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.
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Weak extremities 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 weak extremities 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 weak extremities is often associated with lower back pain, poor appetite and lower abdominal pressure in the pattern “Kidney Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause weak extremities.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of weak extremities we’ve identified four 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 weak extremities.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause weak extremities
In Chinese Medicine weak extremities is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them 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 weak extremities, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, poor appetite and lower abdominal pressure.
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".
Motherwort Herbs (Yi Mu Cao) is the king ingredient for Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang, a formula used for Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation
Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to weak extremities, other symptoms associated with Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation include poor appetite, abdominal distension and irregular menstruation.
Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation is often treated with Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Motherwort Herbs - Yi Mu Cao - as a key herb). Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Qi and Blood".
Read more about Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation here
The Triple Burner is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Triple Burner in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating
In addition to weak extremities, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner include lower back pain, scanty and yellow urine and red and swollen feet.
Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner is often treated with Er Miao San, a herbal formula made of 2 herbs (including Phellodendron Bark - Huang Bo - as a key herb). Er Miao San belongs to the category of "formulas that expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Expels Dampness from the Lower Burner".
Four herbal formulas that might help with weak extremities
Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi and Blood. Invigorates the Blood.
Why might Ba Zhen Yi Mu Tang help with weak extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood and Qi Deficiency with Blood Stagnation' of which weak extremities is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Blood And Qi Deficiency With Blood Stagnation include poor appetite, abdominal distension and irregular menstruation.
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 weak extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which weak extremities is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, poor appetite and lower abdominal pressure.
Ba Zheng San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and Fire. Promotes urination. Unblocks painful urinary dribbling.
Why might Ba Zheng San help with weak extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner' of which weak extremities is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Damp-Heat In The Lower Burner include lower back pain, scanty and yellow urine and red and swollen feet.
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 weak extremities?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which weak extremities is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, poor appetite and lower abdominal pressure.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat weak extremities
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with weak extremities?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat weak extremities as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or You Gui 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 Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with weak extremities?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat weak extremities as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Plantain Seed (Che Qian Zi) help with weak extremities?
Because Plantain Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat weak extremities as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or Ba Zheng San for instance.
Plantain Seeds is a Cool herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver, the Lung and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and clears Heat. Stops diarrhea by expelling water through urination. Brightens the eyes, used in combination either for Deficiency or Heat. Reduces inflammation of infections. Arrests cough and expectorates Phlegm.
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with weak extremities?
Because Cuscuta Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat weak extremities as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Wu Zi Yan Zong 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 Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with weak extremities?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat weak extremities as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Er Xian Tang 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.
Other symptoms often associated with weak extremities
Lower back pain Poor appetite Abdominal distension Irregular menstruation Red and white vaginal discharge Scanty and yellow urine Red and swollen feet Sores on the lower extremities Lower abdominal pressure