Spleen Kidney-Yang deficiency

In this section, the strategies of composing the formulas that tonify the Heart-blood and Liver-blood are discussed because they are common syndromes. The related Spleen disorder is discussed in Section 1, Syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency, the related Lung disorders are discussed in Section 2, Syndrome of Lung-Qi deficiency and Section 6, Syndrome of Lung-Yin deficiency, and the related Kidney disorder is introduced in Sections 10 and 11, Syndrome of Kidney-Yin deficiency and Syndrome of Kidney-Yang deficiency, respectively. 

Spleen-Yang can be weakened by improper food, eating habits and medicines, or by chronic diseases. In addition, Kidney-Yang deficiency may directly cause Spleen-Yang deficiency. 

Two common syndromes that are referred to as the cold water affects the Heart and the cold water attacks the Lung mainly cause the secondary symptoms. These may occur if there is Heart-Yang and Kidney-Yang deficiency, or Heart-Yang and Spleen-Yang deficiency. 

This formula can warm the Yang, strengthen the Spleen, move the Qi and drain the water. It treats severe accumulation of water in the body due to Spleen-Yang and Kidney-Yang deficiency. The manifestations are severe edema, particularly of the abdomen and legs, cold hands and feet, no thirst, fullness and distension of the chest and abdomen, soft stool, a thick and sticky tongue coating and a deep and slow pulse. 

When patients suffer from chronic liver or kidney disease, the selection of the herbs and their dosages should be determined carefully to avoid placing an unnecessary workload on these weakened organs. At the same time, herbs that protect these organs and promote their function should also be included. For instance, acute or chronic liver diseases are mainly differentiated into a syndrome consisting of Spleen-Qi deficiency, damp-heat and heat-toxin accumulation, and herbs that treat this syndrome can be used. Chronic kidney diseases are mainly differentiated as Kidney-Yang and Spleen-Yang deficiency, dampness accumulation and heat-toxin in the blood. Herbs that treat this syndrome should be used in appropriate doses to help restore kidney function. 

This formula can rescue the Yang from collapse and tonify the Qi. It is used to treat severe Yang deficiency of the Kidney, Spleen and Heart, and accumulations of cold in the body. The symptoms are extremely cold extremities, an exhausted state with a constant desire to sleep, vomiting, diarrhea with undigested food particles, abdominal pain and cold, severe chills, purple color of nails and lips, a pale tongue with a white coating, and a weak and deep pulse. 

The main substances of the body are the Qi and essence that further generate blood, body fluids, Yin and Yang. In pathological conditions, the deficiency often shows four aspects, namely deficiency of the Qi, deficiency of the blood, deficiency of the Yin and deficiency of the Yang. The deficiency can be found in specific organs, such as Kidney-Yin deficiency, Spleen-Qi deficiency or Heart-blood deficiency. A deficiency syndrome also exists in patients with a weak constitution or those in the recovery period of disease, in elderly people or in children. In those situations, it is difficult to determine which organ is weak and which part should be tonified, as the general condition of the patient is weak. 

Fu Ling is sweet, bland and neutral, and enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Kidney meridians. It is able to drain out dampness by promoting urination. It can also tonify the Spleen and calm the mind. Because it is sweet and bland, it drains out dampness without the side effect of injuring the Yin and Yang of the body. In the condition of Spleen-Yang deficiency, it is often used as an assistant for treating accumulation of water and dampness in the Middle-Jiao. The manifestations are heaviness of the body, distension of the abdomen and difficult urination. 

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