IgA Nephropathy Concurrent Patterns

IgA nephropathy (immunoglobulin A nephropathy, IgAN) is a group of glomerulonephritides characterized by IgA deposition in the glomerular mesangium. It was first described in 1968 by French pathologists Berger and Hinglais and is therefore also known as Berger disease. There is no exact equivalent disease name for IgA nephropathy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Based on its clinical symptoms and disease duration, it is generally classified within the TCM categories of “urinary blood,” “kidney wind,” “low back pain,” “edema,” and “consumptive disease.”

TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Edema of the limbs and face, a heavy sensation in the limbs, poor appetite, abdominal distension, a pale, moist tongue with a white coating, and a deep pulse

In everyday terms:

  • The face and limbs may become swollen and look puffy and tight; the swelling may be noticeable when pressed.
  • The limbs may feel heavy and sluggish, with a lack of strength during activity; prolonged walking may make fatigue more noticeable.
  • Appetite may be poor, and a person may eat little or have little desire to eat even when seeing food.
  • The abdomen may feel full, bloated, and uncomfortable, with a sense of pressure that makes sitting or lying down uncomfortable.
  • The tongue may look pale and moist, with a white coating that appears moist.
  • The pulse may be difficult to feel clearly unless pressed more deeply; it feels deep and is not easy to locate.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Promote urination and drain dampness

In everyday terms:

  • Support the elimination of fluids from the body and help ease discomfort such as difficulty urinating, swelling in the lower limbs, or generalized edema.
  • Help dispel dampness and turbidity and ease manifestations such as a heavy feeling in the body, a foggy or heavy sensation in the head and body, or aching joints.

|Related Medication

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Wuling San

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Obesity, a sticky or greasy sensation in the mouth, chest oppression with abundant phlegm, dizziness and drowsiness, a swollen tongue with a white, greasy coating, and a slippery pulse

In everyday terms:

  • Body weight may be above average, with a fuller appearance.
  • The mouth may feel sticky or greasy rather than fresh, with a clinging sensation when speaking or swallowing.
  • The chest may feel tight or uncomfortable, with more phlegm and a persistent sensation of phlegm in the throat.
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness and drowsiness may occur; fatigue may become more noticeable after activity.
  • The tongue may appear enlarged, swollen, and thick when extended.
  • The tongue coating may look white and greasy, appearing thick and sticky.
  • The pulse may feel smooth and flowing, with a slippery quality.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Dry dampness and transform phlegm

In everyday terms:

  • Help dry dampness and turbidity in the body and ease manifestations such as a heavy feeling, a foggy or heavy sensation in the head and body, or chest discomfort.
  • Help transform phlegm and turbidity and ease discomfort such as coughing with abundant phlegm, a blocked sensation in the throat, or wheezing with phlegm sounds.

|Related Medication

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Er Chen Tang

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Scant, dark urine; loose, foul-smelling stools; dry, bitter mouth; epigastric and abdominal distension and oppression; a red tongue with a yellow, greasy coating; and a rapid, slippery pulse

In everyday terms:

  • Urine may be scant and yellowish-red or dark, with a reddish, cloudy appearance.
  • Stools may be loose and foul-smelling, with a sticky, unsatisfying feeling during bowel movements.
  • The mouth may feel dry and bitter, with noticeable dryness when speaking or swallowing.
  • The upper abdomen and abdomen may feel distended, full, and oppressed, with an uncomfortable sense of being blocked.
  • The tongue may look red and be coated with a yellow, greasy layer.
  • The pulse may feel smooth and relatively fast, with a rapid, unsettled rhythm.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Clear heat and eliminate dampness

In everyday terms:

  • Help clear internal heat and ease discomfort such as feeling feverish and restless, thirst, a dry throat, or irritability.
  • Help eliminate dampness and turbidity and ease manifestations such as a heavy feeling in the body, scant dark urine, or swelling in the lower limbs.

|Related Medication

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Simiao Wan

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Aching and cold sensations in the lumbosacral region and limb joints, heaviness and pain in the limbs, a white, greasy tongue coating, and a soggy, moderate pulse

In everyday terms:

  • The lumbosacral area and joints in the limbs may feel sore, achy, and cold, with greater discomfort during activity or after sitting for a long time.
  • The limbs may feel heavy and sluggish, with pain and a dragging sensation when walking.
  • The tongue may be covered with a white, sticky coating that looks thick and greasy.
  • The pulse may feel soft and slow, with a relaxed, unhurried beat that lacks force.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Disperse cold and eliminate dampness

In everyday terms:

