Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Pathology: Common Conditions

Note: This information is for general knowledge only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.

• Individual responses to treatments can vary.

• Always consult a qualified practitioner before starting any new medications or treatments.

1. Respiratory Diseases

1.1. Asthma

1.1.1. Heat-Induced Asthma

• Symptoms: Dry cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, excessive sweating, thirst, red tongue, yellow coating, rapid pulse.

• Cause: Heat in the lungs, blockage of lung Qi.

• TCM Approach: Clear heat, open the lungs, transform phlegm, calm asthma.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (Ephedra Stone Gypsum Soup): Ephedra, gypsum, licorice root, tangerine peel, pinellia, corydalis, wolfberry, angelica, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, Chinese atractylodes, apricot kernel, schisandra.

• Ding Xuan Tang (Calm Asthma Soup): Gypsum, pinellia, corydalis, bitter apricot kernel, tangerine peel, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, apricot kernel, Chinese atractylodes, wolfberry, licorice root.

1.1.2. Asthma Due to Heat and Abundant Phlegm

• Symptoms: Similar to heat-induced asthma, but with copious phlegm and difficulty expectorating.

• TCM Approach: Clear heat, transform phlegm, open lung Qi.

• Herbal Formulas:

• She Gan Ding Li (Radix Aconiti and Coptis chinensis Soup): Radix Aconiti, Coptis chinensis, corydalis, pinellia, tangerine peel, licorice root, apricot kernel, Chinese atractylodes, cinnamon bark, nutmeg.

1.1.3. Asthma Due to Lung Qi Deficiency

• Symptoms: Dry cough, shortness of breath, easy fatigue, excessive sweating, pale complexion, weak and fine pulse, lack of energy.

• Cause: Deficiency of Lung Qi, unable to regulate blood circulation effectively.

• TCM Approach: Tonify Qi, tonify the lungs, transform phlegm.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Shen Mai San (Nourishing the Pulse Powder): Ginseng, Ophiopogon japonicus, schisandra, licorice root.

• Bu Fei Yin Hu (Nourishing Lung Yin Deficiency): Add ginseng, bamboo shavings, and codonopsis to a Qi-tonifying and lung-tonifying formula.

1.1.4. Asthma Due to Lung Qi Deficiency and Cold

• Symptoms: Dry cough, shortness of breath, easy fatigue, fear of cold, cold hands and feet, slippery pulse, lack of energy.

• Cause: Lung Qi deficiency, accompanied by invasion of cold pathogens.

• TCM Approach: Tonify Qi, tonify the lungs, disperse cold.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Omit Ophiopogon japonicus from Shen Mai San.

• Add cinnamon bark, licorice root, and angelica to a Qi-tonifying and lung-tonifying formula.

2. Musculoskeletal Disorders

2.1. Spinal Degeneration

2.1.1. Spinal Degeneration Due to Wind-Cold

• Symptoms: Back pain, pain and stiffness in shoulders and neck, numbness in limbs, fear of cold, excessive sweating, white and thick tongue coating, slippery and slow/weak pulse.

• Cause: Wind-cold invasion of the body, pathogens stagnate in the meridians.

• TCM Approach: Disperse cold, eliminate dampness, activate blood circulation, open meridians.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Gan Jiang Shang Zhu Ling Fu (Ginger-Cinnamon-Atractylodes-Bupleurum-Poria Soup): Ginger, cinnamon bark, Chinese atractylodes, Bupleurum, Poria, angelica, white peony, angelica dahurica, safflower, cinnamon twig.

• Da Qin Jiao Tang (Greater Cinnamon Twig Soup): Greater cinnamon twig, cinnamon bark, angelica, white peony, angelica dahurica, safflower, cinnamon twig.

2.1.2. Spinal Degeneration Due to Wind-Damp-Cold

• Symptoms: Similar to spinal degeneration due to wind-cold, but with more widespread pain, severe numbness, white and thick and sticky tongue coating, slippery and slow/weak pulse.

