Cold knee 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.
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Cold knee 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 knee 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 knee is often associated with lower back pain, feeling of cold and weak legs in the pattern “Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause cold knee.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of cold knee 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 knee.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause cold knee
In Chinese Medicine cold knee is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to cold knee, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, feeling of cold and weak legs.
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency is often treated with Li Zhong Wan, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Dried Ginger - Gan Jiang - as a key herb). Li Zhong Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm the middle and dispel cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Middle Burner".
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 knee, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, feeling of cold and weak legs.
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".
Five herbal formulas that might help with cold knee
Li Zhong Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle Burner. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Li Zhong Wan help with cold knee?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which cold and weak knees is a symptom.
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 knee?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which cold and weak knees is a symptom.
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui Wan help with cold knee?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which cold and weak knees is a symptom.
Er Xian Tang
Source date: 1950 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin and tonifies Yang of the Kidneys. Clears Empty Heat. Regulates the Directing and Penetrating Vessels.
Why might Er Xian Tang help with cold knee?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which cold and weak knees is a symptom.
Shen Qi Wan
Why might Shen Qi Wan help with cold knee?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which cold and weak knees is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for cold knee
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat cold knee
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with cold knee?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold knee 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 Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with cold knee?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold knee as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Cornelian Cherries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Preserves and tonifies the Kidney, Liver and Essence. Stops sweating and benefits the Yang and Qi. Assists menstruation and stops bleeding.
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with cold knee?
Because Cuscuta Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold knee as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Cuscuta Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver.
Why might Schisandra Berry (Wu Wei Zi) help with cold knee?
Because Schisandra Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold knee as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Schisandra Berries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Kidneys and preserves the Essence. Astringes the Lung Qi and stops coughing. Retains Bodily Fluids and encourages their production. Tonifies the Heart and calms the spirit (Shen).
Why might Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with cold knee?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat cold knee as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Mudan Peony Bark is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, activates Blood circulation and resolves Blood stasis.
Other symptoms often associated with cold knee
Lower back pain Feeling of cold Weak legs Bright-white complexion Impotence Premature ejaculation Low sperm count Lassitude Oedema of legs Infertility in women