There are various reasons for human fatigue and weakness, mainly including four types: qi deficiency fatigue, yang deficiency fatigue, liver stagnation fatigue, and phlegm-dampness fatigue. Let's learn about them together below.
Qi deficiency and fatigueAs the name suggests, the patient's fatigue and weakness are caused by qi deficiency. In addition to fatigue and weakness, symptoms such as shortness of breath, reluctance to speak, listlessness, mental fatigue, shortness of breath, low voice, dizziness, spontaneous sweating, susceptibility to colds, worsening with exertion, pale complexion, pale tongue with thin coating, and deep weak pulse may also be observed.
Qi deficiency fatigue includes fatigue caused by spleen and stomach qi deficiency, fatigue caused by kidney qi deficiency, fatigue caused by lung qi deficiency, fatigue caused by heart qi deficiency, etc.
1. Fatigue due to spleen and stomach qi deficiency includes not only obvious fatigue symptoms but also symptoms such as reduced appetite, loose stools, and indigestion.
Therapeutic principle: tonifying qi and strengthening the spleen.
Prescription: Modified Four Gentlemen Decoction.
Prescription: Ginseng, Atractylodes, Poria, Honey-fried Licorice, etc.
2. Fatigue caused by kidney qi deficiency includes not only obvious fatigue symptoms but also soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, increased urine output, and decreased sexual function.
Therapeutic principle: Tonify the kidney and replenish qi.
Prescription: Modified Shenqi Wan. Medicinal Ingredients: Prepared Rehmannia Root, Chinese Yam, Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit, Poria, Oriental Waterplantain Rhizome, Tree Peony Bark, Prepared Common Monkshood Daughter Root, Cassia Twig, etc.
3. Fatigue due to lung qi deficiency includes not only obvious fatigue symptoms but also sweating with aversion to wind, nasal congestion and runny nose, and susceptibility to recurrent colds.
Therapeutic principle: Tonifying qi and consolidating the exterior.
Prescription: Modified Jade Wind-Barrier Powder
Prescription: Astragalus, Atractylodes, Saposhnikovia, etc.
4. Fatigue due to heart qi deficiency includes not only obvious fatigue symptoms but also palpitations, insomnia, and arrhythmia.
Therapeutic principle: replenish qi and nourish the heart.
Prescription: Modified Shengmai Powder
Prescription: Ginseng, Ophiopogon, Schisandra, etc.
Yang deficiency fatigueAs the name suggests, the patient's fatigue and weakness are caused by yang deficiency. In addition to fatigue and weakness, symptoms may include aversion to cold and cold limbs, cold pain in the epigastric and abdominal regions, dry mouth without thirst or thirst with a preference for warm drinks, a tendency to remain still and curl up, spontaneous sweating, clear and copious urine or scanty urine with edema, loose stools, clear diarrhea with undigested food, pale complexion, a pale and swollen tongue with tooth marks, a white and slippery tongue coating, and a deep, slow, and weak pulse.
Yang deficiency fatigue includes spleen yang deficiency fatigue, heart yang deficiency fatigue, kidney yang deficiency fatigue, liver yang deficiency fatigue, and so on.
1. Fatigue caused by spleen yang deficiency includes not only obvious fatigue symptoms but also symptoms such as continuous dull pain in the epigastric and abdominal regions, preference for warmth and pressure, loose stools, abdominal distension, and reduced food intake.
Therapeutic principle: Warm the middle and supplement qi.
Prescription: Modified Lizhong Decoction.
Prescription: Ginseng, Atractylodes Macrocephala, Dried Ginger, Prepared Licorice Root, etc.
2. Fatigue caused by heart yang deficiency includes not only obvious fatigue symptoms but also cold limbs, aversion to cold and curling up, and mental decline with a desire to sleep.
Therapeutic principle: restoring yang to rescue from collapse.
Prescription: Modified Sini Decoction.
Prescription: Prepared Aconite, Dried Ginger, Honey-fried Licorice Root, etc.
3. Fatigue caused by kidney yang deficiency includes not only obvious fatigue symptoms but also soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, increased urine output, and decreased sexual function.
Therapeutic principle: Tonify the kidney and replenish qi.
Prescription: Modified Shenqi Wan.
Prescription: Prepared Rehmannia Root, Chinese Yam, Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit, Poria, Oriental Waterplantain Rhizome, Tree Peony Bark, Prepared Common Monkshood Daughter Root, Cassia Twig, etc.
4. Fatigue due to liver yang deficiency includes not only obvious fatigue symptoms but also occasional acid regurgitation, vomiting of clear and cold saliva, vertex headache, and cold limbs.