  • Help dispel internal cold and ease discomfort such as aversion to cold, cold limbs, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, or heaviness in the limbs.
  • Help eliminate dampness and turbidity and ease manifestations such as a heavy feeling in the body, aching joints, or limited movement.

|Related Medication

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

A dusky, dark complexion; purplish-dark lips or ecchymotic spots; fixed stabbing pain that worsens at night; low back pain; numbness in the limbs; rough, scaly skin; dark menstrual blood, often with clots; a pale, dusky tongue with petechiae or ecchymoses and purplish sublingual veins; and a fine, choppy, or rough pulse

In everyday terms:

  • The face may look dark and dull, with little brightness or luster.
  • The lips may look dark purple, and small purplish spots resembling bruises may also be visible.
  • Pain may stay in one location rather than moving and may feel particularly sharp, like a needle prick.
  • Pain may worsen at night and may not necessarily improve with rest.
  • There may be pain or discomfort in the lower back during activity or after prolonged sitting.
  • The limbs may feel numb, with a tingling or crawling sensation and reduced ease of movement.
  • The skin may be dry and rough, with a fish-scale-like appearance and an uneven texture.
  • Menstrual blood may be dark rather than bright red, and menstrual flow may often contain many clots.
  • The tongue may look pale and dusky, with reduced luster.
  • Purplish spots or bruise-like patches may be clearly visible on the tongue.
  • The veins under the tongue may be purplish and visibly distended, appearing enlarged and congested.
  • The pulse may feel fine and uneven, with a rough or sluggish quality under pressure.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Invigorate blood and resolve stasis

In everyday terms:

  • Help promote blood flow and resolve stasis, easing discomfort such as painful bruising, localized swelling or hardening, or obstructed menstrual flow.
  • Help improve the circulation of blood through the vessels and promote smoother qi and blood flow, easing manifestations such as a dull complexion or joint pain.

|Related Medication

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Xuefu Zhuyu Tang

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Distension in the hypochondriac region, bitter taste in the mouth, low mood, frequent sighing, menstrual irregularity, a thin tongue coating, and a wiry pulse

In everyday terms:

  • The sides of the chest and rib area may feel full, tight, or uncomfortable, including when moving or turning.
  • The mouth may taste bitter, especially in the morning or on an empty stomach; the bitter taste may also be noticeable when speaking or swallowing.
  • There may be low mood and unhappiness, with persistent feelings of gloom or emotional constraint.
  • There may be frequent involuntary sighing, sometimes followed by a slight easing of tightness in the chest.
  • Menstruation may be irregular, with variations in cycle length or menstrual flow.
  • The tongue coating may be very thin, appearing as only a light, thin layer.
  • The pulse may feel taut and straight, like a tightened string, rather than soft and flexible.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Soothe the liver and relieve constraint

In everyday terms:

  • Help soothe constrained liver qi and ease discomfort such as distension in the chest and flanks, low mood, or a sensation of something stuck in the throat.
  • Help regulate the movement of qi so the body feels more relaxed and at ease, and ease manifestations such as chest tightness or reduced appetite.

|Related Medication

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Jiawei Xiaoyao San

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, a urine-like odor in the mouth, reduced urine output, chest tightness and shortness of breath, itchy skin, heaviness in the body, a sticky sensation in the mouth, constipation, a white, greasy tongue coating, and a fine pulse

In everyday terms:

  • There may be nausea or an urge to vomit, and vomiting may sometimes occur, with an initial feeling of queasiness.
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness may occur, with greater unsteadiness while standing or walking and after activity.
  • Headache or discomfort may occur and may worsen with mental effort or movement.
  • There may be a urine-like odor in the mouth that is noticeable when opening the mouth.
  • Urine output may decrease, and urination may feel difficult or insufficient.
  • The chest may feel tight, with rapid breathing or shortness of breath that is more noticeable during activity.
  • The skin may feel itchy, with a recurring urge to scratch.
  • The body may feel heavy and sluggish, and the limbs may feel heavy and weak.
  • The mouth may feel sticky or greasy rather than fresh, including when speaking or swallowing.
  • Bowel movements may be difficult, requiring straining, with a feeling of incomplete evacuation.
  • The tongue may be covered with a white, sticky coating that appears thick and greasy.
  • The pulse may feel fine and weak, with a thin, insubstantial beat under pressure.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Resolve toxins and transform turbidity

In everyday terms:

  • Help dispel harmful substances in the body and ease discomfort such as painful sores or swelling, a red and swollen throat, or skin rashes.
  • Help transform turbidity in the body and ease manifestations such as a heavy feeling, a foggy or heavy sensation in the head and body, or difficulty urinating.

|Related Medication

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Huoxiang Zhengqi San

References

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