Feeling of cold in chest 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.
Feeling of cold in chest 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 in chest 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 in chest is often associated with coughing, feeling of cold and cold hands in the pattern “Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of feeling of cold in chest we’ve identified three 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 in chest.
Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause feeling of cold in chest
In Chinese Medicine feeling of cold in chest is a symptom for the pattern "Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
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 feeling of cold in chest, other symptoms associated with Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs include coughing, feeling of cold and cold hands.
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".
Three herbal formulas that might help with feeling of cold in chest
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 in chest?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs' of which feeling of cold in chest 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 feeling of cold in chest?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs' of which feeling of cold in chest is a symptom.
San Zi Yang Qin Tang
Source date: 1856 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Directs the Qi downward. Transforms Phlegm. Reduces harbored food.
Why might San Zi Yang Qin Tang help with feeling of cold in chest?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs' of which feeling of cold in chest is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat feeling of cold in chest
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with feeling of cold in chest?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of cold in chest as a symptom, like Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang or Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang 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 Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with feeling of cold in chest?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat feeling of cold in chest 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 White Mustard Seeds (Bai Jie Zi) help with feeling of cold in chest?
Because it is a key herb in San Zi Yang Qin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs' (a pattern with feeling of cold in chest as a symptom)
White Mustard Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Warms the lungs. Eliminates Phlegm and regulated Qi. Dissipates nodules and unblocks the Meridians to relieve pain.
Why might Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) help with feeling of cold in chest?
Because it is a key herb in Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs' (a pattern with feeling of cold in chest as a symptom)
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.
Why might Radish Seed (Lai Fu Zi) help with feeling of cold in chest?
Because it is a key herb in San Zi Yang Qin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs' (a pattern with feeling of cold in chest as a symptom)
Radish Seeds is a Neutral herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Warms the digestion and unblocks Food Stagnation. Reverses Rebellious Lung Qi and transforms Phlegm
Other symptoms often associated with feeling of cold in chest
Coughing Feeling of cold Cold hands Phlegm in throat Dizziness Feeling of oppression of the chest Feeling of heaviness