• TCM Approach: Disperse cold, eliminate dampness, activate blood circulation, open meridians, dispel stagnation.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Quan Ti Tang (Complete Body Soup) with adjustments: Quan Ti, angelica dahurica, safflower, cinnamon twig, angelica, white peony, greater cinnamon twig, Chinese atractylodes.

• Activate Blood Circulation and Eliminate Stagnation, Relax Muscles: Angelica, peach kernel, safflower, earthworm, angelica dahurica, greater cinnamon twig, Chinese atractylodes, angelica dahurica, safflower, cinnamon twig.

2.2. Arthritis

2.2.1. Arthritis Due to Long-Standing Wind-Cold-Dampness

• Symptoms: Joint pain, stiffness, numbness, swelling, warmth, white and thick tongue coating, slippery and slow/weak pulse.

• TCM Approach: Eliminate dampness, disperse cold, activate blood circulation, dispel stagnation, relax muscles and tendons.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Quan Ti Tang (Complete Body Soup): Quan Ti, angelica dahurica, safflower, cinnamon twig, angelica, white peony, greater cinnamon twig, Chinese atractylodes.

• Activate Blood Circulation and Eliminate Stagnation, Relax Muscles: Angelica, peach kernel, safflower, earthworm, angelica dahurica, greater cinnamon twig, Chinese atractylodes, angelica dahurica, safflower, cinnamon twig.

2.2.2. Arthritis Due to Blood Stagnation

• Symptoms: Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, warmth, purple discoloration, wiry and tight pulse.

• TCM Approach: Activate blood circulation, dispel stagnation, open meridians.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Si Wu Dao Hong (Four Things Peach Kernel Soup): Angelica, white peony, peach kernel, safflower.

2.3. Stiff Neck (Cervical Spondylosis)

2.3.1. Stiff Neck Due to Wind-Cold

• Symptoms: Neck pain and stiffness, numbness in the arms, fear of cold, white and thick tongue coating, slippery and slow/weak pulse.

• TCM Approach: Disperse cold, eliminate dampness, open meridians.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Ma Huang Gui Zhi Tang (Ephedra Cinnamon Twig Soup): Ephedra, cinnamon bark, pinellia, licorice root.

• Quan Ti Tang (Complete Body Soup): Quan Ti, angelica dahurica, safflower, cinnamon twig, angelica, white peony, greater cinnamon twig, Chinese atractylodes.

2.3.2. Stiff Neck Due to Blood Stagnation

• Symptoms: Neck pain and stiffness, purple discoloration, wiry and tight pulse.

• TCM Approach: Activate blood circulation, dispel stagnation, open meridians.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang (Activate Meridians and Eliminate Stagnation Soup): Angelica, peach kernel, safflower, earthworm, angelica dahurica.

• Si Wu Dao Hong (Four Things Peach Kernel Soup): Angelica, white peony, peach kernel, safflower.

3. Nervous System Disorders

3.1. Bi Syndrome (Painful Obstruction Syndrome)

3.1.1. Bi Syndrome Due to Wind-Bi

• Symptoms: Pain, numbness in the limbs, white and thick tongue coating, slippery and slow/weak pulse.

• TCM Approach: Disperse cold, eliminate dampness, open meridians.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Fang Feng Tang (Cinnamon Twig Soup) with adjustments: Cinnamon twig, angelica dahurica, safflower, angelica, white peony, greater cinnamon twig, Chinese atractylodes, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

3.1.2. Bi Syndrome Due to Damp-Bi

• Symptoms: Pain, numbness in the limbs, white and thick tongue coating, slippery and slow/weak pulse.

• TCM Approach: Eliminate dampness, activate blood circulation.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Yi Yi Ren Tang (Coix Seed Soup): Coix seed, ginseng, Chinese atractylodes, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

4. Endocrine Disorders

4.1. Postpartum

4.1.1. Postpartum Due to Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency

• Symptoms: Dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, low back pain, fatigue, red tongue with thin coating, wiry and rapid pulse.

