Spleen damp-cold syndrome

Cang Zhu can be selected as chief in the formula to treat a reasonably severe excess condition of wind-cold syndrome that includes the symptom of heaviness of the body. Because Cang Zhu is pungent and warm, and enters the Stomach and Spleen meridians, it can strongly dry dampness and disperse wind and cold. 

Fu Ling is neutral and bland, and enters the Heart, Spleen and Kidney meridians. It can gently tonify the Qi of these organs, and can be used in either heat or cold syndromes of deficiency. It is often used as assistant to eliminate dampness in the Middle-Jiao. The dampness can be generated by deficiency of Spleen-Qi or from the cloying nature of the sweet tonifying herbs. Fu Ling can also tonify the Heart-Qi and calm the mind. 

In TCM, hypothyroidism is considered a syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency and accumulation of dampness or damp-phlegm in the body. Although western drugs may help to keep thyroid hormone levels normal, symptoms such as tiredness, coldness, weight gain and constipation may still exist. In the differentiation of the syndrome, many patients still show signs of Spleen-Qi deficiency and accumulation of dampness in the body, therefore treatment should be given to tonify the Spleen-Qi, activate Qi movement and leach out dampness. 

The Spleen is regarded as a Yin organ and it is easily injured by exterior damp-heat or cold. If the Spleen fails to transport water and food that has accumulated in the Middle-Jiao, this will eventually generate heat in a Yang constitution. Persistent accumulation of damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao may develop damp-heat in the Large Intestine. Both syndromes have a lingering process of pathological development. 

The other three herbs are able to leach out dampness and promote urination. They can be selected in the formula to assist the chief and deputy herbs to remove damp-phlegm. Among these herbs, Fu Ling is neutral and can gently tonify the Spleen-Qi Ze Xie and Yi Yi Ren are cold and are more suitable for treating phlegm-heat syndrome. 

Fu Zi enters the Heart, Spleen and Kidney meridians. It is swift and violent in its action of spreading warmth, scattering cold, drying dampness and warming the meridians. Because of its strength, it is considered a herb that enters the 12 regular meridians. It is used as chief to treat Bi syndrome, especially when cold is predominant with symptoms of severe cramping pain. 

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