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Qi Deficiency Leads to Laziness, Blood Deficiency Leads to Dryness, Yin Deficiency Leads to Heat, Yang Deficiency Leads to Cold: This is How to Adjust

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are four major deficiencies: Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, Yin Deficiency, and Yang Deficiency.

Qi and Blood are the roots of human life, while Yin and Yang are the foundation of existence. Whenever any of these elements are insufficient, the body’s sub-health alarm will sound, reminding us that it is time to replenish! However, how can we effectively replenish these deficiencies? First, we must learn to distinguish between these four types of deficiency.

1. Qi Deficiency

The Qi of the human body is primarily composed of Kidney Qi, Spleen Qi, and Lung Qi, which complement each other and are indispensable.

When Qi is abundant, individuals often exhibit a state of clarity and vitality, feeling energetic even after prolonged activity. In contrast, those with Qi deficiency often display signs of fatigue, characterized by reduced speech, overall weakness, a low voice, shortness of breath with slight movement, easy sweating, and a higher susceptibility to colds, accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, pale complexion, and poor appetite.

Qi deficiency is essentially a state of functional decline, manifesting as weakness, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, and swelling. While it may not constitute a disease, it significantly impacts quality of life.

Dietary Recommendations: Individuals with Qi deficiency should avoid raw, cold, greasy, and spleen-stomach depleting foods, and instead consume foods that tonify Qi and strengthen the spleen, such as Jing Rice (粳米), Millet (小米), Chinese Yam (山药), Carrots (胡萝卜), Red Dates (大枣), Lotus Seeds (莲子), and White Lentils (白扁豆). Additionally, intake of Qi-depleting foods like Raw Radish (生萝卜) and Water Spinach (空心菜) should be reduced. Recommended dietary therapies include Yam Porridge (山药粥) (cooked with Jing Rice to tonify Qi) and Astragalus Chicken Soup (黄芪童子鸡) (stewed with raw Astragalus for Qi replenishment).

Lifestyle Suggestions: Maintain a balance between work and rest, avoid excessive fatigue, and pay attention to warmth to prevent sweating from wind exposure. Suitable forms of exercise include walking, jogging, and practicing Tai Chi, which help enhance physical strength.

TCM Treatment: For Qi deficiency, tonifying herbs such as Astragalus (黄芪), Ginseng (人参), Codonopsis (党参), White Atractylodes (白术), and Licorice (甘草) can be used for adjustment. Additionally, formulas like Four Gentlemen Decoction (四君子汤) and Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan (补中益气丸) are also good choices, with specific usage to be determined by a physician.

2. Blood Deficiency

Blood represents Yin and is primarily responsible for nourishing and moistening the body. When Blood is deficient, various organs and tissues suffer from lack of nourishment, manifesting as dry eyes, blurred vision, dizziness, memory decline, numbness and weakness in the limbs, pale lips, unremarkable nails, hair loss, and insomnia with vivid dreams.

Dietary Recommendations: Individuals with Blood deficiency should focus on foods rich in high-quality protein, iron, folic acid, and Vitamin B12, such as Red Dates (红枣), Lotus Seeds (莲子), Chinese Yam (山药), Walnuts (核桃), Hawthorn (山楂), Pork Liver (猪肝), Eggs (鸡蛋), Spinach (菠菜), Carrots (胡萝卜), Black Fungus (黑木耳), Black Sesame (黑芝麻), and Shrimp (虾仁). These foods help promote blood production and improve symptoms of Blood deficiency.

TCM Treatment: The focus of treatment for Blood deficiency is on strengthening the spleen and tonifying Qi, as the spleen and stomach are the sources of Qi and Blood production, and Blood deficiency often accompanies Qi deficiency. Commonly used blood-tonifying herbs include Angelica Sinensis (当归), Chuanxiong (川芎), Rehmannia (熟地), Codonopsis (党参), Astragalus (黄芪), and Ejiao (阿胶), which can be decocted under the guidance of a physician. Additionally, classic formulas like Four Substance Decoction (四物汤) and Eight Treasures Decoction (八珍汤) are effective choices for nourishing Blood.

3. Yin Deficiency

Yin deficiency, in simple terms, is a pathological state caused by the loss of body fluids or essence. When Yin fluids are insufficient, there is a phenomenon of Yang not being restrained, leading to obvious heat signs in the body. Furthermore, the lack of nourishment from Yin fluids causes dryness in various parts of the body, resembling the parched earth during a drought, which is another significant characteristic of Yin deficiency—dryness.

Main Manifestations: Individuals with Yin deficiency often feel dry heat, are prone to internal heat, experience night sweats, dry throat and mouth, thirst without desire to drink, and may have symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, dizziness, and tinnitus. Upon examination, the tongue may appear red with little coating.

