Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency with 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 Spleen in Chinese Medicine The concept of Deficiency / Empty The concept of Cold pattern The Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Key attributes
Chinese name: 脾肾阳虚寒 Pinyin name: Pí Shèn Yáng Xū Hán
Pattern nature: Empty combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Spleen Yang Deficiency Kidney Yang Deficiency
Causes
Common causes: 1. Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods, 2. Excessive physical work, 3. Excessive sexual activity, 4. Chronic illness
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Pus in stool Dark blood in stool Chronic dysenteric disorder abdominal pain relieved by presure and warmth
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Treatment
Treatment principle: Warm the Middle and Lower Burner, expels Cold, stop dysentery.
Common formulas: Tao Hua Tang
Pathology
This pattern typically evolves from an initial Damp-Heat dysenteric disorder, leading to a gradual weakening of the Spleen and Stomach. Over time, this progresses into a Cold Deficiency state, marked by the inability of the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach) to digest, transform, or transport food, and a weakened Lower Burner fire that fails to metabolize water.
This Deficiency results in an internal obstruction of Damp-Cold, disrupting the Qi mechanism in the Large Intestine and leading to collateral damage. Symptoms include dark blood and pus in the stool, abdominal pain relieved by warmth or pressure, a pale tongue, and a slow, frail, or faint and thin pulse, indicative of Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency.
Causes
Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods: Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods may weaken Kidney Yang. Kidney depleting substances such as alcohol, coffee or sugar can also be factors.
Excessive physical work: Excessive physical work or exercise - especially lifting things - weakens Kidney Yang.
Excessive sexual activity: Excessive sexual activity in men, particularly masturbation, weakens Kidney Yang.
Chronic illness: A chronic illness, especially if it leads to Spleen Yang Deficiency, can over a long period of time lead to Kidney Yang Deficiency
Diagnosing Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency with 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): Slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Main symptoms: Pus in stool Dark blood in stool Chronic dysenteric disorder abdominal pain relieved by presure and warmth
Diagnosis commentary: abdominal pain eased by warmth or pressure, dark blood and pus in stool, a pale tongue, and a slow, frail pulse.
Treating Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency with Empty Cold
Treatment principle
Warm the Middle and Lower Burner, expels Cold, stop dysentery.
Herbal formulas used to treat Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency with Empty Cold
Tao Hua Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle. Dispels Cold. Binds up the bowels and stops dysenteric disorders.
Formula summary
Tao Hua Tang is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that bind up Intestines and secure abandoned conditions.
Besides Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency with Empty Cold, Tao Hua Tang is also used to treat Large Intestine Cold or Cold invading the Large Intestine.
Diet recommendations
Eat only cooked food (nothing raw) and favor foods that are warming in nature such as beef or lamb.
For exercising favor light activities such as walking, swimming, bicycling, Yoga, Tai Chi or Qi Gong.