Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
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: Loose stools Oedema of face Pale complexion Oedema of limbs Cold extremities and three other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Pathology
Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency 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 Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency gives rise to such diverse symptoms as pale complexion, oedema of face, oedema of limbs and abdominal distention and fullness (as well as four others).
To diagnose a pattern, analyzing a patient's pulse as well as their tongue is common practice. In the case of Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency patients tend to exhibit deep (Chen), weak (Ruo) or fine (Xi) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
Patterns aren't exactly the Chinese Medicine equivalent to Western diseases, they're rather the underlying causes behind diseases or health conditions. Here Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency is thought to sometimes induce conditions such as lupus.
Diagnosing Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
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), weak (Ruo) or fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Main symptoms: Loose stools Oedema of face Pale complexion Oedema of limbs Cold extremities Frequent urination Shortness of breath Abdominal distention and fullness
Treating Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Herbal formulas used to treat Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Formula summary
Wu Ling San is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote urination and leach out Dampness.
Besides Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency, Wu Ling San is also used to treat Yin Excess or Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing.
Special highlight: the link between lupus and Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the key herb for Wu Ling San, a formula used for lupus caused by Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Typical symptoms for lupus caused by Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency: Loose stools Oedema of face Pale complexion Oedema of limbs Cold extremities Frequent urination Shortness of breath Abdominal distention and fullness
Recommended herbal formula: Wu Ling San
The treatment principle for Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency when it comes to Lupus is to warm and tonify the Spleen and Kidney as well as promote urination.
Read more about lupus