It's midsummer and the weather is hot, yet many people still fear the cold, with cold hands and feet. Their lower back and shoulders often feel as if ice packs are attached, and they start to feel chilly all over after just a short while in an air-conditioned room. Why is this? Actually, this is often due to Yang Qi deficiency! The Dog Days are precisely when Yang Qi is at its peak during the year. Seizing this golden period for replenishing Yang and following Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles for regulation and supplementation is like going with the flow—it doubles the effect with half the effort!

I. Heart Yang Deficiency

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the heart governs blood vessels, functioning like the body's engine, with heart yang serving as the fuel that keeps the blood flowing. If heart yang is insufficient, the engine can't run properly, leading to symptoms such as palpitations and shortness of breath when climbing stairs, a constant feeling of chest tightness, or even dull pain, along with cold hands, feet, and back. In such cases, Ginseng and Aconite Heart-Strengthening Pill can be considered for regulation. The ginseng in the formula specifically nourishes heart qi, while aconite warms and strengthens heart yang. Together, they act like refueling the heart, making its contractions more powerful and naturally alleviating symptoms like palpitations and chest tightness.

II. Spleen Yang Deficiency

The spleen and stomach act as the body's supply depot, responsible for transforming food into nutrients. When spleen yang is insufficient, the supply depot becomes sluggish and inefficient, leading to symptoms such as poor appetite, lack of enjoyment in eating, bloating after eating even a little, nausea at the sight of greasy food, a consistently cold feeling in the abdomen, and diarrhea after drinking cold water. In such cases, Aconite Center-Regulating Pill can be considered for regulation. The aconite in the formula warms spleen yang, dried ginger disperses cold and relieves pain, while atractylodes strengthens the spleen and dispels dampness. These three components work together to help restore spleen and stomach yang.

III. Kidney Yang Deficiency

The kidneys govern the yang energy of the entire body. Kidney yang is like the central air conditioning at home, warming the whole body. If kidney yang is insufficient, not only will there be cold hands and feet, but also cold pain in the lower back and knees, frequent nighttime urination, clear and copious urine, and issues in that area may easily arise. At this time, Guifu Dihuang Wan can be considered for regulation. In the formula, cinnamon and aconite are the golden duo for warming kidney yang, while cooked rehmannia can tonify kidney essence. These three herbs work together to gradually replenish the lost yang energy, warming the body from the inside out.

This content is intended for informational purposes only. Since everyone has a different constitution, symptoms may vary. For example, some people may experience both heart and spleen deficiency, while others may have kidney yang deficiency combined with excessive dampness. If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. Proper diagnosis and tailored treatment are essential for effective care. Please do not blindly follow trends in medication!