Natural Herb Library

TCM patterns

Find your pattern, then find your formula

Chinese medicine does not ask what disease you have. It asks what picture you show: what is low, what is stuck, what is hot, cold, or damp. Two people with the same complaint can need opposite formulas. Read the signs below, find the picture that sounds like you, and the page will name the formulas built for it.

36 patterns 11 families View API data

Qi deficiency

Lung Exterior Deficiency with Spontaneous Sweating 卫气不固 Wei Qi Bu Gu Sweating in the daytime for no reason, worse with mild effort · Dislike of wind and drafts · Catching every cold, one after another · Tiredness, a pale face Formulas: Yu Ping Feng San · Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang · Gui Zhi Tang Lung Lung Qi Deficiency 肺气虚 Fei Qi Xu Shortness of breath on effort, shallow breathing · Weak voice, no wish to talk · Catching every cold, slow to recover · Daytime sweating for no reason Formulas: Yu Ping Feng San · Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang · Sheng Mai San Spleen Sinking of Spleen Qi 中气下陷 Zhong Qi Xia Xian A dragging or bearing-down feeling in the lower belly · Prolapse of the uterus, rectum, bladder, or stomach · Hemorrhoids that sag, varicose veins · Exhaustion, worse on standing and with effort Formulas: Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang · Shen Ling Bai Zhu San Spleen Spleen Qi Deficiency 脾气虚 Pi Qi Xu Tired, worse after meals · Bloating and a sense of fullness after eating · Loose stools or stools that are soft and unformed · Poor appetite Formulas: Si Jun Zi Tang · Liu Jun Zi Tang · Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang

Blood deficiency

Heart, Liver, and Spleen Blood Deficiency 血虚 Xue Xu Pale, dull face; pale lips, nails, and eyelids · Dizziness, especially on standing · Blurry vision, dry eyes, floaters · Numb or tingling hands and feet Formulas: Si Wu Tang · Ba Zhen Tang · Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang Heart and Spleen Heart and Spleen Deficiency 心脾两虚 Xin Pi Liang Xu Tired, especially after eating, with a poor appetite · Hard to fall asleep, light sleep, dream-filled nights · Worry that runs in circles, poor memory · Palpitations when anxious Formulas: Gui Pi Tang · Ba Zhen Tang · Suan Zao Ren Tang Heart Heart Blood Deficiency 心血虚 Xin Xue Xu Hard to fall asleep, light sleep, many dreams · Palpitations, especially when anxious or tired · Easily startled, anxious, forgetful · Pale face, pale lips, pale eyelids Formulas: Suan Zao Ren Tang · Gui Pi Tang · Si Wu Tang Liver Liver Blood Deficiency 肝血虚 Gan Xue Xu Pale face, pale lips, pale brittle nails · Dry, tired eyes, blurry vision, floaters · Numb limbs, muscle cramps or twitches · Light, late, or absent periods Formulas: Si Wu Tang · Suan Zao Ren Tang · Xiao Yao San Spleen, Heart, and Liver Qi and Blood Deficiency 气血两虚 Qi Xue Liang Xu Tiredness with pallor · Shortness of breath, weak voice · Dizziness on standing, blurry vision · Palpitations Formulas: Ba Zhen Tang · Shi Quan Da Bu Tang · Gui Pi Tang

