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.
Softening of bones 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 softening of bones 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 softening of bones is often associated with poor bone development, late closure of fontanelle and weak limbs in the pattern “Kidney Essence Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of softening of bones we’ve identified two herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the three medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat softening of bones.
Kidney Essence Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause softening of bones
In Chinese Medicine softening of bones is a symptom for the pattern "Kidney Essence 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 Essence Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Pale
Kidney Essence (Jing 精) Deficiency usually involves Deficiency of Kidney Yin and, to some extent, Kidney Yang. Its symptoms are typically in relation to growth, development, reproduction, sexuality, bones, marrow, the brain, teeth, memory and hair.
In addition to softening of bones, other symptoms associated with Kidney Essence Deficiency include poor bone development, late closure of fontanelle and weak limbs.
Kidney Essence Deficiency is often treated with Zuo Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Zuo Gui 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: "Nourishes the Yin".
Two herbal formulas that might help with softening of bones
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan
Source date: 1550 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Kidney Yang. Strengthens the Essence.
Why might Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan help with softening of bones?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which softening of bones is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Essence Deficiency include poor bone development, late closure of fontanelle and weak limbs.
Zuo Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys. Fills the Essence. Augments the marrow.
Why might Zuo Gui Wan help with softening of bones?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which softening of bones is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Essence Deficiency include poor bone development, late closure of fontanelle and weak limbs.
The three Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat softening of bones
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with softening of bones?
Because Cuscuta Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat softening of bones as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or Zuo Gui Wan for instance.
Cuscuta Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver.
Why might Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi) help with softening of bones?
Because Goji Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat softening of bones as a symptom, like Zuo Gui Wan or Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan for instance.
Goji Berries is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Yin of the Kidneys. Brightens the eyes. Moistens the Lungs.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with softening of bones?
Because it is a key herb in Zuo Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' (a pattern with softening of bones as a symptom)
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 softening of bones
Poor bone development Late closure of fontanelle Weak Limbs Poor memory Loose teeth Premature aging Hair Graying Sore back Tinnitus Deafness