Wind-Cold invading with 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? The concept of Wind The concept of Cold evil The concept of Yang The concept of Deficiency / Empty
Key attributes
Chinese name: 风寒兼阳虚 Pinyin name: Fēng Hán Jiān Yáng Xū
Pattern nature: Full/Empty combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Wind-Cold Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang
Causes
Common causes: 1. Diet, 2. Over-exercising, 3. Overwork, 4. External Cold, 5. Improper care after birth, 6. Long hour standing, 7. Excessive sexual activity
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Headaches Exhaustion Weak voice No sweating Slight fever and seven other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: A pale and puffy tongue
Treatment
Treatment principle: Expel Wind-Cold, tonify Yang
Common formulas: Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang Zai Zao San
Pathology
This pattern is characterized by the invasion of external Wind-Cold in a person who already has an underlying Yang Deficiency. Yang in TCM is the body's warming and active principle. When Yang is Deficient, the body struggles to maintain warmth and adequate metabolic activity.
Patients with this pattern experience extreme cold sensations. The presence of fever, despite being mild, indicates an external invasion of Wind-Cold, as people with Yang Deficiency typically struggle to generate heat.
The severe chills are attributed to both the internal cold from Yang Deficiency and the external cold, which is not relieved by adding layers of clothing – a hallmark of externally contracted conditions.
In TCM, an exterior condition is usually indicated by a floating pulse. However, in this pattern, the pulse is deep, reflecting the internal deficiency. Additionally, symptoms like exhaustion and a desire to sleep underscore the depleted state of internal yang energy.
Causes
Diet: Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods, juices, sweets, alcohol, coffee, iced drinks as well as frozen foods such as ice cream and frozen yogurt.
Over-exercising: Over-exercising can hurts Yang.
Overwork : Overwork can deplete Yang and cause Deficiency.
External Cold: Over exposure to cold weather (regards less Wind-Cold or Damp-Cold) can cause internal Full Cold. If it is not address for a long time, it can harm Yang Qi and lead to Yang Deficiency.
Improper care after birth: Congenital defects due to improper care after birth can also cause Yang Deficiency.
Long hour standing : Long hour standing can deplete general Yang.
Excessive sexual activity: Excessive sexual activities can also cause this pattern, especially if one is exposed to cold immediately after intercourse.
Diagnosing Wind-Cold invading with 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) or weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: A pale and puffy tongue
Main symptoms: Headaches Exhaustion Weak voice No sweating Slight fever Severe chills Desire to sleep Lower back pain Cold extremities General cold feeling Soreness of the lower back Feeling of cold in the lower back
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the exhaustion, slight fever and severe chills, and a deep pulse
Treating Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency
Treatment principle
Expel Wind-Cold, tonify Yang
Herbal formulas used to treat Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency
Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Tonifes the Yang. Releases the Exterior.
Formula summary
Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Exterior disorders with Interior deficiency.
Zai Zao San
Source date: 1445 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonfies the Yang . Augments the Qi. Induces sweating. Releases the Exterior.
Formula summary
Zai Zao San is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1445 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Exterior disorders with Interior deficiency.