Yin deficiency

Heart Heart Yin Deficiency 心阴虚 Xin Yin Xu Trouble falling asleep with a hot, busy mind · Palpitations, worse at night · Night sweats, hot palms · Dry mouth, mouth ulcers Formulas: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan · Gan Mai Da Zao Tang · Suan Zao Ren Tang Kidney Kidney Essence Deficiency 肾精不足 Shen Jing Bu Zu Teeth that loosen or fall out early, gums that pull back · Weak or brittle bones, a stooped back, easy fractures · Hair that greys or falls out early · Poor memory, slow thinking, or dizziness Formulas: Zuo Gui Wan · You Gui Wan · Liu Wei Di Huang Wan Kidney Kidney Yin Deficiency 肾阴虚 Shen Yin Xu Dry mouth and throat at night, with a wish for small sips · Sore or weak low back and knees · Loose teeth or gums that pull back slowly · Ringing in the ears, or hearing that fades Formulas: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan · Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan · Qi Ju Di Huang Wan Kidney Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat 阴虚火旺 Yin Xu Huo Wang Night sweats · Hot palms, hot soles, a warm chest in the evening · Dry mouth at night that wakes you for water · Loose teeth, with gums that are a little red or bleed Formulas: Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan · Da Bu Yin Wan · Liu Wei Di Huang Wan Liver and Kidney Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency 肝肾阴虚 Gan Shen Yin Xu Dry, tired, blurry eyes, floaters · Sore low back and weak knees · Dizziness and ringing in the ears · Dry mouth and throat at night Formulas: Qi Ju Di Huang Wan · Liu Wei Di Huang Wan · Yi Guan Jian Liver Liver Yin Deficiency 肝阴虚 Gan Yin Xu Dry, gritty, tired eyes · Brittle nails, dry hair · Muscle twitches, cramps, or stiffness · Dull ache under the ribs, worse with tiredness Formulas: Yi Guan Jian · Qi Ju Di Huang Wan · Er Zhi Wan Lung Lung Yin Deficiency 肺阴虚 Fei Yin Xu Dry cough with little or no phlegm, lasting weeks · Dry, tickly, or sore throat, hoarse voice · Sticky phlegm that is hard to bring up, sometimes streaked with blood · Dry mouth, wanting small sips Formulas: Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang · Bai He Gu Jin Tang · Mai Wei Di Huang Wan Stomach Stomach Yin Deficiency 胃阴虚 Wei Yin Xu Dry mouth and lips, with no wish to drink much · No appetite, or hungry but unable to eat · Dull burning or discomfort in the stomach after eating · Dry stools, constipation Formulas: Yi Wei Tang · Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang · Yu Nu Jian

Yang deficiency

Kidney Kidney Yang Deficiency 肾阳虚 Shen Yang Xu Cold, aching low back and knees · Cold hands and feet, a cold lower body · Frequent clear urine, waking at night to urinate · Low sex drive, impotence, or infertility with a cold pattern Formulas: Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan · You Gui Wan · Er Xian Tang Spleen and Kidney Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency 脾肾阳虚 Pi Shen Yang Xu Diarrhea at dawn, the cock-crow diarrhea · Cold belly and cold low back together · Cold limbs, dread of cold · Swelling of the legs or face Formulas: Zhen Wu Tang · You Gui Wan · Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan Spleen Spleen Yang Deficiency 脾阳虚 Pi Yang Xu Cold belly that aches and likes warmth and pressure · Watery stools with undigested food, often early in the morning · Cold hands and feet · Worse after cold or raw food Formulas: Li Zhong Wan · Shen Ling Bai Zhu San · Zhen Wu Tang

Qi stagnation

Liver and Spleen Liver Overacting on the Spleen 肝脾不和 Gan Pi Bu He Bloating and gut pain that follow stress · Loose stools or diarrhea after an upset, often with cramping · Alternating constipation and diarrhea · A knotted stomach, sighing, tight ribs Formulas: Xiao Yao San · Si Ni San · Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang Liver Liver Qi Stagnation 肝气郁结 Gan Qi Yu Jie Tense, irritable, moody, quick to snap or to cry · Tightness or fullness under the ribs or in the chest · Frequent sighing · Bloating and digestion that changes with mood Formulas: Xiao Yao San · Jia Wei Xiao Yao San · Chai Hu Shu Gan San

Blood stasis

Any organ; often Liver, Heart, or the uterus Blood Stasis 血瘀 Xue Yu Sharp, stabbing, fixed pain, worse at night · Dark periods with clots, cramps that ease when clots pass · A dull, dark, or purple complexion, dark lips · A purple tongue or purple spots on it Formulas: Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang · Tao Hong Si Wu Tang

