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.
Desire to lie down curled up 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 desire to lie down curled up 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 desire to lie down curled up is often associated with cold limbs, feeling of cold and loose stools in the pattern “Spleen Yang Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of desire to lie down curled up we’ve identified four 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 desire to lie down curled up.
In Chinese Medicine desire to lie down curled up is a symptom for the pattern "Spleen Yang Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Spleen Yang Deficiency often develops from Spleen Qi Deficiency, but it is more extensive and severe with additional Cold symptoms, such as cold feeling and cold limbs. The causes are similar to these of Spleen Qi Deficiency, along with surplus consumption of cold, raw foods and drinks and overexposure to cold damp environments and climates.
In addition to desire to lie down curled up, other symptoms associated with Spleen Yang Deficiency include cold limbs, feeling of cold and loose stools.
Spleen Yang Deficiency is often treated with Zhen Wu Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). Zhen Wu 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 tonifies the Yang and Qi of the Spleen and Kidneys".
The top herbs in Zhen Wu Tang are Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi), Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu) and Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies the Yang and Qi of the Spleen and Kidneys. Eliminates Dampness.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which desire to lie down curled up is a symptom.
The top herbs in Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang are Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi), Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu) and Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Source date: 1247
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner). Raises the Yang. Detoxifies. Lifts what has sunken.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which desire to lie down curled up is a symptom.
The top herbs in Yi Huang Tang are Yam (Shan Yao), Foxnut Seeds (Qian Shi) and Ginkgo Nuts (Bai Guo)
Source date: 1826 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Strengthens the Spleen. Dries Dampness. Clears Heat. Stops vaginal discharge.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which desire to lie down curled up is a symptom.
The top herbs in Huang Tu Tang are Stove Earth (Zao Xin Tu), Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu) and Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes the Blood. Stops bleeding.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which desire to lie down curled up is a symptom.
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to lie down curled up as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to lie down curled up as a symptom, like Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang or Huang Tu 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.
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to lie down curled up as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat desire to lie down curled up as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Huang Tu Tang 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.
Because it is a key herb in Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' (a pattern with desire to lie down curled up as a symptom)
Milkvetch Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Wei Qi and stops perspiration. Tonifies the Spleen Qi and the Yang Qi of the Earth Element. Tonifies the Qi and Blood. Expels pus and assists in the healing of wounds. Helps to regulate water metabolism in the body and reduce edema.
Cold limbs Feeling of cold Loose stools Edema Weak Limbs Poor appetite Fatigue Lassitude Pale complexion Chills