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 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 five 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 five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause cold extremities
In Chinese Medicine cold extremities is a symptom for 5 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".
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a formula used for Qi And Blood Stagnation
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
In addition to cold extremities, other symptoms associated with Qi And Blood Stagnation include dizziness, hot flushes and irritability.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Qi And Blood Stagnation is associated with health issues such as Menstrual Cramps, Absence Of Menstruation or Menopausal Syndrome.
Qi And Blood Stagnation is often treated with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Invigorates the Blood".
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the king ingredient for Wen Jing Tang, a formula used for Cold in the Uterus
Cold in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Soggy (Ru)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
There are two types of cold patterns: Full Cold or Empty Cold. Full cold refers to actual Cold Evil invading the Uterus and Dampness Stagnation often come along with this Full pattern. Empty cold is the result of Yang Deficiency, especially the Spleen and Kidney Yang.
In addition to cold extremities, other symptoms associated with Cold in the Uterus include sore back, abdominal pain and poor appetite.
Cold in the Uterus is often treated with Wen Jing Tang, a herbal formula made of 12 herbs (including Cinnamon Twigs - Gui Zhi - as a key herb). Wen Jing Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Uterus and vessels".
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Vessel obstructed
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Knotted (Jie), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to cold extremities, other symptoms associated with Heart Vessel obstructed include shortness of breath, palpitations and depression.
Heart Vessel obstructed is often treated with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Invigorates the Blood".
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.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney Yang Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Menopausal Syndrome.
Wen Jing Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Uterus and vessels. Nourishes Blood. Dispels Cold. Dispels Blood Stagnation.
Why might Wen Jing Tang help with cold extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi And Blood Stagnation' of which cold extremities is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Qi And Blood Stagnation can contribute to many health issues, including Menopausal Syndrome.
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Expels Cold and warm the menstruation Blood. Stops pain. Invigorates Blood. Dispels Blood stagnation.
Why might Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang help with cold extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold in the Uterus' of which cold extremities is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Cold In The Uterus include sore back, abdominal pain and poor appetite.
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood. Dispels blood Stagnation. Spreads the Liver Qi. Unblocks the channels.
Why might Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang help with cold extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Vessel obstructed' of which cold extremities is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Heart Vessel Obstructed include shortness of breath, palpitations and depression.
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 extremities is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Heart Yang Collapsing include shortness of breath, palpitations and pale complexion.
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 Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Fu Zi Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
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 Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Kidney.
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 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 You Gui Wan or Wen Jing Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Liver.
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 Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with cold extremities?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold extremities as a symptom, like Wen Jing Tang or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
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 White Peony Root (Bai Shao) help with cold extremities?
Because White Peony Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold extremities as a symptom, like Wen Jing Tang or Chai Hu Shu Gan San for instance.
White Peony Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sour. It targets the Spleen and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain.
Conditions associated with cold extremities
Other symptoms often associated with cold extremities
Night sweats Dizziness Hot flushes Irritability Constipation Tinnitus Insomnia Shortness of breath Sore back Abdominal pain