What is Chills?

Chills are a sensation of coldness often accompanied by shivering and a desire to seek warmth. They can occur as a symptom of various conditions, ranging from infections to more chronic issues. Chills are characterized by shaking, feeling cold, and a general cold sensation throughout the body. Sub-symptoms include mild chills, chills without sweating, chills with warm skin, severe chills, and mild chills with high fever. Understanding the underlying causes of chills is essential for effective treatment and management.

How Does TCM View Chills?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), chills are seen as an indication of internal disharmony. TCM practitioners believe that chills can result from various imbalances within the body, such as Deficiencies or Stagnation in the flow of Qi and Blood. Unlike Western medicine, which might focus on infections or physiological causes, TCM emphasizes diagnosing the specific pattern of disharmony to create an effective treatment plan tailored to the individual's needs.

Root Causes of Chills in TCM

One common cause of chills in TCM is Cold, with patterns like Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold and Exterior-Cold. Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold is characterized by symptoms such as chills, fever, lack of sweating, headaches, and a stifling sensation in the chest.

Another significant cause is Yang Deficiency, with patterns such as Lesser Yin Stage with Cold Transformation (according to the 6 Stage Theory of Zhang Zhong Jing) and Kidney Yang Deficiency. Lesser Yin Stage with Cold Transformation presents with symptoms like chills, diarrhea, low energy, cold extremities, and frequent pale urination. Kidney Yang Deficiency involves chills, lower back pain, dizziness, and generalized fatigue.

Explore below more details about what might cause Chills according to TCM.

  • By Syndrome
  • By Organ
  • Cold
  • Yang Deficiency
  • Wind
Detailed description of the cause

Cold

In TCM "Cold" as a pattern of disharmony refers to a specific type of imbalance within the body's systems, often linked to a deficiency or weakness. It's not about feeling physically cold or having a common cold, but rather a metaphorical description of certain symptoms and underlying conditions. When a TCM practitioner says someone suffers from "Cold," it usually implies that the body's Yang energy, which is warm and active, is insufficient or overpowered by Yin energy, which is cool and passive. Symptoms of Cold in TCM can include a general feeling of coldness, cold limbs, pale complexion, low energy, slow metabolism, and a preference for warmth. ... see more

Cold Patterns That Can Lead to Chills

Common Symptoms: Cold Extremities Headaches Diarrhea Lack Of Sweating Abdominal Pain Dizziness Fever Absence Of Thirst

