
Q My child is over 5 years old but still wets the bed every night. Why is this happening?
A In Korean medicine this is called "insecurity of kidney qi" — a state where weak kidney energy cannot properly tighten the bladder.
Detailed Answer
Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) refers to involuntary urination during sleep in children aged 5 or older, and it becomes clinically significant when it occurs two or more times per week. It is not simply a matter of habit or willpower.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine identifies insecurity of kidney qi as the core cause. The kidneys are responsible for the energy that firmly closes the gate of the bladder; when this energy is deficient, the bladder relaxes during the unconscious state of sleep and urine leaks out. During the growth years, kidney qi is not yet fully developed, so bedwetting can occur physiologically. However, if it persists later than in peers, herbal treatment that replenishes kidney qi can help.
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