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 feeling in the legs and the back and desire warmth redirect here
Feeling of cold 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 feeling of cold 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 feeling of cold is often associated with cold limbs, loose stools and frequent urination in the pattern “Yin Excess”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause feeling of cold.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of feeling of cold 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 feeling of cold.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause feeling of cold
In Chinese Medicine feeling of cold 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.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Yin Excess
Yin Excess
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Excess Yin is a Full Yin state pattern. Its symptoms are like those of the Cold and Damp Heat Pernicious Influences such as Edema. It is a result of over-exposure to cold environments and bad diet.
In addition to feeling of cold, other symptoms associated with Yin Excess include cold limbs, loose stools and frequent urination.
Yin Excess 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,".
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) is the king ingredient for Er Chen Tang, a formula used for Phlegm
Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
The concept of Phlegm is much wider and important in Chinese Medicine than in the West. Broadly speaking, Phlegm is a substance produced when the body fails to handle Body Fluids properly.
In addition to feeling of cold, other symptoms associated with Phlegm include dizziness, scanty periods and fatigue.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Phlegm is associated with health issues such as Low Breast Milk Supply, Late Menstruation or Scanty Menstruation.
Phlegm is often treated with Er Chen Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Er Chen Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm".
Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) is the king ingredient for Si Ni Tang, a formula used for Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to feeling of cold, other symptoms associated with Lesser Yin Cold Transformation include cold limbs, diarrhea and listlessness.
Lesser Yin Cold Transformation is often treated with Si Ni Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). Si Ni 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: "Rescues devastated Yang".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to feeling of cold, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency include depression, loose stools and poor appetite.
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 Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Cracked
Kidney Yin Deficiency causes false Heat symptoms, such as night sweats, thirst and five palm heat. These signs are from a depletion of Body Fluids and Essence. It can be caused by prolonged overwork, excessive sexual activity, chronic long term illnesses, consumption of Body Fluids by Heat, prolonged blood loss, overdosage of Kidney Yang tonics herbs, smoking and Kidney depleting foods such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, and fruit juices.
In addition to feeling of cold, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency include dizziness, scanty periods and depression.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Menopausal Syndrome, Prolonged Periods or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu 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: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
Five herbal formulas that might help with feeling of cold
Wu Pi Yin
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Reduces edema, diuretic. Regulates and strengthens Spleen Qi.
Why might Wu Pi Yin help with feeling of cold?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Excess' of which feeling of cold is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Yin Excess include cold limbs, loose stools and frequent urination.
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 feeling of cold?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm' of which feeling of cold is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Phlegm can contribute to many health issues, including Late Menstruation.
Si Ni Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Rescues devastated Yang. Warms the Middle Burner. Stops diarrhea.
Why might Si Ni Tang help with feeling of cold?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lesser Yin Cold Transformation' of which feeling of cold is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Lesser Yin Cold Transformation include cold limbs, diarrhea and listlessness.
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 feeling of cold?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which feeling of cold is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney And Spleen Yang Deficiency include depression, loose stools and poor appetite.
Dang Gui Di Huang Yin
Source date: 1640 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Blood. Tonifies Kidney and Liver Yin. Regulates the menstrual cycle.
Why might Dang Gui Di Huang Yin help with feeling of cold?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency' of which feeling of cold is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney Yin Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Irregular Menstruation.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat feeling of cold
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with feeling of cold?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of cold as a symptom, like Si Ni Tang or Li Zhong Wan 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 Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with feeling of cold?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of cold as a symptom, like Wu Pi Yin or Ling Gui Zhu Gan 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 Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with feeling of cold?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of cold as a symptom, like Dang Gui Di Huang Yin or Da Ying Jian 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 Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with feeling of cold?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of cold as a symptom, like Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang or Zhen Wu 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.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with feeling of cold?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of cold as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Da Ying Jian 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.
Conditions associated with feeling of cold
Irregular menstruation Abnormal vaginal discharge Menstrual cramps Late menstruation Early menstruation Absence of menstruation Abnormal uterine bleeding Morning sickness Intermenstrual bleeding
Other symptoms often associated with feeling of cold
Dizziness Cold limbs Scanty periods Fatigue Depression Loose stools Frequent urination Poor appetite Tinnitus Late period