Pattern Name Relevant Symptoms Relevant Formulas
Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold Chills, Fever, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Thirst, Flushed face, Stifling sensation in the chest, Feeling of heaviness, Body pain, Dark urine, Urinary dysfunction... see more Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin
Exterior-Cold Chills, Aversion to cold, Fever, Body pain, Stiff neck, Lack of sweating, Absence of thirst, Feeling of heat... see more Ma Huang Tang | Gui Zhi Tang
Lesser Yin Cold Transformation Feeling of cold, Chills, Diarrhea, Absence of thirst, Desire to lie down curled up, Low energy, Hypersomnia, Cold extremities, Frequent pale urination... see more Si Ni Tang
Wind-Cold Chills, Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache, Occipital stiffness, Congested nose, White and watery sputum... see more Ma Huang Tang | Jing Fang Bai Du San | Cong Chi Tang | Huo Ren Cong Shi Tang | Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang | Jia Wei Xiang Su San | Shi Shen Tang | Jin Fei Cao San | Wu Ji San
Wind-Cold invading the Lungs Chills, Aversion to cold, Fever, Itchy throat, Shortness of breath, Congested nose, Nasal discharge, Sneezing, Headaches, Body pain, White and watery sputum, Coughing and wheezing with copious sputum... see more Ma Huang Tang | Ge Gen Tang | Xin Yi San | Zhi Sou San
Bladder Deficient and Cold Feeling of cold, Frequent urination, Pale and abudant urination, Urinary or fecal incontinence, Enuresis, Lower back pain, Dizziness, Nocturia, White urethral discharge, Chills... see more Sang Piao Xiao San | Suo Quan Wan
Cold in the Uterus Feeling of cold, Diarrhea, Lack of appetite, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Thin vaginal discharge... see more Wen Jing Tang | Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang | Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang | Da Ying Jian | Si Wu Tang
Cold invading the Large Intestine Feeling of cold, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Chills, Abdominal cold sensation Liang Fu Wan | Tao Hua Tang
Cold invading the Stomach Feeling of cold, Severe upper abdominal pain, Chills, Cold extremities, Desire for hot beverages and foods, Vomiting clear liquid, Nausea, Feeling worse after drinking cold drinks... see more Liang Fu Wan | Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San | Wu Zhu Yu Tang
Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs Feeling of cold, Coughing, White and watery sputum, Chills, Cold hands, Sputum, Dizziness, Stifling sensation in the chest, Feeling of heaviness... see more Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang | Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang | San Zi Yang Qin Tang
Damp-Cold Feeling of cold, Mouth ulcers, White and watery sputum, Nasal discharge, Sneezing, Chills, Abdominal pain, Cold extremities, Arthralgia, Diarrhea, Feeling of heaviness... see more Wei Ling Tang
Empty-Cold Feeling of cold, Chills, Cold extremities, Pale face, Absence of thirst, Low energy, Excessive sweating, Diarrhea, Clear urination, Frequent urination... see more Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang | Da Jian Zhong Tang | Ban Liu Wan
Greater Yin stage Feeling of cold, Lack of appetite, Vomit, Abdominal fullness, Chills, Diarrhea, Absence of thirst, Generalized fatigue... see more Li Zhong Wan
Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel Feeling of cold, Hypochondrial fullness and distention with pain alleviated by warmth, Testicular pain, Scrotal contraction, Vertical headaches, Chills, Cold extremities, Vomiting clear liquid, Vaginal atrophy... see more Nuan Gan Jian
Exterior Cold with Interior Dampness in Summer Chills with skin that is warm to the touch, Chills with warm skin, Lack of sweating, Heavy sensation in the head, Headaches, Abdominal pain, Vomit, Diarrhea, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Fatigued extremities, Nausea... see more Xiang Ru San
Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency Severe chills, Low grade fever, Exhaustion, Hypersomnia, Cold extremities, Lumbar pain, Lower back pain, Lower back coldness, General cold feeling, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Weak voice... see more Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang | Zai Zao San
Wind Cold with Internal Heat Strong chills, High fever, Severe chills, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, General sensation of tightness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Dry nose, Thirst, Irritability, Insomnia, Cough of blood, Mottled skin... see more Shi Gao Tang
Exterior Cold invading the Interior Chills, Abdominal pain, Constipation, Hypochondriac pain, Low grade fever, Cold extremities, Sweating that doesn't reduce fever, Epigastric palpitations, Dizziness, Twitching, Unsteadiness... see more Da Huang Fu Zi Tang
Stomach Deficiency Feeling of cold, Nausea or vomiting, Generalized fatigue, Chills, Lack of appetite, Depression, Dry mouth, Morning sickness... see more Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang | Er Chen Tang | Mai Men Dong Tang
Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp Chills without sweating, Swollen and painful joints worsening at night, Joint stiffness, Weight loss, Headaches, Dizziness, Shortness of breath, Nausea, Rheumatoid arthritis, Connective tissue disorders, Gouty inflammation... see more Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang
Exterior Dry Cold invading the Lungs Chills without sweating, Headaches, Congested nose, Dry throat, Sputum, Dry cough, Common cold, Bronchitis, Emphysema, Upper respiratory tract infections... see more Xing Su San

TCM Herbal Formulas for Chills

TCM treatment for chills involves using specific herbal formulas tailored to the identified pattern of disharmony. For Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold, Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin is recommended, featuring Vietnamese Balm as a key herb to release the Exterior and dispel Summer Heat. For Exterior-Cold, Ma Huang Tang, which includes Ephedra, is used to clear Wind-Cold.

