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.
Weakness and stiffness 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 weakness and stiffness 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 weakness and stiffness is often associated with aversion to cold, attraction to warmth and palpitations in the pattern “Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of weakness and stiffness we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause weakness and stiffness
In Chinese Medicine weakness and stiffness is a symptom for the pattern "Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney 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
Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo), Fine (Xi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to weakness and stiffness, other symptoms associated with Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency include aversion to cold, attraction to warmth and palpitations.
Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency is often treated with Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang, a herbal formula made of 15 herbs (including Pubescent Angelica Roots - Du Huo - as a key herb). Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dispel wind-damp", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Anti-rheumatic, clears Wind, Cold and Damp Stagnation".
Read more about Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency here
A herbal formula that might help with weakness and stiffness
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 15 herbs
Key actions: Anti-rheumatic, clears Wind, Cold and Damp Stagnation. Strengthens the function of the Liver and Kidney. Tonifies Qi and Blood.
Why might Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang help with weakness and stiffness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency' of which weakness and stiffness is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Painful Obstruction With Liver And Kidney Deficiency include aversion to cold, attraction to warmth and palpitations.
Pubescent angelica root might help with weakness and stiffness
Why might Pubescent Angelica Root (Du Huo) help with weakness and stiffness?
Because it is a key herb in Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency' (a pattern with weakness and stiffness as a symptom)
Pubescent Angelica Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Disperses Wind, Cold, Dampness. Relieves pain. Relieves Lesser Yang (Shao Yang) headache.
Other symptoms often associated with weakness and stiffness
Aversion to cold Attraction to warmth Palpitations Shortness of breath