Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern?
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fatigue Sweating Lassitude Depression Hot flushes and six other symptoms
Treatment
Common formulas: Er Xian Tang
Pathology
Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang is a pattern of disharmony in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine views the human body as a complex system that tends toward harmony. A pattern of disharmony is a disorder that prevents that harmony from occurring.
Patterns give rise to symptoms that may at first glance seem unrelated from a Western standpoint but that actually make a lot of sense when one understands Chinese Medicine theory. For instance here Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang gives rise to such diverse symptoms as menopausal symptoms, hypertension, irregular menstruation and hot flushes (as well as fifteen others).
Patterns aren't exactly the Chinese Medicine equivalent to Western diseases, they're rather the underlying causes behind diseases or health conditions. Here Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang is thought to sometimes induce conditions such as menopausal syndrome, perimenopausal syndrome or hyperthyroid (as well as six others).
Diagnosing Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Main symptoms: Chills Fatigue Sweating Tinnitus Lassitude Back pain Dizziness Depression Dry throat Hot flushes Hypertension Irritability Palpitations Night sweats Frequent urination Menopausal symptoms Cold hands and feet Sore and weak limbs Irregular menstruation
Treating Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
Herbal formulas used to treat Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
Er Zhi Wan
Source date: 1534 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Liver Yin. Nourishes Kidney Yin.
Formula summary
Er Zhi Wan is a 2-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1534 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang, Er Zhi Wan is also used to treat Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidney-Deficiency.
Er Xian Tang
Source date: 1950 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin and tonifies Yang of the Kidneys. Clears Empty Heat. Regulates the Directing and Penetrating Vessels.
Formula summary
Er Xian Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1950 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Yin and Yang.
Besides Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang, Er Xian Tang is also used to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency.
Related conditions
Please keep in mind that a Western Medicine condition can be caused by several Chinese Medicine patterns of disharmony and vice versa. As such a patient suffering from one of the conditions below will not necessarily be suffering from Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang, it is just one pattern that's commonly associated with the condition. Click on a condition to learn what other patterns it's associated with.
Menopausal syndrome Perimenopausal syndrome Hyperthyroid Urinary tract infection Essential hypertension Chronix glumerulonephritis Chronic pyelonephritis Polycystic kidneys Renal vascular disease
Special highlight: the link between menopausal syndrome and Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
Curculigo Rhizomes (Xian Mao) is the key herb for Er Xian Tang, a formula used for menopausal syndrome caused by Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
Typical symptoms for menopausal syndrome caused by Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang: Chills Tinnitus Back pain Dizziness Dry throat Hot flushes Night sweats Frequent urination Cold hands and feet Sore and weak limbs
Recommended herbal formulas: Er Xian Tang, Er Zhi Wan
The fundamentally reason for menopausal syndrome is due to Kidney Essence decreasing. It can take the form of Kidney Yin or Yang Deficiency or the combination of these two. The combined pattern is actually quite common among women over 40s. It is more the rule than the exception.
Depending on the predominant type (i.e. Yin or Yang Deficiency), the tongue color will be red (for Yin Deficiency) or pale (for Yang Deficiency). The pulse can be Floating-Empty or Fine-Rapid if Yin Deficiency...Read more about menopausal syndrome