Heat and fire

Heart Heart Fire 心火亢盛 Xin Huo Kang Sheng Mouth and tongue ulcers that burn · Agitation, restlessness, insomnia · Red face, a feeling of heat in the chest · Dark, scanty, burning urine Formulas: Dao Chi San · Huang Lian Jie Du Tang Liver Liver Fire 肝火上炎 Gan Huo Shang Yan Splitting headache, often one-sided or at the top of the head · Red, sore, or swollen eyes · Rage, outbursts, a feeling of pressure in the chest · Bitter taste, dry mouth, thirst Formulas: Long Dan Xie Gan Tang · Huang Lian Jie Du Tang · Jia Wei Xiao Yao San Liver Liver Qi Stagnation Turning to Heat 肝郁化火 Gan Yu Hua Huo Irritability tipping into anger, outbursts · Red face, hot flashes, a feeling of heat in the chest · Dry mouth, bitter taste · Restless sleep, waking hot and angry Formulas: Jia Wei Xiao Yao San · Xiao Yao San · Long Dan Xie Gan Tang Liver Liver Yang Rising 肝阳上亢 Gan Yang Shang Kang Throbbing headache at the temples or top of the head · Dizziness, a feeling of pressure in the head · Red face and eyes, a hot temper · Ringing in the ears Formulas: Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin · Qi Ju Di Huang Wan · Jia Wei Xiao Yao San Stomach Stomach Fire 胃火 Wei Huo Red, swollen gums that bleed when brushed · Bad breath, sour or foul · Toothache that throbs, worse with heat, better with cold · Big thirst, wanting cold drinks Formulas: Qing Wei San · Yu Nu Jian · Huang Lian Jie Du Tang

Dampness and phlegm

Bladder, Intestines, and the reproductive organs Damp Heat in the Lower Burner 下焦湿热 Xia Jiao Shi Re Burning, urgent, frequent urination · Yellow, thick, smelly vaginal discharge · Genital itch, rash, or swelling · Diarrhea or dysentery that burns, with mucus Formulas: Ba Zheng San · Long Dan Xie Gan Tang · Huang Lian Jie Du Tang Spleen Dampness in the Spleen 脾虚湿盛 Pi Xu Shi Sheng Heavy head, heavy limbs, a foggy feeling · Bloating and fullness after meals · Nausea, a sticky mouth, no appetite · Loose, sticky stools Formulas: Ping Wei San · Shen Ling Bai Zhu San · Liu Jun Zi Tang Liver and Gallbladder Liver and Gallbladder Damp Heat 肝胆湿热 Gan Dan Shi Re Pain or fullness under the ribs, often the right side · Bitter, sticky mouth; nausea; no appetite · Yellow eyes or skin · Genital itch, swelling, discharge, or herpes outbreaks Formulas: Long Dan Xie Gan Tang · Yin Chen Hao Tang Spleen and Lung Phlegm Damp 痰湿 Tan Shi Cough with lots of white phlegm that is easy to bring up · Fullness or a lump feeling in the chest · Nausea, a sticky mouth · Heavy foggy head, dizziness Formulas: Er Chen Tang · Liu Jun Zi Tang · Ban Xia Hou Po Tang Lung, Stomach, and Gallbladder Phlegm Heat 痰热 Tan Re Cough with thick yellow or green phlegm · A rattling or wheezing chest · Bitter taste, nausea, a sticky mouth · Agitation, anxiety, restless sleep Formulas: Wen Dan Tang · Er Chen Tang

Wind

Lung Wind-Heat 风热 Feng Re Sore, red throat at the start · Fever with slight or no chills · Headache, thirst · Cough, dry or with yellow phlegm Formulas: Yin Qiao San · Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang

Food stagnation

Stomach and Spleen Food Stagnation 食积 Shi Ji Fullness and bloating that started after a big meal · Sour or rotten belching, acid · Nausea, sometimes vomiting undigested food · No appetite, aversion to the thought of food Formulas: Bao He Wan · Ping Wei San · Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang

Mixed patterns

Heart and Kidney Heart and Kidney Not Communicating 心肾不交 Xin Shen Bu Jiao Insomnia with a hot, restless mind, waking between one and three · Palpitations and anxiety at night · Night sweats, hot palms and soles · Dry mouth and throat at night Formulas: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan · Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan · Jiao Tai Wan

Reading the patterns index

Deficiency means something is low: qi, blood, yin, or yang. Stagnation means something is stuck. Heat, cold, and dampness describe how the body feels and looks. Most people carry two patterns at once, so read the look-alike notes on each page before settling on one. The formula pages then show exactly what is in the bottle.