Empty-Cold
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? The concept of Empty The concept of Cold
Key attributes
Chinese name: 虚寒 Pinyin name: Xū hán
Pattern nature: Empty
Causes
Precursor patterns: Spleen Yang Deficiency
Common causes: 1. Excessive physical work, 2. Lack of hot foods, 3. Excessive sexual activity, 4. Internal cold
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Sweating Pale face No thirst Cold limbs Listlessness and four other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale tongue with thin white coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Clear Empty-Cold, supply Yang, tonify the Spleen and Kidney.
Common formulas: Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang Da Jian Zhong Tang Ban Liu Wan
Pathology
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.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Empty-Cold can derive from Spleen Yang Deficiency
Excessive physical work : Excessive physical work consumes Yang and causes Empty Cold.
Lack of hot foods : Inadequate consumption of hot foods is also a reason for Yang Deficiency and thus the Empty-Cold.
Excessive sexual activity : Excessive sexual activity consumes Kidney Yang, which is the original of all body Yang, hence the Empty-Cold.
Internal cold : If the internal Cold of an Organ lasts over a long period of time, it can create Empty-Cold as a result.
Diagnosing Empty-Cold
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.
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale tongue with thin white coating
Main symptoms: Sweating Pale face No thirst Cold limbs Listlessness Loose stools Feeling of cold Clear urination Frequent urination
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the feeling of mild, cold limbs and Weak-Slow-Deep Pulse.
Treating Empty-Cold
Treatment principle
Clear Empty-Cold, supply Yang, tonify the Spleen and Kidney.
Herbal formulas used to treat Empty-Cold
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach). Tonifies Qi. Relieves spasmodic pain.
Formula summary
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm the middle and dispel Cold.
Besides Empty-Cold, Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang is also used to treat Stomach Yang Deficient and Cold.
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 Empty-Cold, Ban Liu Wan is also used to treat Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang.
Da Jian Zhong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Middle Burner Deficiency. Directs rebellious Qi downward. Relieves pain.
Formula summary
Da Jian Zhong Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm the middle and dispel Cold.