Incontinence, Frequent Urination, and Nocturia After Prostate Surgery Treatment With Acupuncture

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in American men. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be more than 180,000 new cases diagnosed in American men this year alone. The good news is that prostate cancer has a very good prognosis when diagnosed and treated early with surgery. Which is why regular screening and early detection is so important. However, surgery can cause side effects such as frequent nighttime urination, incontinence and erectile dysfunction. But there's more good news, acupuncture can effectively reduce these symptoms and improve your quality of life.

of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the treatment of bladder problems and sexual dysfunction for more than 2000 years. Starting from an ancient text called the basic question, TCM is described in the diagnosis and treatment of various syndromes of incontinence, as well as frequent and painful urination. Obviously there was no surgery for prostate cancer at the time, but the modern practice of Chinese medicine has shown that those same principles of diagnosis and treatment are effective when applied to the symptoms caused by prostate surgery.

TCM, frequent urination, sexual function, and

of traditional Chinese medicine works by correcting imbalances in the body. Treatment imbalance not only treat the symptoms or mask the situation, but corrects the root of the problem by encouraging self-healing body. Generally, the cause of incontinence and sexual function is a kidney imbalance. Sometimes an imbalance spleen or liver is also included. Keep in mind that while the organ names and some of the functions are the same in both TCM and western medicine, TCM kidney dysfunction, liver and spleen does not mean the disease in Western medicine authorities.

In TCM, the kidneys are responsible for sexual function and metabolism of water. He said that the kidney, "the government line." In other words, the kidneys regulate urination. Just as in Western medicine, the kidneys filter the urine. However, unlike Western medicine, kidney qi (or energy) also contributes to the ability to hold urine in the bladder, as well as the ability to urinate completely. kidney is also the principal organ for the contribution of libido and sexual function.

, renal function can be described in terms of yin and yang. the ability of the bladder is sufficient to hold urine is yin functions. When there are too few kidney yin, the bladder can not hold urine and May result in stress and urge incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when one's bladder leakage while laughing, coughing, sneezing or while urge incontinence is the sudden and urgent need to pass urine. Other symptoms of kidney yin deficiency are night sweats, red face, thirst, frequent nighttime urination, rapid pulse and red tongue.

the ability to smoothly write the Yang functions. When there are too few kidney yang, the bladder can not properly control the opening and closing the urethra, which can lead to inhibited urination. problem with kidney yang can lead to overflow incontinence, which is described as difficulty in initiating urination, and then there was dribbling after it starts. Other signs are lack Yang coldness in the body can lose stools, fatigue, slow pulse, pale and language. Impotence and libido is a sign of poor kidney yang gaps. As is common to many types of incontinence at the same time, it is also common to both kidney yin and yang to be simultaneously damaged.

spleen is also an important organ in the metabolism of water and urinate. If the frequent urination is accompanied by extreme fatigue especially in the morning, loose stools, indigestion, and a pale swollen tongue, an imbalance may be in the spleen. If you are getting worse by stress or anger, the liver May also be involved.

Another factor after prostate surgery is the Qi and blood stagnation. Qi and blood circulate in the body naturally. Injury or trauma can cause them to slow down or stop, what is called stagnation. It is common after surgery of any kind. It also can develop from any chronic illness and can, of course, arise as one ages. After prostate surgery is often a factor in recovery and should be treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs possible. Signs of blood stasis can be a pain, dark spots on the tongue, or purple hue in the language of color. Urine can also have blood in it, and it May be difficult to undo. Blood stagnation usually occur alone but in combination with kidney or spleen gaps.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment

acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatments are focused on correcting the root imbalance in the body. Treatment is usually once or twice a week with acupuncture and the treatment series is usually 10-12 sessions. treatment should increase the wetting ability to hold one, reducing the number of times during a wet night, reduced urinary urgency, and create a smooth flow of urine. In addition, patients may see improvement in sexual function compared to the same period.

acupuncture points, such as Ren 4:06 a.m. on the lower abdomen, and bladder 23, and Du 4 on the lower back all tonify kidney. Kidney 7 can be added to tonify yang, and kidney 2 will be used if there is more yin deficiency with heat. Other items, such as Ren 3, Bladder 64 can be directly tonify the bladder and help with incontinence. If the spleen is involved, spleen 3:09 a.m. will be helpful. If the liver is in disharmony, liver 5, 3, or 2 can help move Qi and open channels in the genitals.

Also, many points on the lower back and sacrum help move the Qi and blood, such as the bladder 32 and 33 Spleen 6 also helps to move Qi and blood and can be used. Moxibustion, the warming acupuncture points with a smoldering herb called ai ye may be helpful for incontinence and libido. Warming up the lower abdomen and lower back can be very effective for this problem, because both warm moxibustion Yang Qi, while moving and blood stagnation.

Herbal formulas such as Liu Wei Huang di tang can be used for kidney yin deficiency, a ba wei di huang tang is effective for yang deficiency. If the root of imbalances in the spleen, or Wu Ling San BU Zhong Yi Qi Tang can be a very effective formula. For blood stagnation, herbs such as dan shen and Liu Xing Wang bu can be added. When taking Chinese herbs, it is very important to be diagnosed and treated by trained Chinese medicine practitioner.

Acupuncture is also very useful for support if you are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy. treatment should be altered for special presentations to boost qi, or delete the heat.

To learn more about how acupuncture can help reduce symptoms of prostate surgery, it is best to find an acupuncturist with experience in the treatment of frequent urination and sexual dysfunction.

References:
1st
2nd Wiseman N, Feng Y. Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine. Brookline, MA: Paradigm, 1998:583.
3rd Wiseman N, Ellis A. Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine. Brookline, MA: Paradigm, 1996. 69