小便不禁或频数,古方多以为寒,而用温涩之药,殊不知属热者,盖膀胱火邪妄动,水不得宁,故
不能禁而频数来也。故年老人多频数者,是膀胱血少,阳火偏旺也。治法当补膀胱阴血、泻火邪为主,
而佐以收涩之剂,如牡蛎、山茱萸、五味子之类,不可用温药也。病本属热,故宜泻火。因水不足,故火
动而致小便多,小便既多,水益虚矣,故宜补血、泻火治其本也,收之、涩之治其标也。
愚按经云膀胱不约为遗溺。小便不禁,常常出而不觉也。人之旋溺,赖心、肾二气之所传送,盖心与
小肠为表里,肾与膀胱为表里。若心肾气亏,传送失度,故有此症,治宜温暖下元,清心寡欲。又有产
褥不顺,致伤膀胱,若内虚寒者,秘元丹、韭子丸之类;若内虚湿热者,六味地黄丸,或加五味、杜
仲、补骨脂,年老者,八味丸;产褥收生不谨,损破尿胞者,参术补胞汤加猪羊胞煎之。窃谓肝主小便,
若肝经血虚,用四物、山栀;若小便涩滞,或茎中作痛,属肝经湿热,用龙胆泻肝汤;若小便频数,或劳
而益甚,属脾气虚弱,用补中益气汤加山药、五味子;若小便无度,或淋沥不禁,乃阴挺痿痹也,用六
味地黄丸;若小便涩滞,或补而益甚,乃膀胱热结也,用五淋散,其脾肺燥不能化生者,黄芩清肺饮;膀胱
阴虚,阳无所生者,滋肾丸;膀胱阳虚,阴无所化者,六味丸;若阴痿,思色精不出,茎道涩痛如淋,
用加减八味丸料加车前、牛膝;若老人精竭复耗,大小便牵痛如淋,亦用前药,不应,急加附子,多有
生者。
刘大参,年逾六旬,形气瘦弱,小便不禁或频数,内热口干,或咳痰喘晕。余以为肺肾气虚,用六味
丸、益气汤以滋化源。彼不信,反服补阴、降火、涩精之剂,阴窍作痛,或小便不利。仍服前药,不两月
而愈。
大尹刘天锡,内有湿热,大便滑利,小便涩滞,服淡渗之剂,愈加滴沥,小腹腿膝皆肿,两眼胀痛。
此肾经虚热在下,反服淡渗,导损阳气,阴无以化。遂用地黄、滋肾二丸,小便如故,更以补中益气汤加
麦门、五味兼服而愈。
州守王用之,肚腹膨胀,饮食少思,服二陈、枳实及淡渗之类,小便不利,大便不实,咳嗽,腹胀,
手足俱冷。余谓足三阴虚寒,用金匮肾气丸而康。
Urinary incontinence or frequency was traditionally considered a cold syndrome by ancient physicians, who often employed warming and astringent herbs. However, it is not uncommon for this condition to stem from heat. This occurs when pathogenic fire in the Bladder (Bladder) moves recklessly, disturbing the water metabolism, thereby causing an inability to retain urine and resulting in frequent urination. Consequently, elderly individuals often experience frequency due to insufficient blood and yin in the Bladder, leading to an excess of yang fire. The treatment principle should primarily focus on tonifying the yin and blood of the Bladder and clearing pathogenic fire, assisted by astringent agents such as Oyster Shell (Muli), Cornus Fruit (Shanzhuyu), and Schisandra Berry (Wuweizi). Warming herbs should be avoided. Since the root cause is heat, clearing fire is appropriate. Due to insufficient kidney water, fire becomes active, causing polyuria; as urine volume increases, body fluids become further depleted. Therefore, one must treat the root by nourishing blood and clearing fire, while treating the branch by astringing and consolidating.
I note: The *Classic of Internal Medicine* states, "When the Bladder fails to constrain, enuresis occurs." Urinary incontinence refers to the involuntary leakage of urine without the patient's awareness. The act of urination relies on the transmission and transportation of Qi from the Heart and Kidney. The Heart and Small Intestine are exteriorly-interiorly related, as are the Kidney and Bladder. If Qi of the Heart and Kidney is deficient, leading to impaired transmission, this symptom arises. Treatment should involve warming the lower origin and calming the mind while reducing desires. Additionally, improper care during the postpartum period may injure the Bladder. If there is internal deficiency-cold, formulas such as Mi Yuan Dan or Jiu Zi Wan may be used; if there is internal deficiency with damp-heat, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan may be used, potentially supplemented with Wuweizi, Duzhong, or Buguzhi; for the elderly, Ba Wei Wan (Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan) is suitable. If the bladder wall is damaged due to careless midwifery, Shen Zhu Bao Bao Tang decocted with pig or sheep bladders can be administered.
In my opinion, the Liver governs urinary functions. If Liver channel blood is deficient, Si Wu Tang combined with Gardenia (Shanzhi) is indicated. If urination is obstructed or painful in the urethra, it belongs to Liver channel damp-heat, treated with Long Dan Xie Gan Tang. If urination is frequent or worsens with exertion, it indicates Spleen Qi deficiency, treated with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang supplemented with Yam (Shanyao) and Wuweizi. If urination is uncontrolled or dribbling, it signifies prolapse and flaccidity (Yin Ting Wei Bi), treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. If urination is obstructed or worsens after tonification, it indicates Bladder heat accumulation, treated with Wu Lin San. If Spleen and Lung dryness prevents fluid transformation, Huang Qin Qing Fei Yin is used. For Bladder yin deficiency where yang lacks generation, Zi Shen Wan is prescribed. For Bladder yang deficiency where yin lacks transformation, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is used. In cases of impotence, where sexual desire exists but ejaculation does not occur, accompanied by urethral pain resembling strangury, Jia Jian Ba Wei Wan material with Plantago Seed (Cheqianzi) and Achyranthes Root (Niuxi) is applied. For elderly patients whose essence is exhausted and further depleted, presenting with pulling pain in both bowel and bladder movements resembling strangury, the aforementioned formula is used; if ineffective, Aconite Root (Fuzi) should be added urgently, often resulting in recovery.
Official Liu Dashan, over sixty years old, presented with emaciation and weak constitution, urinary incontinence or frequency, internal heat, dry mouth, occasional cough with sputum, wheezing, and dizziness. I diagnosed Lung and Kidney Qi deficiency and prescribed Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang to nourish the source of transformation. He did not trust this diagnosis and instead took yin-nourishing, fire-clearing, and essence-astringing agents, which caused pain in the genital orifices and dysuria. Upon resuming my original prescription, he recovered within two months.
Official Liu Tianxi had internal damp-heat, loose stools, and obstructed urination. After taking diuretic and leaching herbs, his condition worsened with dribbling, swelling of the lower abdomen, legs, and knees, and distending pain in the eyes. This was due to deficiency-heat in the Kidney channel located in the lower jiao. The use of leaching herbs further damaged yang qi, preventing the transformation of yin. Subsequently, Di Huang Wan and Zi Shen Wan were administered, restoring normal urination. Further treatment with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang supplemented with Ophiopogon Tuber (Maidong) and Wuweizi led to full recovery.
Prefect Wang Yongzhi suffered from abdominal distension, poor appetite, and lack of desire for food. After taking Er Chen Tang, Zhi Shi, and diuretic herbs, he developed dysuria, loose stools, cough, abdominal distension, and cold limbs. I diagnosed deficiency-cold of the three foot yin meridians and prescribed Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, resulting in his recovery.