Cold hands 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 hands 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 hands 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 hands is often associated with palpitations, feeling of cold and shortness of breath on exertion in the pattern “Heart Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause cold hands.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of cold hands 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 hands.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause cold hands
In Chinese Medicine cold hands is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Knotted (Jie), Weak (Ruo)
This pattern has similar symptoms to Heart Qi Deficiency, though they are usually more severe and include symptoms of Coldness. It is from similar causes as Heart Qi Deficiency, or can be from a Deficiency of Kidney Yang since that is the body's source of Yang.
In addition to cold hands, other symptoms associated with Heart Yang Deficiency include palpitations, feeling of cold and shortness of breath on exertion.
Heart Yang Deficiency is often treated with Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Cinnamon Bark - Rou Gui - as a key herb). Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify yin and yang", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Rectifies relationship between Yin and Yang".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to cold hands, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing include palpitations, feeling of cold and coughing.
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
Read more about Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing here
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Slow (Chi)
In addition to cold hands, other symptoms associated with Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs include feeling of cold, coughing and dizziness.
Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs is often treated with Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Poria-Cocos Mushrooms - Fu Ling - as a key herb). Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that warm and transform water and dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and transforms Phlegm-Fluids".
Five herbal formulas that might help with cold hands
Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Rectifies relationship between Yin and Yang. Harmonizes Heart and Kidney. Stabilizes and secures Essence.
Why might Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang help with cold hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Yang Deficiency' of which cold hands is a symptom.
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.
Why might Wu Ling San help with cold hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing' of which cold hands is a symptom.
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan
Why might Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan help with cold hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing' of which cold hands is a symptom.
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms and transforms Phlegm-Fluids. Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
Why might Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang help with cold hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs' of which cold hands is a symptom.
Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Lungs. Transforms congested Fluids.
Why might Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang help with cold hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs' of which cold hands is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for cold hands
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat cold hands
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with cold hands?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold hands as a symptom, like Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang or Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang 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 Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with cold hands?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold hands as a symptom, like Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang or Wu Ling San 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 Cyathula Root (Chuan Niu Xi) help with cold hands?
Because Cyathula Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold hands as a symptom, like Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Cyathula Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Removes Blood Stagnation and unblocks menstruation. Improve joint pain. Promotes urination and treats dysuria.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with cold hands?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold hands as a symptom, like Shen Qi Si Wu Tang or Xue Fu Zhu Yu 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 Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) help with cold hands?
Because Dried Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold hands as a symptom, like Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang or Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang for instance.
Dried Ginger is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold.
Other symptoms often associated with cold hands
Palpitations Feeling of cold Coughing Dizziness Feeling of oppression of the chest Purple lips Purple nails Shortness of breath Chest fullness Chest pain