and transform qi.
In everyday terms:
- Support and warm yang and promote qi transformation, with the aim of easing discomfort such as aversion to cold, cold limbs, fatigue, or soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees.
- Support the movement of fluids in the body, with the aim of easing manifestations such as difficulty urinating, swelling, or a sensation of heaviness.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Long-standing hematuria with pale-red urine; a sallow complexion; fatigue and weakness; shortness of breath and a low voice; possibly bleeding gums or subcutaneous bleeding; poor appetite and loose stools; a pale tongue; and a fine, rapid pulse.
In everyday terms:
- Blood in the urine after a long-term illness; the urine is pale red rather than deeply colored.
- A yellowish, dull complexion and a generally unhealthy appearance.
- Feeling easily tired and weak, and quickly becoming exhausted when doing things.
- Becoming short of breath easily, with a low, weak voice.
- Sometimes experiencing bleeding gums or bleeding under the skin.
- Having a poor appetite and loose stools.
- The tongue looks pale.
- The pulse feels fine and rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify the Spleen and help it contain the blood.
In everyday terms:
- Support Spleen function and its role in containing the blood, with the aim of easing poor appetite, fatigue, or loose stools.
- Help keep blood from escaping the vessels, with the aim of easing manifestations such as nosebleeds, blood in the stool, or pinpoint skin bleeding.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Frequent, urgent urination with bright-red blood in the urine, accompanied by fatigue and weakness, or tidal fever and night sweats, dry mouth and throat, heat in the palms and soles, a flushed or sallow complexion, a light-red tongue with a thin white coating, and a fine, moderate or weak pulse.
In everyday terms:
- Urinating often and feeling a frequent, urgent need to go.
- Blood is visible in the urine during urination; it looks bright red, as if fresh.
- Feeling easily tired and weak, with little energy for daily activities.
- Sometimes experiencing waves of heat and sweating at night, possibly waking with damp clothing or bedding.
- Having a dry mouth and throat, with a dry sensation when speaking or swallowing.
- Feeling heat in the palms and soles, which may feel uncomfortably warm to the touch.
- The face may appear flushed at times, or sallow and pale, with an unhealthy complexion.
- The tongue looks light red rather than deeply red.
- The tongue has a thin white coating.
- The pulse may feel fine and somewhat slow, or weak and lacking strength; it may be easier to feel with steady pressure.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Boost qi, nourish yin, and stop bleeding.
In everyday terms:
- Support qi and nourish yin, with the aim of easing discomfort such as fatigue, shortness of breath, dry mouth and throat, or tidal fever and night sweats.
- Help stop bleeding, with the aim of easing manifestations such as nosebleeds, coughing up blood, blood in the stool, or pinpoint skin bleeding.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Blood in the urine, with pale-red urine; fatigue; a sallow complexion; dizziness; soreness and pain in the lower back and knees; reduced appetite; a light-red tongue with a white coating; and a weak pulse.
In everyday terms:
- Blood is present in the urine, which looks pale red.
- Feeling easily tired and weak, with little energy and a generally low-spirited appearance.
- A yellowish, dull complexion that looks unhealthy.
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, with vision that seems unsteady.
- Soreness and aching pain in the lower back and knees, with discomfort during activity or after sitting for a long time.
- Eating less because of a reduced appetite.
- The tongue looks light red rather than deeply red.
- The tongue has a white coating.
- The pulse feels weak and lacking in strength.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Strengthen the Spleen and boost qi; tonify the Kidney and secure essence.
In everyday terms:
- Support Spleen function and qi, with the aim of easing poor appetite, fatigue, or loose stools.
- Support Kidney qi and its role in securing essence and blood, with the aim of easing manifestations such as frequent urination, seminal emission, or persistent diarrhea.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Scant, reddish urine; a pale, lustreless complexion; an enlarging mass in the lower back; generalized edema; aversion to cold and cold limbs; abdominal distension and fullness; a pale, swollen tongue; and a deep, fine pulse.
In everyday terms:
- Passing a small amount of reddish urine.
- A pale, bright-looking complexion with little color.
- A lump in the lower back that can be felt and seems to be getting larger, becoming more noticeable than before.
- Swelling throughout the body, with a visibly puffy appearance and skin that may bulge when pressed.
- Feeling unusually sensitive to cold, with cold hands and feet that are slow to warm up.
- A feeling of fullness and distension in the upper abdomen and across the belly, with uncomfortable pressure.
- The tongue looks pale and enlarged, appearing pale and swollen when extended.
- The pulse is felt more clearly with deeper pressure and feels fine and weak.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm and tonify the Spleen and Kidney.
In everyday terms:
- Warm and support the Spleen and its role in digestion and fluid transformation, with the aim of easing discomfort such as aversion to cold, cold limbs, poor appetite, or loose stools.
- Support Kidney qi and overall strength, with the aim of easing manifestations such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, fatigue, or difficulty urinating.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
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