Daily Panty Changes, Lingering Pungent Smell? Discharge Like Yellow, Thick Snot, Even Staining Underwear? Private Area Damp, Itchy, Burning... What Causes Excessive, Abnormally Colored Discharge?
Yellow, Foul-Smelling Discharge ≠ Vaginitis! TCM Identifies Two Root Causes
Singapore Gong Fang Tang TCM gynecology Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert points out: Discharge yellow like strong tea, foul-smelling and sticky, indicates either Damp-Heat or Kidney Deficiency!
Downward Flow of Damp-Heat (80% of clinical cases!)
Pathogenesis: Spicy, greasy food + Staying up late → Spleen/Stomach generates Dampness turning to Heat → Damp-Heat flows downward to the Uterus → Corrupts fluids into Yellow Discharge.
Symptom Triad:
Discharge thick yellow like pus, strong foul odor (like rotting fish/shrimp)
Vulvar burning, itching, dark yellow urine
Yellow, greasy tongue coating, bitter/sticky taste in mouth
Dr. Qiu's Analysis: Damp-Heat is like a smoldering garbage pile; the discharge gets 'fumed' into yellow pus. The foul smell is the upward floating of putrid turbidity!
Spleen and Kidney Deficiency (Recurrent Type)
Pathogenesis: Overexertion + Cold drinks/AC → Damages Spleen/Kidney Yang Qi → Damp-Turbidity fails to transform, stagnates and generates Heat.
Key Differentiation Points:
Discharge pale yellow, thin, lighter odor (like earthy smell)
Sore lower back, weak legs, puffy eyelids in the morning
Pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks
How Does TCM Treat Excessive, Abnormally Colored Yellow, Foul-Smelling Discharge?
Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert states that yellow, foul-smelling discharge is a "distress signal" from the Uterus! Here, we share the Yi Huang Tang (Easy Yellow Decoction), a classic Qing Dynasty formula for abnormal discharge.
Yi Huang Tang consists of: Shan Yao (Chinese Yam / Dioscorea opposita), Qian Shi (Gordon Euryale Seed / Euryale ferox), Huang Bai (Phellodendron Bark / Phellodendron chinense), Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed / Plantago asiatica), Bai Guo (Ginkgo Seed / Ginkgo biloba).
The formula heavily uses Shan Yao and Qian Shi to tonify the Spleen, benefit the Kidneys, and astringe/stop discharge, serving as the chief herbs. Bai Guo astringes and stops discharge, assisting Shan Yao and Qian Shi. Huang Bai clears heat and dries dampness; Che Qian Zi clears heat and promotes diuresis, allowing Damp-Heat pathogens to be expelled via urine; these serve as the assistant herbs. The whole formula is exquisitely composed to achieve the effects of consolidating the Kidneys to stop discharge, clearing heat, and dispelling dampness. It fundamentally regulates the Yin-Yang balance in a woman's body, improving abnormal discharge symptoms.
Modifications & Applications:
Thick, foul-smelling discharge: Add Tu Fu Ling (Smilax glabra) 30g + Bai Jiang Cao (Patrinia scabiosifolia) 20g to detoxify and expel pus.
Vulvar eczema/itching: Add Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens) 12g + Di Fu Zi (Kochia scoparia) 15g to dispel dampness and stop itching.
Lower abdominal distension/pain worse with pressure: Add Hong Teng (Sargentodoxa cuneata) 20g + Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis yanhusuo) 12g to invigorate blood and stop pain.
Sore back/weak knees: Add Xu Duan (Dipsacus asper) 15g + Du Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides) 12g to tonify Kidneys and strengthen the back.
Case Study
Patient: Ms. Zhou, 28 years old.
History: Long-term late nights & takeout food. Yellow, thick, foul-smelling discharge for 3 years. Daily panty liner needed. Burning pain after intercourse. Repeated antibiotic use with recurrence.
Examination: Discharge test: Cleanliness Grade IV, Clue cells (+).
Initial Visit: Tongue red with thick, greasy, yellow coating like accumulated powder.
Pattern Differentiation: Severe Damp-Heat Downward Flow type Yellow Discharge.
Treatment Plan:
Internal Formula: Modified Yi Huang Tang.
Chao Shan Yao (Stir-fried Dioscorea opposita) 30g
Qian Shi (Euryale ferox) 30g
Yan Huang Bai (Salt-fried Phellodendron chinense) 12g
Che Qian Zi (Plantago asiatica) 12g (wrapped in cloth for decocting)
Bai Guo (Ginkgo biloba) 10g (crushed)
Tu Fu Ling (Smilax glabra) 30g
Bai Jiang Cao (Patrinia scabiosifolia) 20g
Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens) 10g
Administration: 1 dose daily, taken 1 hour after meals. Avoid spicy & raw/cold food.
External Wash: She Chuang Zi (Cnidium monnieri) 30g + Huang Bai (Phellodendron chinense) 20g decocted, cooled, used for sitz bath.
Result: Day 3: Discharge volume reduced by 30%, foul odor lessened. Day 7: No yellow stains on underwear, itching stopped. Day 14: Discharge returned to egg-white consistency. Re-examination: Cleanliness Grade II.