• TCM Approach: Tonify liver and kidney, nourish yin.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Zhi Bai Di Huang (Ophiopogon japonicus-Poria-Rehmannia Soup): Ophiopogon japonicus, Poria, Rehmannia, Cornus officinalis, Dioscorea opposita, Poria, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

4.1.2. Postpartum Due to Phlegm-Dampness

• Symptoms: Swelling, heaviness, white and thick tongue coating, slippery pulse.

• TCM Approach: Eliminate dampness, transform phlegm.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinellia-Atractylodes-Gastrodia Soup): Pinellia, Chinese atractylodes, Gastrodia, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

5. Neurological Disorders

5.1. Wind Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)

5.1.1. Wind Stroke Due to Wind-Phlegm

• Symptoms: Dizziness, blurred vision, numbness in the limbs, white and thick tongue coating, deep and rapid pulse.

• TCM Approach: Eliminate phlegm, open meridians, clear liver and calm fire.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Chu Tan Tong Luo (Eliminate Phlegm and Open Meridians): Pinellia, Chinese atractylodes, Gastrodia, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

• Qing Gan Jiang Huo (Clear Liver and Calm Fire): Gastrodia, Uncaria, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

• Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinellia-Atractylodes-Gastrodia Soup): Pinellia, Chinese atractylodes, Gastrodia, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

• Dao Tan Tang (Eliminate Phlegm Soup): Pinellia, Chinese atractylodes, Gastrodia, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

• Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction): Gastrodia, Uncaria, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

5.1.2. Wind Stroke Due to Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency

• Symptoms: Dizziness, blurred vision, numbness in the limbs, red tongue with thin coating, wiry and rapid pulse.

• TCM Approach: Tonify liver and kidney, nourish yin.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Da Ding Feng Zhou (Greater Calm Wind Pearls): Ophiopogon japonicus, Poria, Rehmannia, Cornus officinalis, Dioscorea opposita, Poria, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

• Zhen Zhu Mu Huan (Pearl Mother Decoction): Pearl, Paeonia lactiflora, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

6. Pulmonary Tuberculosis

6.1. Consumption (Tuberculosis)

6.1.1. Consumption Due to Liver Blood Deficiency

• Symptoms: Pale complexion, yellowish face, hair loss, brittle nails, headache, blurred vision, tinnitus, pale tongue, weak and fine pulse.

• TCM Approach: Tonify liver blood, nourish yin.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Man Jing, Ju Hua, Shi Xuang Bu (Polygonum multiflorum, Chrysanthemum, and Oyster Shell Soup): Polygonum multiflorum, Chrysanthemum, Oyster shell, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

6.1.2. Consumption Due to Liver Blood Deficiency and Severe Pain in the Side

• Symptoms: Similar to consumption due to liver blood deficiency, but with severe pain in the side.

• TCM Approach: Tonify liver blood, nourish yin, alleviate pain.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Xiang Fu, Wu Jin (Cyperus rotundus, Curcuma longa): Cyperus rotundus, Curcuma longa, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

6.1.3. Consumption Due to Liver Blood Deficiency and Easily Irritated

• Symptoms: Similar to consumption due to liver blood deficiency, but with easily irritated, easily angered.

• TCM Approach: Tonify liver blood, nourish yin, soothe the nerves.

• Herbal Formulas:

• Tiao Ren, Yuan Zhi, Long Gu (Zizyphus jujuba, Polygala tenuifolia, and Dragon Bone Soup): Zizyphus jujuba, Polygala tenuifolia, Dragon bone, with additional herbs based on specific symptoms.

Important: This is just a small overview of some common conditions in TCM. Each individual’s situation is unique and requires proper diagnosis and personalized treatment by a qualified practitioner.

Disclaimer: The information provided is intended for general knowledge and should not be considered medical advice. Consult with a qualified TCM practitioner for diagnosis and treatment.