Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang

At a glance

Key attributes

Chinese name: 阳虚      Pinyin name: Yáng Xū

Pattern nature: Empty

Pattern hierarchy: General pattern with specific forms like Kidney Yang Deficiency or Spleen Yang Deficiency

Common combinations: Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency

Causes

Precursor patterns: Qi Deficiency

Common causes: 1. Diet, 2. Over-exercising, 3. Overwork, 4. External Cold, 5. Improper care after birth, 6. Long hour standing, 7. Excessive sexual activity

Diagnosis

Common symptoms: Lassitude Pale urine Desire warmth Feeling of cold Profuse urination and five other symptoms

Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Empty (Xu), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)

Tongue description: Pale, swollen and moist tongue with possible white or wet coating

Treatment

Treatment principle: Warm the Deficient Yang.

Common formulas: Ba Wei Di Huang Wan You Gui Wan Ban Liu Wan

Pathology

Yang Deficiency is an Empty-Cold condition characterized by Coldness and Deficiency. If there is inadequate amount of Yang energy to warm the body or internal Organs, a general hypoactivity of the organic processes occurs, hence the patient is tried and not willing to move.  Qi and Blood is more likely to stagnate in this case. 

Also, Body Fluids can accumulate and congest when Yang is insufficient, resulting in Oedema and puffiness in various parts of the body. This pattern differs from Yin Excess because Yang Deficiency also includes Coldness-related symptoms, such as fear of cold, chilliness, cold limbs and desire warmth. 

Since the root of Yin and Yang ‘resides’ in the Kidneys, if they become impaired from excessive standing, sex, activity or overwork, the weakened Kidney Yang has impacts on the rest of body Yang, representatively Spleen or Heart Yang Deficiency. Actually, Yang Deficiency is mostly related to Spleen Yang, Kidney Yang, Heart Yang or Lungs Qi

For instance. when Spleen Yang is Deficient, it fails to warm the muscles and to properly metabolize food, resulting in undigested foods in the stools and loose stools. It also causes Coldness and Deficient Blood and Grain Qi. 

Causes

Precursor patterns: Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang can derive from Qi Deficiency

Diet: Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods, juices, sweets, alcohol, coffee, iced drinks as well as frozen foods such as ice cream and frozen yogurt.

Over-exercising: Over-exercising can hurts Yang.

Overwork : Overwork can deplete Yang and cause Deficiency.

External Cold: Over exposure to cold weather (regards less Wind-Cold or Damp-Cold) can cause internal Full Cold. If it is not address for a long time, it can harm Yang Qi and lead to Yang Deficiency.

Improper care after birth: Congenital defects due to improper care after birth can also cause Yang Deficiency.

Long hour standing : Long hour standing can deplete general Yang.

Excessive sexual activity: Excessive sexual activities can also cause this pattern, especially if one is exposed to cold immediately after intercourse.

Diagnosing Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang

Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), empty (Xu), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo)

Tongue description: Pale, swollen and moist tongue with possible white or wet coating

Main symptoms: Lassitude Pale urine Desire warmth Feeling of cold Profuse urination Frequent urination Night time urination Undigested food in the stools Clear white vaginal discharge abdominal pain relieved by presure and warmth

Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the general feeling of cold, desire for warmth, cold limbs and pale urine.

Treating Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang

Treatment principle

Warm the Deficient Yang. 

Herbal formulas used to treat Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang

You Gui Wan

Source date: 1624 AD

Number of ingredients: 10 herbs

Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.

Formula summary

You Gui Wan is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1624 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm Yang and tonify.

Besides Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang, You Gui Wan is also used to treat Kidney Qi not Firm or Kidneys failing to receive Qi.

Read more about You Gui Wan

Ba Wei Di Huang Wan

Source date: 220 AD

Number of ingredients: 8 herbs

Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.

Formula summary

Ba Wei Di Huang Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.

Besides Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang, Ba Wei Di Huang Wan is also used to treat Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidney Yang Deficiency.

Read more about Ba Wei Di Huang Wan

Ban Liu Wan

Source date: 1107

Number of ingredients: 3 herbs

Key actions: Fortifies the Fire at the Gate of Vitality. Expels Cold. Unblocks the Yang. Drains Turbidity.

Formula summary

Ban Liu Wan is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm and purge.

Besides Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang, Ban Liu Wan is also used to treat Empty-Cold.

Read more about Ban Liu Wan

Consequence patterns

Heart Vessel obstructed

Yang Deficiency can causes Internal Cold, which is a part of the pattern of Heart Vessel obstructed.