Cold extremities according to Chinese Medicine
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.
cold feet, cold hands and feet and cold in the lower extremities redirect here
Cold extremities can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like cold extremities here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here cold extremities is often associated with night sweats, dizziness and hot flushes in the pattern “Kidney Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause cold extremities.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of cold extremities we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat cold extremities.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause cold extremities
In Chinese Medicine cold extremities is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness.
In addition to cold extremities, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include night sweats, dizziness and hot flushes.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Yang".
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to cold extremities, other symptoms associated with Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel include feeling of cold, testicular pain and contraction of the scrotum.
Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel is often treated with Nuan Gan Jian, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Fennel Seeds - Xiao Hui Xiang - as a key herb). Nuan Gan Jian belongs to the category of "formulas that promote qi movement", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Liver and Kidneys".
Read more about Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel here
The Pericardium is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Pericardium in Chinese Medicine
Heat in Pericardium
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
In addition to cold extremities, other symptoms associated with Heat in Pericardium include coma, aphasia and macules.
Heat in Pericardium is often treated with Qing Ying Tang, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Water Buffalo Horns - Shui Niu Jiao - as a key herb). Qing Ying Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear nutritive-level heat", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears the Nutritive level Heat".
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Yang Collapsing
Pulse type(s): Knotted (Jie), Minute (Wei), Hidden (Fu)
In addition to cold extremities, other symptoms associated with Heart Yang Collapsing include shortness of breath, palpitations and pale complexion.
Heart Yang Collapsing is often treated with Shen Fu Tang, a herbal formula made of 2 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Shen Fu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that rescue devastated yang", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Restores Yang".
Five herbal formulas that might help with cold extremities
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Why might Ba Wei Di Huang Wan help with cold extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which cold extremities is a symptom.
Nuan Gan Jian
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Liver and Kidneys. Promotes the movement of Qi. Alleviates pain.
Why might Nuan Gan Jian help with cold extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel' of which cold hands and feet is a symptom.
Qing Ying Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears the Nutritive level Heat. Relieves Fire Toxin. Removes Heat. Nourishes Yin.
Why might Qing Ying Tang help with cold extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in Pericardium' of which cold hands and feet is a symptom.
Zhi Bao Dan
Source date: 1075
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Opens the sensory orifices. Resolves toxicity. Transforms Phlegm .
Why might Zhi Bao Dan help with cold extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in Pericardium' of which cold hands and feet is a symptom.
Shen Fu Tang
Source date: 1445 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Restores Yang. Strongly tonifies the source Qi. Saves Qi from collapsing due to devastated Yang.
Why might Shen Fu Tang help with cold extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Yang Collapsing' of which cold hands and feet is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for cold extremities
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat cold extremities
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with cold extremities?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold extremities as a symptom, like Wu Ling San or Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with cold extremities?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold extremities as a symptom, like Dang Gui Si Ni Tang or Wen Jing Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with cold extremities?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold extremities as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Raises the collapse of Yang. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold. Reduces Damp caused by Deficiency in Yang.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with cold extremities?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold extremities as a symptom, like Dang Gui Si Ni Tang or Chai Hu Shu Gan San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with cold extremities?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold extremities as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Other symptoms often associated with cold extremities
Night sweats Dizziness Hot flushes Irritability Constipation Tinnitus Insomnia Shortness of breath Sore back Abdominal pain