Folio Bound VIEWS - Chinese Medicine

Dampness

Of course, these patterns do not occur in isolation but are very frequently combined. The
following are examples of common combinations:

Lung-Qi and Spleen-Qi Deficiency

Spleen-Yang and Kidney-Yang Deficiency

Spleen-Blood and Liver-Blood Deficiency

Lung-Yin and Kidney-Yin Deficiency.

The combination of Deficiency with Excess patterns is also common. Examples are:

Spleen-Qi Deficiency with Phlegm or Dampness

Spleen-Qi Deficiency with Liver-Qi Stagnation

Liver-Blood Deficiency with Liver-Qi Stagnation

Liver-Blood Deficiency with Liver-Yang rising or Liver-Wind

Kidney-Yin Deficiency with Liver-Yang rising.

In all these cases, one needs to diagnose the primary aspect of the condition to choose the right
prescription. This is especially important in combined conditions of Deficiency and Excess.

Deficiency Type

Qi Deficiency

Lung-Qi Deficiency

Clinical Manifestations

Tiredness, slight breathlessness, low voice, pale-white complexion, slight spontaneous sweating,
propensity to catching colds, timidity.

Pulse: Weak or Empty particularly on the left front position.

Tongue: slightly Pale.

This condition often results from an invasion of exterior Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat which goes to
the chest. Prolonged coughing resulting from this situation may induce Lung-Qi deficiency. This
often occurs on a background of constitutional Lung deficiency and therefore a propensity to
catching colds. The repeated bouts of colds and coughing further weaken the Lungs. A
constitutional Lung deficiency (often a result of whooping cough in childhood) may be