Empty-Cold
Empty-Cold
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Diagnostic Signs
Pale tongue with thin white coating
Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Other Associated Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the feeling of mild, cold limbs and Weak-Slow-Deep Pulse.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
Excessive physical work consumes Yang and causes Empty Cold.
Inadequate consumption of hot foods is also a reason for Yang Deficiency and thus the Empty-Cold.
Excessive sexual activity consumes Kidney Yang, which is the original of all body Yang, hence the Empty-Cold.
If the internal Cold of an Organ lasts over a long period of time, it can create Empty-Cold as a result.
Pathological Mechanism
Full-Cold is mainly caused by external Cold Evil invasion or Yin Excess, while Empty-Cold is largely due to Deficient Yang or Qi, which fails to warm the body. Therefore the patients have cold limbs, feel cold and dislike cold.
Both pattern has Cold manifestations, but the Empty type is more for chronic cases and more seem among the elderly or these with weak constitution. The Cold constrains and obstructs so that it causes pains. The pain for Full-Cold is sharp and worse on pressure, while the Empty type pain is dull and prefers massage.
The most common precursor of Empty-Cold is Spleen Yang and/or Kidney Yang Deficiency. In this case, the Spleen fails to transform digested foods and drinks properly, hence the loose stools and frequent urination.
There are often Qi and Blood Deficiency accompanying, thus the symptoms of listlessness, weak voice, pale face and lips, weak limbs, dizziness, poor appetite and breathlessness.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Clear Empty-Cold, supply Yang, tonify the Spleen and Kidney.
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