Dietary Recommendations: It is advisable to consume more sweet and cooling foods, such as Lean Pork (瘦猪肉), Duck (鸭肉), Soft-Shelled Turtle (甲鱼), Mung Beans (绿豆), and Winter Melon (冬瓜) to replenish Yin fluids. At the same time, avoid consuming warming, drying, and spicy foods such as Lamb (羊肉), Leeks (韭菜), Chili Peppers (辣椒), and fried or barbecued foods to prevent exacerbating Yin deficiency symptoms. Recommended dietary therapies include Five Juice Drink (五汁饮) (a mixture of pear juice, water chestnut juice, mulberry juice, ophiopogon juice, and lotus root juice) and Honey Steamed Lily Bulbs (蜂蜜蒸百合) to nourish Yin and moisten dryness.

TCM Treatment: Nourishing Yin and moistening dryness is essential, with commonly used herbs including Raw Rehmannia (生地), Shan Zhu Yu (山茱萸), Goji Berries (枸杞), Schisandra (五味子), Alisma (泽泻), Anemarrhena (知母), Huang Bai (黄柏), and Himalayan Nettle (旱莲草). For formulas, options include Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill (六味地黄丸), Zhibai Dihuang Decoction (知柏地黄汤), Great Yin Tonic Decoction (大补阴汤), and Left Return Pill (左归丸), with specific usage to be determined by a physician.

4. Yang Deficiency

The Inner Canon of Huangdi states: “Yang Qi is like the sun and the sky,” emphasizing the importance of Yang Qi to the human body, akin to the sun in the sky. Therefore, when Yang Qi is insufficient, the most intuitive feeling is coldness. Clinically, Yang deficiency is most commonly seen in Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency.

Individuals with Yang deficiency often fear cold, have cold hands and feet, and experience significant coldness in the stomach, back, or lower back, making it difficult to endure cold environments. Additionally, they may experience frequent urination, decreased male reproductive function, poor appetite, indigestion, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, loose stools, and mental fatigue. Upon examination, the tongue may appear with a white coating.

Dietary Recommendations: It is advisable to consume more foods that tonify Yang, such as Ginger (姜) (which can be used as a seasoning or made into vinegar-soaked fresh ginger), Chili Peppers (辣椒), Sichuan Pepper (花椒), Pepper (胡椒), and Garlic (葱蒜) as spicy seasonings.

For meats, Beef (牛肉) and Lamb (羊肉) are good choices, but should be consumed in moderation to avoid excessive intake leading to internal heat. Vegetables such as Leeks (韭菜), Onions (洋葱), Okra (秋葵), and Pumpkin (南瓜) are also suitable. Nuts like Cashews (腰果), Walnuts (核桃), Pine Nuts (松子), and fruits like Longan (龙眼) and Cherries (樱桃) are also appropriate for those with Yang deficiency.

Recommended medicinal dishes include Leek and Beef Wraps (韭菜牛肉夹), Longan and Chestnut Millet Porridge (桂圆栗子小米粥), Astragalus Black Chicken Red Date Soup (黄芪乌鸡红枣汤), and Yam Stewed with Lamb (山药煮羊肉), while also emphasizing the intake of vegetables to maintain a balanced diet.

Lifestyle Suggestions: Waking up early is beneficial for the rise of Yang Qi; individuals with Yang deficiency should strive to maintain a regular daily routine. Moderate exercise can invigorate Yang Qi, especially morning exercises are particularly suitable. Additionally, sun exposure is a good method to replenish Yang Qi, especially shining on the back where the Du Meridian is located, which helps enhance the level of Yang Qi in the body.

TCM Treatment: There are many herbs that can tonify Yang, such as Fuzi (附子), Cinnamon (肉桂), Cinnamon Twig (桂枝), Dried Ginger (干姜), Morinda Root (巴戟天), Epimedium (淫羊藿), and Eucommia (杜仲). For formulas, options include You Gui Wan (右归丸), Jinkui Shenqi Wan (金匮肾气丸), Jisheng Shenqi Wan (济生肾气丸), Warm Yang Li Zhong Wan (温阳理中丸), and Cinnamon and Aconite Decoction (桂附理中汤), with specific usage to be guided by individual circumstances under a physician’s advice.

5. Both Deficiencies

Individuals with physical weakness often exhibit both deficiencies, which can manifest in several ways:

Qi and Blood Deficiency: This typically occurs in conditions such as anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, after significant blood loss, or excessive menstrual bleeding in women. The main manifestations include signs of both Qi deficiency and Blood deficiency, and replenishment should focus on tonifying Qi and Blood together.

Qi and Yin Deficiency: This condition presents with both Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency, characterized by symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and weakness in the legs (Qi deficiency signs) along with heat signs, dry throat, and a red tongue (Yin deficiency signs), but without chronic diseases. This constitution is referred to as Qi and Yin deficiency, and replenishment should consider both Qi and Yin tonification.

Yin and Yang Deficiency: This condition presents with both Yin deficiency and Yang deficiency, characterized by symptoms such as pale complexion, cold limbs, loose stools, coarse or rapid breathing, clear and frequent urination, edema, and cold pain in the lower back, indicating an imbalance of Yin and Yang or a constitution of both deficiencies. Replenishment should focus on tonifying both Yin and Yang, nourishing Yin and warming Yang, and other methods of dual replenishment.