1
Spleen-kidney yang deficiency
- Key distinguishing signs
- Marked cold intolerance, cold limbs, pale face, fatigue, dawn diarrhea, frequent pale urine, pale enlarged tongue
- Treatment principle
- Warm and invigorate spleen-kidney yang
Generalwèi hán pà lěng
Chills & cold intolerance
Also called:feeling coldcold intolerance
From the TCM perspective: Cold intolerance: yang deficiency or qi stagnation
Overview
Cold intolerance is a persistent feeling of cold, especially in the limbs, relieved by warmth. TCM distinguishes chronic yang-deficiency cold (improved by warming), acute chills with fever in infection, and qi stagnation where yang fails to reach the extremities.
☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)
2
Insecure defensive qi
- Key distinguishing signs
- Fear of wind with spontaneous sweating, frequent colds and fatigue, pale tongue and weak floating pulse
- Treatment principle
- Tonify qi and consolidate the exterior
3
Liver qi stagnation
- Key distinguishing signs
- Cold limbs worsening with stress, chest tightness, sighing, mood swings, wiry pulse
- Treatment principle
- Soothe the liver and free the flow of qi and yang
4
Phlegm-stasis obstructing collaterals
- Key distinguishing signs
- Cold with numbness and heaviness, pale or purplish dusky limbs, dark tongue and rough pulse
- Treatment principle
- Resolve phlegm, quicken stasis and warm the collaterals
Daily self-care
- Keep the abdomen, lower back and feet warm; wear socks and drink warm beverages.
- Favor warming foods (ginger, cinnamon, walnut, lamb) for yang deficiency; avoid cold raw foods.
- Exercise and walk regularly to move qi and blood and warm the limbs.
When to seek medical help
The following warning signs require prompt medical evaluation — do not rely on self-treatment:
- Sudden coldness with chest pain, breathlessness or fainting.
- A pale/blue cold limb with loss of sensation or severe pain (possible vascular emergency).
- Chills with very high fever, stiff neck or confusion.
Medical disclaimer: Educational content about traditional Chinese medicine for information only; it is not a diagnosis or treatment and does not replace a qualified clinician. If symptoms worsen or warning signs appear, seek medical care.