Master Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Zhang Qi: Experience In Treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
May 25, 2026
Zhang Qi, a National Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, and one of the first batch of national senior TCM experts with recognized academic experience. Below is an introduction to Professor Zhang's experience in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), shared for peers in the field.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common clinical condition in elderly men, marked by difficult urination, dribbling urine, or even complete urinary retention. It falls under the category of "Longbi" (dysuria and anuria) in TCM. Through clinical observation, I believe this condition is prevalent in the elderly due to their physiological and pathological characteristics: weak kidney qi and susceptibility to pathogenic obstruction. As stated in Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon): "At eight years old, a man's kidney qi is abundant... At eighty-eight, his heavenly essence (tiangui) is exhausted, essence diminishes, kidney qi declines, his body and form become frail, and his teeth and hair fall out."
The kidney governs water metabolism and controls the two lower orifices (urinary and reproductive). Kidney deficiency impairs bladder qi transformation, and prolonged deficiency leads to damp-heat stagnation and blood stasis, resulting in dribbling or obstructed urination. Therefore, treatment must prioritize tonifying the kidney while eliminating pathogenic factors-only addressing both root and branch causes yields optimal efficacy. I often use the kidney-tonifying and blood-activating method, primarily prescribing Modified Zishen Tongguan Pill, which delivers satisfactory short-term and long-term therapeutic effects.
Zishen Tongguan Pill (also known as Tongguan Pill or Zishen Pill) originates from Lanshi Micang (Secret Collections of the Orchid Chamber), in the chapter on "Stranguria and Obstructed Urination". The original text notes: "It treats anuria without thirst, with heat in the blood aspect of the lower energizer." The formula consists of three herbs: Anemarrhena Rhizome, Phellodendron Bark, and Cinnamon Twig.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia typically stems from dual deficiency of kidney yin and yang, impaired bladder qi transformation, damp-heat accumulation blocking urinary flow, and qi-blood stagnation. Thus, Phellodendron Bark clears heat and eliminates dampness; Anemarrhena Rhizome nourishes kidney yin and enriches yin essence. As the TCM adage states: "Without yang, yin cannot generate; without yin, yang cannot transform." Merely nourishing yin without supporting yang fails to engender yin. Hence, Cinnamon Twig is added to warm and assist yang, enabling yin to transform with yang-restoring bladder qi transformation and promoting smooth urination.
Clinically, I often combine this formula with Bawei Dihuang Pill to regulate kidney yin and yang, plus blood-activating and mass-resolving herbs (e.g., Sparganium Rhizome, Curcuma Rhizome, Peach Kernel, Red Peony Root) to resolve stagnation. Together, these herbs tonify kidney yin and yang, replenish kidney qi, eliminate damp-heat and blood stasis, and unblock urinary passages. When damp-heat pathogenic factors are prominent-manifesting as dark yellow urine, burning urethral pain, thick yellow greasy tongue coating at the root, and wiry slippery rapid pulse-add Dianthus Herb, Common Knotweed Herb, Dandelion, and Hedyotis Diffusa Herb to clear heat, drain dampness, and detoxify, significantly enhancing efficacy.
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Case Study 1
Li, male, 60 years old.First consultation: October 29, 1989. He presented with difficult urination for over a week, painful and straining urination, perineal distending pain, and erectile dysfunction for six months. Western medicine diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia. His tongue was purplish dark, pulse deep and weak (especially at the chi position). This syndrome was dual deficiency of kidney yin and yang, stagnation of turbid blood, and impaired bladder qi transformation. The treatment principle was tonify kidney yin and yang, activate blood circulation.
Prescription: Anemarrhena Rhizome 15g, Phellodendron Bark 15g, Cinnamon Twig 10g, Prepared Rehmannia Root 20g, Wolfberry Fruit 15g, Chinese Yam 15g, Poria Cocos 15g, Moutan Bark 15g, Alisma Orientale 15g, Monkshood Root 10g, Sparganium Rhizome 15g, Peach Kernel 15g, Red Peony Root 15g. Decocted in water for oral administration.
After 12 doses, urination became smooth and unobstructed, and most symptoms resolved-only erectile dysfunction persisted. The prescription was adjusted by removing Sparganium Rhizome, Peach Kernel, and Red Peony Root, adding Epimedium Herb 15g, Dodder Seed 20g, Glossy Privet Fruit 15g, and Cistanche Tubulosa 15g, plus Licorice 10g. After another 12 doses, all symptoms resolved, and recovery was confirmed. No recurrence was observed during six months of follow-up.
Case Study 2
Tao, male, 57 years old.First consultation: December 7, 1989. He presented with difficult urination, thin urinary stream, perineal distension, burning urethral pain, lower abdominal distension, and residual urine sensation. A hospital diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia and recommended surgery, which the patient declined, seeking TCM treatment instead. His pulse was deep and slippery, tongue dark with thin yellow greasy coating. This syndrome was dual deficiency of kidney yin and yang, internal stagnation of damp-heat and blood stasis. The treatment principle was tonify kidney yin and yang, activate blood circulation, clear heat and drain dampness.
Prescription: Anemarrhena Rhizome 15g, Phellodendron Bark 15g, Cinnamon Twig 10g, Monkshood Root 10g, Prepared Rehmannia Root 25g, Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit 15g, Chinese Yam 15g, Poria Cocos 15g, Moutan Bark 15g, Alisma Orientale 15g, Sparganium Rhizome 15g, Curcuma Rhizome 15g, Peach Kernel 15g, Ground Beetle 5g, Dianthus Herb 20g, Common Knotweed Herb 20g, Dandelion 30g. Decocted in water for oral administration.
After 8 follow-up visits and over 60 doses of the prescription, all symptoms resolved, urination returned to normal, and prostate examination showed reduced size and softened texture-complete recovery was achieved.
The kidney-tonifying and blood-activating method is tailored to the physiological characteristics of the elderly and the pathological mechanism of benign prostatic hyperplasia. It can be applied clinically regardless of obvious kidney deficiency symptoms. In my clinical practice, I have observed that this method yields excellent efficacy even in patients with BPH without obvious kidney deficiency manifestations.
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