General Cold Feelingaccording to TCM
*redirected from Desire warmth
Symptom family: Cold Sensations and Intolerance
Did you mean? Aversion To Cold Chills
What is General Cold Feeling?
General cold feeling, often referred to as an overall sensation of coldness, is a common symptom where an individual feels persistently cold regardless of the external temperature. This can manifest as a constant need to seek warmth or prefer warmer environments. This sensation is not just a fleeting feeling of cold but a persistent condition that affects daily comfort and well-being. It is essential to understand the underlying causes, as this symptom can be linked to various health issues.
How Does TCM View General Cold Feeling?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a general cold feeling is seen as an imbalance in the body's internal energies. TCM practitioners believe this sensation arises from disharmonies within the body, such as Deficiencies or obstructions in the flow of Qi (vital energy) and Blood. Unlike Western medicine, which might attribute this symptom to poor circulation or anemia, TCM emphasizes the importance of diagnosing the specific pattern of disharmony to tailor an effective treatment plan.
Root Causes of General Cold Feeling in TCM
One common cause of a general cold feeling in TCM is Yang Deficiency. This pattern includes symptoms like a strong desire for warmth, chills, pale urine, undigested food in stools, and general weakness. Individuals with Yang Deficiency might also experience abdominal pain relieved by pressure and warmth, frequent urination, and a preference for warm environments. Herbal formulas such as Ba Wei Di Huang Wan and You Gui Wan are often recommended to nourish and tonify the body's Yang energy, helping to alleviate these symptoms.
Another cause is Wind-Cold invading the body, particularly when accompanied by Yang Deficiency. This condition is characterized by severe chills, low-grade fever, exhaustion, cold extremities, and lumbar pain. The person may also feel hypersomnia and coldness in the lower back. In such cases, formulas like Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang and Zai Zao San are used. These formulas help to release the exterior and warm the interior, addressing both the external invasion and internal deficiency.
Explore below more details about what might cause General cold feeling according to TCM.
- By Syndrome
- By Organ
- Yang Deficiency
- Cold
- Wind
Yang Deficiency
Yang deficiency in TCM refers to a state where the body's Yang energy, which is responsible for warmth, activity, and function, is weakened or diminished. This pattern of disharmony often arises from chronic illness, aging, or inherent constitutional weakness. Symptoms of Yang deficiency are typically associated with cold and sluggishness, such as a feeling of coldness, cold extremities, pale complexion, low energy or fatigue, and a desire for warmth. Digestive issues like poor appetite, loose stools, and water retention can also be indicative of Yang deficiency.... see more
Yang Deficiency Patterns That Can Lead to General Cold Feeling
Common Symptoms: Aversion To Cold Cold Extremities Lower Back And Leg Pain And Heaviness Weakness And Stiffness Palpitations Shortness Of Breath Chronic Lower Back Pain Sciatica
| Pattern Name | Relevant Symptoms | Relevant Formulas |
|---|---|---|
| Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang | Desire warmth, Chills, General cold feeling, Pale urine, Undigested food in stools, General weakness, Abdominal pain relieved by pressure and warmth, Frequent urination, Polyuria, Nocturia, White vaginal discharge... see more | Ba Wei Di Huang Wan | You Gui Wan | Ban Liu Wan |
| Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency | General cold feeling, Low grade fever, Severe chills, Exhaustion, Hypersomnia, Cold extremities, Lumbar pain, Lower back pain, Lower back coldness, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Weak voice... see more | Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang | Zai Zao San |
| Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency | Attraction to warmth, Lower back and leg pain and heaviness, Weakness and stiffness, Aversion to cold, General cold feeling, Palpitations, Shortness of breath, Chronic lower back pain, Sciatica, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis... see more | Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang |
TCM Herbal Formulas for General Cold Feeling
For treating a general cold feeling, TCM prescribes specific herbal formulas based on the identified pattern of disharmony. For Yang Deficiency, Ba Wei Di Huang Wan and You Gui Wan are frequently used. Ba Wei Di Huang Wan includes Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang), which helps to tonify blood and nourish Yin, while You Gui Wan, with Prepared aconite (Zhi Fu Zi), focuses on warming the Interior and strengthening the Yang.
When dealing with Wind-Cold invasion accompanied by Yang Deficiency, Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang and Zai Zao San are effective. Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang contains Ephedra (Ma Huang), which is known for its ability to release the Exterior and warm the Interior, helping to expel Cold pathogens. Zai Zao San, on the other hand, includes Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi), which is excellent for tonifying Qi and boosting the body's Defensive energy.
Explore below some TCM herbal formulas used to address general cold feeling, organized by cause and by formula type.
- By Cause
- By Formula Type
- Yang Deficiency
- Cold
- Wind
Top Formula for Yang Deficiency:
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang
Suitable for Yang Deficiency patterns that may cause general cold feeling, such as Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency
Learn moreAll Formulas Recommended for General Cold Feeling Caused by Yang Deficiency
| Formula | Patterns Suitable For |
|---|---|
| Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang | Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency |
| Ba Wei Di Huang Wan | Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang |
| You Gui Wan | Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang |
| Ban Liu Wan | Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang |
| Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang | Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency |
| Zai Zao San | Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency |
TCM Herbs for General Cold Feeling
Explore below some TCM herbs used to address general cold feeling, organized by herb category.
- By Herb Category
- Herbs that warm the interior and/or expel cold
- Tonic herbs for qi deficiency
- Herbs that dispel wind and dampness
Herbs that warm the Interior and/or expel Cold
General cold feeling can be treated by these herbs if it is due to internal coldness or deficient Yang energy, working to warm the body and dispel cold.
One such herb is Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi), a key herb in some formulas recommended for general cold feeling, like You Gui Wan.
Other herbs of this category are listed in the table below.
"Herbs that warm the Interior and/or expel Cold" recommended for general cold feeling
| Herb | Formulas they belong to (if applicable) |
|---|---|
| Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) | You Gui Wan |
| Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) | You Gui Wan |