Yang deficiency

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 combination indicates that the purging action is based on a warming and tonifying action. The alterations of herbs in this formula are particularly necessary in chronic and recurrent disorders of cold accumulation in the Middle-Jiao with Spleen-Yang deficiency. 

The internal cold syndrome can be caused by Yang deficiency in different organs. 

Kidney-Yang deficiency is often seen in elderly people, people with a poor constitution and patients with chronic diseases. When the Kidney-Yang fails to accelerate water metabolism, edema or frequent urination may occur. When the Kidney-Yang and Qi are unable to warm the Lower-Jiao and maintain its function, impotence, infertility, dysmenorrhea and aqueous-grainy diarrhea may occur. 

Spleen-Yang deficiency often occurs in people with chronic disorders of digestion. When the Spleen-Yang is too weak to warm the internal organs, meridians and muscles, it causes a cold sensation and cramping pain of the abdomen and diarrhea. When the Qi in the Middle-Jiao is too weak, distension of the abdomen and poor appetite appear. 

Heart-Yang deficiency exists in people who have been under stress and emotional distress for a long period of time, or in patients who suffer from severe heart and lung diseases. When the Yang in the chest is too weak to promote the Qi movement and blood circulation, palpitations, shortness of breath and chest pain start. 

Fu Zi is a very pungent and hot herb. It enters the 12 regular meridians and moves quickly without any staying tendency. It can very quickly spread the Yang in the body. With these features, it treats internal cold syndrome. Since Fu Zi can spread the warmth quickly to the whole body through the 12 meridians, it can scatter cold and dampness in the body like the sun with the fog. This is the reason why Fu Zi is a very commonly used herb to treat Bi syndrome caused by cold, dampness and wind, as well as Yang deficiency of the body. Although Fu Zi... 

Du Zhong and Gou Ji strengthen the back and benefit the joints. They can be used in chronic Bi syndrome due to wind, cold and dampness with Kidney-Yang deficiency, especially in elderly people. 

Yi Zhi Ren and Tu Si Zi can tonify the Kidney-Yang as well as the Kidney-essence, and can be used for frequent urination, infertility and impotence due to Kidney-Yang deficiency. 

Pao Sheng Jiang is bitter and warm, and enters the Middle-Jiao and the Spleen meridian. It particularly warms the Middle-Jiao and stops bleeding caused by Spleen-Yang deficiency, such as in peptic ulcer, chronic colitis and dysentery. It can also be selected as deputy in formulas that warm the Middle-Jiao. 

Damp-cold accumulation often coexists in Yang deficiency syndrome. Because cold obstructs the meridians, this leads to obstruction of Qi movement and water circulation, and cold-dampness is thus formed. Moreover, when the Yang is too weak to steam the fluid into Qi and Yin, the water metabolism becomes very slow and the water may accumulate in certain places in the body. In this condition, herbs that are warm in nature and have the function of transforming dampness should be used as assistants in formulas. 

Bai Zhu, as deputy, tonifies the Spleen-Qi and enhances the ability of the Ren Shen. It can also dry the dampness that has developed from the Yang deficiency in the Middle-Jiao and it enhances the function of Gan Jiang to spread the Yang. 

It is in the form of a pill that is made with honey, which assists Yang generation in the Middle-Jiao in a steady and sufficient way. It is particularly useful in chronic conditions of Spleen-Yang deficiency. 

This formula primarily treats Spleen-Qi and Yang deficiency. In fact, it treats a chronic syndrome of deficiency of the Middle-Jiao, where not only Qi and Yang, but also Yin and blood are deficient, due to long-term Yang and Qi deficiency. 

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. 

This formula is able to warm the meridians and expel cold, tonify the blood and promote blood circulation. It is used to treat cold and painful joints and muscles due to Yang deficiency and blood deficiency with invasion of external cold. A pale tongue with a white coating and a very thready and deep pulse are the important signs of this syndrome. 

In cases of Yin deficiency, treatment should cover the spring and summer in cases of Yang deficiency, treatment should start in the autumn and end after winter. At the same time, diets that can tonify and protect the Spleen and Stomach are also recommended to patients. 

The Kidney-Qi is developed from Kidney-essence, and is directly generated by the interaction of Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang. The approaches of tonifying Kidney-Qi are via tonifying Kidney-Yin, Kidney-essence and Kidney-Yang. One should consult the formulas in Sections 10 and 11, Syndrome of Kidney-Yin deficiency and Syndrome of Kidney-Yang deficiency respectively, to create an appropriate formula. 

This is a formula to treat chronic palpitations and irregular pulse. The symptoms are directly caused by deficiency of the Heart-Qi. As the Qi is supported by the blood and Yin, and stimulated by the Yang, in this syndrome there is also blood, Yin and Yang deficiency. 

Kidney-Yang deficiency is often shown in a pale and dull color of the tongue with a white, moist coating and a slow, deep and weak pulse, particularly in the third position. 

This formula was devised by the ancient physician Zhang Jing Yue. It treats Kidney-Yang deficiency. 

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. 

Moreover, in cases of Spleen-Yang deficiency, they are suitable for selection in chronic disorders where the Yang and Yin, as well as the Qi and blood, are all deficient. With the combination of warm and cold herbs, they can tonify the Yang and Yin effectively in a balanced way. Furthermore, they can reduce the side effects of the hot or cold herbs that may injure the Yin, the blood, the Yang and the Qi in the process of tonifying the Spleen. 

In conditions of Spleen-Yang deficiency, this herb is often used with herbs that are sweet and warm,... 

Gan Jiang, the dry ginger, is very pungent and primarily enters the Spleen meridian. It disperses cold, dries dampness and treats abdominal pain with a cold sensation and a cramping nature. It can also treat diarrhea and poor appetite due to Yang deficiency of the Spleen. Combined with herbs that tonify the Spleen-Qi, it can improve the function of the Spleen-Yang. 

In the condition of Spleen-Yang deficiency, Gui Zhi can be used to stimulate water metabolism and accelerate water transforming into Qi, thereby relieving edema and difficult urination due to Yang deficiency. In addition, it can particularly warm the blood, stimulate the Heart and promote blood circulation, and can treat cold hands and feet, cramp of the muscles and pain due to cold in the blood. 

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. 

In the condition of Spleen-Yang deficiency, Chen Pi can be used as an assistant to regulate the Qi that is disturbed in the Middle-Jiao and improve the transportation and transformation of food and drinks in the body. 

---