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.
Lassitude 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 lassitude 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 lassitude is often associated with loose stools, poor appetite and fatigue in the pattern “Cold in the Uterus”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause lassitude.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of lassitude 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 lassitude.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause lassitude
In Chinese Medicine lassitude 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.
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the king ingredient for Wen Jing Tang, a formula used for Cold in the Uterus
Cold in the Uterus
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Soggy (Ru)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
There are two types of cold patterns: Full Cold or Empty Cold. Full cold refers to actual Cold Evil invading the Uterus and Dampness Stagnation often come along with this Full pattern. Empty cold is the result of Yang Deficiency, especially the Spleen and Kidney Yang.
In addition to lassitude, other symptoms associated with Cold in the Uterus include loose stools, poor appetite and fatigue.
Cold in the Uterus is often treated with Wen Jing Tang, a herbal formula made of 12 herbs (including Cinnamon Twigs - Gui Zhi - as a key herb). Wen Jing Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Uterus and vessels".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
In addition to lassitude, other symptoms associated with Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency include loose stools, poor appetite and weak limbs.
Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency is often treated with Si Jun Zi Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Si Jun Zi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Qi".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Qi Sinking
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
The causes and symptoms of Spleen Qi Sinking is quite similar to the ones of Spleen Qi Deficiency. It happens more to people who have unhealthy diet and eating habits, emotional stress, damp living environment or these have to stand up long hours.
In addition to lassitude, other symptoms associated with Spleen Qi Sinking include loose stools, poor appetite and depression.
Spleen Qi Sinking is often treated with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Milkvetch Roots - Huang Qi - as a key herb). Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner)".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi)
In addition to lassitude, other symptoms associated with Spleen Blood Deficiency include loose stools, poor appetite and fatigue.
Spleen Blood Deficiency is often treated with Gui Pi Tang, a herbal formula made of 12 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Gui Pi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi and blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Yang Deficiency
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 lassitude, other symptoms associated with Spleen Yang Deficiency include loose stools, poor appetite and fatigue.
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".
Five herbal formulas that might help with lassitude
Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang
Source date: 1827 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Supports Kidney Yang. Supplies Spleen Qi. Expels Cold and Dampness from the Uterus.
Why might Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang help with lassitude?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold in the Uterus' of which lassitude is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Cold In The Uterus include loose stools, poor appetite and fatigue.
Si Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Si Jun Zi Tang help with lassitude?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency' of which lassitude is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen And Lung Qi Deficiency include loose stools, poor appetite and weak limbs.
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
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.
Why might Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang help with lassitude?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Qi Sinking' of which lassitude is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen Qi Sinking include loose stools, poor appetite and depression.
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Why might Gui Pi Tang help with lassitude?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Blood Deficiency' of which lassitude is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen Blood Deficiency include loose stools, poor appetite and fatigue.
Yi Huang Tang
Source date: 1826 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Strengthens the Spleen. Dries Dampness. Clears Heat. Stops vaginal discharge.
Why might Yi Huang Tang help with lassitude?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which lassitude is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen Yang Deficiency include loose stools, poor appetite and fatigue.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat lassitude
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with lassitude?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lassitude as a symptom, like Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang or Si Jun Zi 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 Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with lassitude?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lassitude as a symptom, like Wen Qi Hua Shi 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.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with lassitude?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lassitude as a symptom, like Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang or Gui Pi Tang 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 Yam (Shan Yao) help with lassitude?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lassitude as a symptom, like Yi Huang Tang 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.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with lassitude?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat lassitude as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Liu 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.
Other symptoms often associated with lassitude
Loose stools Poor appetite Fatigue Depression Weak Limbs Tiredness Feeling of cold Pale complexion Infertility Frequent urination