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.
Exhaustion from long-term illness 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 exhaustion from long-term illness 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 exhaustion from long-term illness is often associated with aversion to cold, cold extremities and impotence in the pattern “Kidney Yang Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of exhaustion from long-term illness we’ve identified two 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 exhaustion from long-term illness.
Kidney Yang Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause exhaustion from long-term illness
In Chinese Medicine exhaustion from long-term illness is a symptom for the pattern "Kidney Yang Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it 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 exhaustion from long-term illness, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include aversion to cold, cold extremities and impotence.
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".
Two herbal formulas that might help with exhaustion from long-term illness
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 exhaustion from long-term illness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which exhaustion from long-term illness is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include aversion to cold, cold extremities and impotence.
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 exhaustion from long-term illness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which exhaustion from long-term illness is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include aversion to cold, cold extremities and impotence.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat exhaustion from long-term illness
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with exhaustion from long-term illness?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat exhaustion from long-term illness as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi) help with exhaustion from long-term illness?
Because Mudan Peony Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat exhaustion from long-term illness 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.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with exhaustion from long-term illness?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat exhaustion from long-term illness as a symptom, like Er Xian Tang or You Gui Wan 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 Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with exhaustion from long-term illness?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat exhaustion from long-term illness as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Ba Wei Di Huang 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 Yam (Shan Yao) help with exhaustion from long-term illness?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat exhaustion from long-term illness as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Kidney and the Lung.
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 exhaustion from long-term illness
Aversion to cold Cold extremities Impotence Spermatorrhea Weakness and aching in the knees Edema of the lower extremities