In cases of Lesser Yin Stage with Cold Transformation, Si Ni Tang is prescribed, leveraging the warming properties of Prepared Aconite. For Kidney Yang Deficiency, You Gui Wan is beneficial, with Prepared aconite helping to warm the interior and tonify Yang. These formulas and herbs address the root cause of the symptom, providing relief and restoring balance.

Explore below some TCM herbal formulas used to address chills, organized by cause and by formula type.

  • By Cause
  • By Formula Type
  • Cold
  • Yang Deficiency
  • Wind

All Formulas Recommended for Chills Caused by Cold

Formula Patterns Suitable For
Ma Huang Tang Exterior-Cold, Wind-Cold, Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
Liang Fu Wan Cold invading the Large Intestine, Cold invading the Stomach
Cong Chi Tang Wind-Cold
Huo Ren Cong Shi Tang Wind-Cold
Zhi Sou San Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
Wen Jing Tang Cold in the Uterus
Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs
Ban Liu Wan Empty-Cold
Li Zhong Wan Greater Yin stage
Da Huang Fu Zi Tang Exterior Cold invading the Interior
Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin Early Stage Summerheat with Exterior Wind-Cold
Gui Zhi Tang Exterior-Cold
Si Ni Tang Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
Jing Fang Bai Du San Wind-Cold
Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang Wind-Cold
Jia Wei Xiang Su San Wind-Cold
Shi Shen Tang Wind-Cold
Jin Fei Cao San Wind-Cold
Wu Ji San Wind-Cold
Ge Gen Tang Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
Xin Yi San Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
Sang Piao Xiao San Bladder Deficient and Cold
Suo Quan Wan Bladder Deficient and Cold
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang Cold in the Uterus
Wen Qi Hua Shi Tang Cold in the Uterus
Da Ying Jian Cold in the Uterus
Si Wu Tang Cold in the Uterus
Tao Hua Tang Cold invading the Large Intestine
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San Cold invading the Stomach
Wu Zhu Yu Tang Cold invading the Stomach
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs
San Zi Yang Qin Tang Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs
Wei Ling Tang Damp-Cold
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang Empty-Cold
Da Jian Zhong Tang Empty-Cold
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang Stomach Deficiency
Er Chen Tang Stomach Deficiency
Mai Men Dong Tang Stomach Deficiency
Nuan Gan Jian Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel
Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp
Xing Su San Exterior Dry Cold invading the Lungs
Xiang Ru San Exterior Cold with Interior Dampness in Summer
Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency
Zai Zao San Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency
Shi Gao Tang Wind Cold with Internal Heat

Acupoints for Chills

Acupuncture is a key component of TCM treatment for chills. Specific acupoints are targeted to balance the body's internal energies and alleviate cold sensations. In the Governing Vessel, Dazhui DU-14 and Mingmen DU-4 are effective points. Dazhui DU-14, located at the base of the neck, helps clear Wind-Heat, release the exterior, and tonify Yang. Mingmen DU-4, located on the lower back, tonifies Kidney Yang, warms the Gate of Life, and expels cold.

In the Kidney Channel, Taixi KID-3, located between the medial malleolus and Achilles tendon, is beneficial. This point tonifies Kidney Yin and Yang, strengthens Kidney essence, and benefits the lower back and knees. These acupoints, among others, help regulate the body's response to cold and improve overall energy flow, providing a comprehensive approach to managing chills. Through a combination of herbal formulas and acupuncture, TCM offers a holistic and effective treatment for this common symptom.

Explore below some acupoints used to address chills, organized by meridian.

  • By Meridian
  • Governing Vessel
  • Kidney Channel
Mingmen DU-4

Mingmen DU-4

On the lower back midline, in the depression below the spinous process of the 2nd lumber vertebra (L2).

Dazhui DU-14

Dazhui DU-14

On the midline at the base of the neck, in the depression below the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7).

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