Cold hands and feet, loose stools, frequent urination at night…These seemingly insignificant “deficiency-cold” symptoms, if not addressed for a long time, may quietly lead to blood stasis, resulting in cardiovascular diseases, uterine fibroids, joint stiffness, and other issues. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that “deficiency of Yang leads to cold, and cold condenses to blood stasis”; Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency is the “invisible push” behind blood stasis. This article teaches you how to use the “warming Yang and resolving stasis” method to break the deadlock and allow Qi and blood to flow freely like warm sunlight!
Why does Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency lead to blood stasis?
Insufficient Yang Qi causes blood to “solidify”.《医林改错》 states:
“Blood congeals into clots when exposed to cold.” Insufficient Kidney Yang is like “having no heating in the body”; blood flow slows down, making it easy to form blood clots.
Modern research shows: Patients with Yang deficiency have increased blood viscosity, enhanced red blood cell aggregation, and a 3-5 times higher risk of thrombosis.
Spleen deficiency leads to phlegm-damp obstruction
The Spleen governs the transformation and transportation of water and dampness; Spleen deficiency leads to internal retention of dampness, which combines with cold pathogens to form phlegm-damp and blood stasis.
Typical manifestations: Enlarged tongue with tooth marks, white greasy tongue coating, and engorged sublingual veins.
Constricted vessels lead to obstructed Qi and blood
Insufficient Yang Qi causes blood vessels to constrict, and cold condensing blood stasis leads to pain.
Common symptoms: Abdominal pain during menstruation, cold joint pain, chest tightness and heart pain.
Four warning signs of Spleen deficiency cold + blood stasis
Pain characteristics:
Stabbing pain that resists pressure (such as angina, pain from uterine fibroids)
Worsens at night (blood stasis is more severe when Yang Qi is weakest)
Tongue characteristics:
Dark purple tongue or with stasis spots
Engorged sublingual veins (diameter > 2.7mm)
Menstrual irregularities:
Dark menstrual blood with clots
Diarrhea during menstruation (Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency + blood stasis)
Other manifestations:
Skin bruising, pigmentation
Memory decline, emotional depression
The “Three-Step Therapy” for Warming Yang and Resolving Stasis
1. First Step: Breaking the Ice – Warming Yang and Dispelling Cold
Recommended Chinese patent medicines:
Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan (Aconite and Ginseng Pill): Warms Spleen Yang, resolves cold congealment (suitable for diarrhea + cold hands and feet)
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill): Warms Kidney Yang, promotes water metabolism (suitable for frequent night urination + cold lower back and knees)
External treatment:
Ginger moxibustion on Guanyuan point (twice a week, 15 minutes each time)
Wu Zhu Yu powder + vinegar applied to Yongquan point (to guide fire back to the source)
2. Second Step: Unblocking the Vessels – Activating Blood and Resolving Stasis
Recommended Chinese patent medicines:
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Wan (Blood Mansion Eliminating Stasis Pill): Moves Qi and activates blood, unblocks blood vessels (suitable for chest pain + insomnia)
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan (Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill): Warms the meridians, resolves stasis, and disperses masses (suitable for uterine fibroids + dysmenorrhea)
Dietary therapy:
Shan Zha Tao Ren Yin (Hawthorn and Peach Kernel Drink): Hawthorn 15g + Peach Kernel 10g + appropriate amount of brown sugar, activates blood and resolves stasis (on an empty stomach in the morning)
3. Third Step: Strengthening the Foundation – Tonifying Spleen and Kidney
Recommended Chinese patent medicines:
Gui Pi Wan (Restore the Spleen Pill): Tonifies Spleen and nourishes blood, improves Qi and blood deficiency (suitable for fatigue + palpitations)
You Gui Wan (Restore the Right Pill): Nourishes essence and replenishes marrow, enhances warming Yang effects (suitable for impotence + premature ejaculation)
Daily maintenance:
Drink ginger and jujube tea in the morning (3 slices of ginger + 5 jujubes boiled in water)
Walk briskly for 30 minutes daily to promote blood circulation
Classic Combination Plans
| Symptom Combination | Recommended Combination | Dosage Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency + Chest tightness and heart pain | Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan + Xue Fu Zhu Yu Wan | 2-4 weeks |
| Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency + Uterine fibroids | Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan + Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan | 1-3 months |
| Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency + Cold joint pain | You Gui Wan + Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan | 2-3 weeks |
| Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency + Menstrual blood clots | Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan + Yi Mu Cao Granules | 1 week before menstruation |
Precautions and contraindications
Key points for differentiation:
Significant Yang deficiency (cold intolerance, cold limbs) → First take Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan for 1 week before resolving stasis
Severe blood stasis (stabbing pain that resists pressure) → Combine with San Leng, E Zhu and other blood-breaking herbs (under medical supervision)
Contraindicated populations:
Pregnant women should avoid blood-breaking herbs (such as Peach Kernel, Safflower)
Those with Yin deficiency and excess heat should use warming Yang herbs with caution (red tongue with little coating, tidal fever, night sweats)
Managing side effects:
After taking blood-activating and stasis-resolving herbs, mild diarrhea may occur; reduce dosage or combine with yam porridge.