CPPS , also called Prostadynia or Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis (CNP) is a pelvic pain condition in men. The pain is characterised as pelvic or perineal pain without evidence of urinary tract or prostate infection that lasts longer than 3 months. This condition often mimics Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH) however is differentiated by post-ejaculatory pain and urination is usually not impeded like BPH unless accompanied by a urinary infection.

The cause of this condition is not well known, however long periods of tension and anxiety that cause the patient to constrict this area seem to be a commonality of precursor. A world survey showed that Finland seems to be one of the countries with the highest incidence. This may be partly due to the cold climate as patients report symptoms worse in the cold and symptoms ameliorated with heat.

In Chinese medicine language the cause is generally due to a deficient constitution or liver qi stagnation leading to stagnation of blood, qi and cold in the liver and Du mai meridian in the pelvic area.

We have treated this condition very successfully in our clinic. Reduction of pain by 50% usually takes 3-4 weeks. Satisfactory or complete reduction of pain may take from 2-3 months.

Treatment consists of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Acupuncture points are usually selected from the liver and conception vessel meridians. Herbal medicine usually consists of a modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan to warm and invigorate the pelvic cavity. In another situation we may use Nuan Gan Jiang  暖肝煎 – warm the liver decoction. In this case, it is not the actual organ of the liver that we want to warm, but it is the meridian channel connected to the liver that runs through the channels that we want to nourish, relax and warm (see the liver meridian below as it runs through the genital area). However, if a man is hot at night and has an aversion to heat, we may use a completely different formula.