Therapeutic principle: Warm the middle and tonify deficiency.
Prescription: Modified Evodia Decoction.
Prescription: Evodia Fruit, Ginseng, Fresh Ginger, Jujube, etc.
Liver Stagnation FatigueAlso known as emotional fatigue, the patient's fatigue and weakness are caused by liver depression, or emotional exhaustion. In addition to fatigue and weakness, symptoms may include distending pain or wandering pain in the hypochondrium or lower abdomen, chest tightness and sighing, or a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, emotional depression, irritability, abdominal distension and pain, cold hands and feet, breast distension and pain before menstruation in women, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, or amenorrhea, pale tongue with thin coating, and wiry pulse.
Liver Stagnation Fatigue includes mild liver stagnation fatigue, moderate liver stagnation fatigue, and severe liver stagnation fatigue.
1. Mild liver depression and fatigue, in addition to obvious fatigue symptoms, also include symptoms such as distension and fullness in the hypochondrium, pain in the epigastric and abdominal regions, and cold limbs.
Therapeutic principle: soothe the liver and regulate the spleen.
Prescription: Modified Sini Powder.
Prescription: Bupleurum, White Peony Root, Immature Bitter Orange, Prepared Licorice Root, etc.
2. Moderate liver depression and fatigue, in addition to obvious fatigue symptoms, also include pain in both flanks, headache and dizziness, dry mouth and throat, mental fatigue and poor appetite, or irregular menstruation, and breast distension and pain.
Therapeutic principle: soothing the liver to relieve depression.
Prescription: Modified Xiaoyao Powder.
Prescription: Bupleurum, Chinese Angelica, White Peony Root, Poria, Atractylodes, Mint, Prepared Licorice Root, Fresh Ginger, etc.
3. Severe liver depression and fatigue In addition to obvious fatigue symptoms, it also includes symptoms such as flank pain, chest tightness and sighing, emotional depression, irritability, belching, and abdominal distension.
Therapeutic principle: Soothing the liver and promoting qi flow.
Selected Prescription: Modified Chaihu Shugan Powder.
Prescription: Bupleurum, White Peony Root, Chuanxiong, Tangerine Peel, Bitter Orange, Cyperus, Prepared Licorice Root, etc.
phlegm dampness fatigueThe patient's fatigue and weakness are caused by phlegm-dampness or water-dampness. In addition to fatigue and weakness, symptoms may include fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, dizziness and palpitations, shortness of breath and cough, or profuse cough with white, easily expectorated phlegm, nausea and vomiting, stuffiness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, heavy and sluggish limbs, or aversion to cold and cold limbs, difficulty urinating, palpitations in the epigastrium, dizziness and vertigo, unsteadiness when standing, heavy and painful limbs, edema (especially below the waist), a pale tongue, or a swollen tongue with tooth marks, a white or white and slippery tongue coating, and a deep-slippery or deep-thin pulse.
1. Phlegm-dampness fatigue includes spleen-yang deficiency phlegm-dampness fatigue, spleen-lung qi deficiency phlegm-dampness fatigue, and kidney-yang deficiency phlegm-dampness fatigue. Fatigue caused by spleen-yang deficiency phlegm-dampness, in addition to obvious fatigue symptoms, also includes symptoms such as chest and hypochondriac fullness, dizziness and palpitations, shortness of breath, and coughing.
Therapeutic principle: Warming yang to resolve fluid retention.
Prescription: Modified Linggui Zhugan Decoction.
Prescription: Poria, Atractylodes macrocephala, Cinnamomum cassia, Honey-fried licorice, etc.
2. Fatigue due to spleen and lung qi deficiency with phlegm-dampness In addition to obvious fatigue symptoms, it also includes symptoms such as profuse cough with phlegm, white and easily expectorated phlegm, nausea and vomiting, chest and diaphragm fullness and oppression, and heavy and sluggish limbs.
Treatment principle: Dry dampness and resolve phlegm.
Prescription: Modified Erchen Decoction.
Prescription: Pinellia ternata, Tangerine peel, Poria cocos, Honey-fried licorice, Ginger, Black plum, etc.
3. Fatigue due to kidney yang deficiency and phlegm-dampness In addition to obvious fatigue symptoms, it also includes aversion to cold and cold limbs, difficulty urinating, palpitations, dizziness and blurred vision, unsteadiness when standing, heavy and painful limbs, edema, especially below the waist.
Therapeutic principle: Warming yang to promote diuresis.
Prescription: Zhenwu Decoction with modifications.
Prescription: Prepared Aconite, Poria, Atractylodes, White Peony, Ginger, etc.
