🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Spring fatigue, also known as "spring lethargy," is a seasonal manifestation of chronic fatigue syndrome. Due to prominent symptoms in spring among some patients, it is named accordingly. This condition presents a cluster of symptoms including headache, low-grade fever, muscle and joint pain, insomnia, and various mental symptoms. In TCM, it is mostly categorized as yin deficiency with hyperactive liver yang, though presentations vary. Spring onset is often linked to climate changes and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, commonly affecting middle-aged and young adults, especially women.
Modern medicine has not yet fully clarified this condition. Some believe it relates to psychological factors, immune issues, viral infections, lack of physical exercise, muscle fiber changes, and impaired muscle protein synthesis. Treatment recommendations include rest, vitamin supplementation, avoiding heavy physical labor, and for severe cases, mild antidepressants.
TCM recognizes this condition in Zhang Zhongjing’s *Jin Kui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Chamber), particularly the "Bai He Bing" (Lily Disease) and "Zang Zao Bing" (Interior Restlessness Disease), as well as in *Jing Yue Quan Shu* (Complete Book of Jingyue), describing vertigo and depression. Their etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, and treatments resemble those of spring fatigue due to yin deficiency and hyperactive liver yang. It is generally believed that this condition arises from internal injury from overwork or chronic illness, leading to imbalance in the five zang organs' qi and blood, and yin-yang disruption. It is considered a condition of deficiency at root and excess at surface, associated with external invasion of wind-cold or wind-heat, qi and blood deficiency, liver qi stagnation, and disordered spirit.
Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment

Qi Deficiency Type: Main symptoms include fatigue, weakness, and lack of speech. Treat with ginseng, astragalus, white atractylodes, and angelica. While tonifying qi and blood, strengthen defensive qi and consolidate the exterior. Depending on the invading pathogen, use gentian root, patchouli, or papaya to clear dampness; or use schizonepeta and perilla to dispel wind-cold. If qi deficiency is accompanied by stagnation, or after improvement from initial formula, use Qibin Pill (ginseng, green tangerine peel, old tangerine peel, white atractylodes, yeast, malt, sand ginger, magnolia bark, dry ginger, licorice) to promote digestion and open stagnation.
Yin Deficiency Type: Main symptoms include irritability and hot flushes. Treat with rehmannia, liriope, ophiopogon, platycodon, peony root, and schisandra. Combine with herbs for resolving exterior patterns, then follow up with Liuwei Dihuang Wan.
Heart-Spleen Deficiency Type: Symptoms include insomnia and loss of appetite. Treat with Gui Pi Tang (Decoction) or Gui Pi Wan (Pill). For low blood pressure due to qi deficiency, use Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Decoction) or Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang.
Liver Qi Stagnation Type: Symptoms include chest and rib discomfort, fatigue, and weariness. Treat with Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Decoction) or Xiao Yao San (Powder). Generally, symptoms improve significantly within three months to half a year. For patients without clear differentiation, take Ciguang Tablets or placenta tablets, which show certain effectiveness.
Dietary Therapy
This condition can be managed through appropriate dietary methods. Use astragalus stewed chicken, yam-stewed deer meat, or American ginseng porridge for those with liver-spleen disharmony, physical fatigue, or declining vitality. For those with predominant depression, use Gan Mai Da Zao Porridge. For irritability, use Xiao Yao Cake, Shu Gan Chang, or Zao Ren Yu Pi Porridge. For weak constitution prone to frequent external invasions, tonify qi and strengthen essence with winter worm duck soup or Ba Zhen Chicken. For sore throat and low-grade fever, use Chai Hu, bitter melon, platycodon, and apricot kernel porridge. Incorporating traditional TCM food therapies such as softshell turtle, ants, donkey-hide gelatin, pollen, honey, and royal jelly can effectively alleviate symptoms.