Patterns of disharmony

Summer-Heat entering the Lesser Yin and Terminal Yin warps

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 Summer-Heat The concept of Terminal Yin stage

Key attributes

Chinese name: 暑入少阴厥阴      Pinyin name: Shǔ Rù Shǎo Yīn Jué Yīn

Pattern nature: Full combined pattern

Pattern(s) it combines from: Summer-Heat

Causes

Common causes: prolonged exposure to extreme summer heat

Diagnosis

Common symptoms: Wasting Thirsting Paralysis Irritability Restlessness and five other symptoms

Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu)

Tongue description: a red tongue with a peeled coating

Treatment

Treatment principle: Clearing Summer-Heat, Nourishing Yin, and restoring Body Fluids through herbal formulas and lifestyle changes.

Common formulas: Wu Shi Lian Mei Tang

Pathology

This pattern describes a condition where excessive Summer-Heat affects vital organs. Initially, it targets the Heart, causing irritability and restlessness, as the Heart is linked to the Lesser Yin warp. Persistent Summer-Heat can then damage the Kidneys' Body Fluids, leading to symptoms akin to waisting and thirsting, similar to diabetes symptoms.

When the Terminal Yin warp, associated with the Liver, is affected, depleted fluids stir internal wind, causing muscle paralysis or spasms.

Additionally, if this Wind affects the Pericardium, it can cloud consciousness, leading to mental disturbances.

Causes

prolonged exposure to extreme summer heat: This leads to the accumulation of internal heat and the subsequent depletion or damage of body fluids. This internal heat can then disturb the functioning of vital organs like the Heart, Kidneys, and Liver, and if not addressed, may lead to the symptoms characteristic of this pattern.

Diagnosing Summer-Heat entering the Lesser Yin and Terminal Yin warps

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): Fine (Xi) or rapid (Shu)

Tongue description: a red tongue with a peeled coating

Main symptoms: Wasting Thirsting Paralysis Irritability Restlessness muscle spasms muscle paralysis Heat in the Heart mental disturbances Clouding of consciousness

Diagnosis commentary: Irritability, restlessness, diabetes-like signs (excessive thirst and urination), muscle paralysis or spasms, mental disturbances, a red tongue with a peeled coating, and a rapid, thin pulse.

Treating Summer-Heat entering the Lesser Yin and Terminal Yin warps

Treatment principle

Clearing Summer-Heat, Nourishing Yin, and restoring Body Fluids through herbal formulas and lifestyle changes.

Herbal formulas used to treat Summer-Heat entering the Lesser Yin and Terminal Yin warps

Wu Shi Lian Mei Tang

Source date: 1798 AD

Number of ingredients: 5 herbs

Key actions: Drains Heat. Preserves Body Fluids. Transforms Yin .

Formula summary

Wu Shi Lian Mei Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and preserve Body Fluids.

Read more about Wu Shi Lian Mei Tang