Acupuncture Treatment for Long Bi (urinary retention)

Long Bi (retention, difficult urination)

Western Medicine – CNS disorders, prostate, UTI, anorectal disorders, kidney problems

TCM – Bladder and San Jiao disorders



Damp/Heat

blocks the transformation function of the Bladder causing retention and fullness, dry mouth with no desire to drink

Acupuncture – Shu, Mu, foot Taiyin, BL 28 & Ren 3, SP 6 & 9

- irritable- PC 6

- loss of consciousness- Du 26, PC 9 (bleed)

- toxic Heat- LU 5 & 11 (bleed)

Liver Qi stagnation

emotional shock, anxiety, fear

Acupuncture – LR 3 & LI 4 (4 gates), Ren 3 & ST 29

- hypochondriac pain- SJ 6

- bitter taste- PC 7

Blood Stasis

from surgery or injury, thin stream or no urine, low abdominal pain

Acupuncture – Ren 6 (Qihai) & SP 10 (Xuehai), BL 28 & Ren 3

- severe pain- ST 25, LR 3

Kidney deficiency

Ming Men Fire deficiency- can’t warm the Bladder to transform water, or chronic low Jiao Damp/Heat leading to Kidney deficiency, patient feels like they should urinate but there is no energy or force to do so

Acupuncture – Moxa, Ren 4 & Du 4, BL 23, 28, ST 36





Alternative Treatment Methods

auricular- BL, KI, urinary tract, SJ

electrical- GB 28 or ST 28 transverse subcutaneous to Ren 3, alternate fast and slow frequencies or intermittent

herbal application- mash fresh garlic clove (or Cong Bai) and mix with salt, put on Ren 8 and apply heavy moxa

massage- gentle warming techniques