Yang Deficiency Symptoms & Treatment
Yang deficiency is a common pattern in which the body becomes depleted of its warming yang energy, which may or may not result in a relative excess of yin. This could be constitutional or due to cold exposure, a lack of physical activity, or insufficient intake of warming, yang-nourishing foods. The general symptoms of yang deficiency include:
Fatigue
Lack of strength
Low libido
Pale skin
Cold limbs
Aversion to cold
Lack of thirst/desire for warm drinks
Shortness of breath
Spontaneous sweating
Copious pale urination
Loose stools
In addition, specific organs may be affected by yang deficiency. The most common of these are the Kidney, the Spleen, and the Heart.
Kidney Yang Deficiency
The Kidney is seen as the source of all yin and yang in the body. Therefore, it is often one of the first organs affected by yang deficiency. In addition to the general yang deficiency symptoms listed above, Kidney yang deficiency can cause:
Lower backache
Cold, weak, or painful knees
Weak bladder
Oedema in the lower body
Sexual dysfunction
Infertility
This can occur as a result of old age, chronic illness, excessive sexual activity or exposure to cold after intercourse, or damp retention (resulting from Spleen deficiency) obstructing the movement of fluids.
Spleen Yang Deficiency
The Spleen is one of the main digestive organs in Chinese medicine. It requires warming yang energy to perform its function of “transforming and transporting” food essences, which is required to generate qi and Blood. In addition to the yang deficiency symptoms listed above, Spleen yang deficiency can cause:
Poor appetite
Bloating after eating
Weak limbs
Chilliness
Oedema
Diet is a primary cause of Spleen yang deficiency, including excessive consumption of cold and raw foods that are hard to digest, not chewing food properly, irregular eating times, or eating too much at once, all of which put a strain on the Spleen. Mental strain can also hinder Spleen function, as can prolonged exposure to damp conditions.
Furthermore, the Spleen relies upon the Kidney to provide it with yang energy. Therefore, Kidney yang deficiency can have a knock-on effect on the Spleen. In these cases, both organs may need to be treated together.
Heart Yang Deficiency
The Heart requires a good balance between yin and yang to ensure it functions well. It has a close relationship with the Kidney, which represents water, while the Heart represents fire. The Heart relies on Kidney yin to prevent it from overheating, while the Kidney relies on Heart yang to warm it and aid its function. Therefore, if either of these organs becomes imbalanced, it can quickly impact the other.
In addition to the yang deficiency symptoms listed above, Heart yang deficiency can cause:
Palpitations
Shortness of breath on exertion
Feelings of stuffiness in the chest
Because of the relationship described above, Heart yang deficiency is most often a direct result of Kidney yang deficiency. Therefore, it is often necessary to treat the two organs together.
Treatment for Yang Deficiency
Yang deficiency can often be prevented by keeping warm, taking regular, moderate exercise, and paying close attention to the breathing. These habits can also help to remedy yang deficiency should it occur.
More severe yang deficiency can be treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and dietary therapy. Moxibustion is especially indicated as it helps to warm the body and nourish yang. Dietary therapy is another effective method, as it can be both curative and preventative and can be safely continued over long periods of time.
Read more about the best foods and cooking methods for yang deficiency in this article on yang-nourishing foods, or book a consultation to discuss the most appropriate approach for you.
References
Maciocia G (1989) The Foundations of Chinese Medicine (first edition) - Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, London
Wiseman N, Feng Y (2014) A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine - Paradigm Publications, Taos, NM