🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's syndrome, is a primary vasospastic disorder affecting the extremities. Cold exposure significantly increases its incidence in northern China compared to southern regions. The condition predominantly affects females, and the exact cause of arterial spasm remains unclear. Typical manifestations include episodic pallor, cyanosis, and flushing of fingers (toes) triggered by cold or emotional excitement, accompanied by cold, numb fingertips. With prolonged untreated disease, small arteries narrow and eventually occlude, leading to hard skin changes, ulcers, or ischemic gangrene at the tips. TCM considers this condition within the scope of "cold extremities" syndromes. *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* (On the Causes and Symptoms of Various Diseases) describes "Deficiency Labor Cold Extremities": "Meridians originate from hands and feet. Deficiency labor leads to depletion of blood and qi, unable to warm the limbs, hence cold extremities." Dr. Jiang Yanzhong, Director of the Vasculitis Treatment Center at Taiyuan River Hospital in Liaoyang, after years of research, concluded this disease results from spleen-kidney yang deficiency combined with external cold invasion, leading to insufficient yang qi failing to warm the limbs. They adopt the treatment principle of "warming the channels to dispel cold, activating blood and unblocking collaterals," using over 60 herbal medicines to develop a series of oral decoctions for Raynaud's disease, applying syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment. TCM syndrome differentiation divides this condition into two types.
Qi Deficiency Type: Cold, cyanotic extremities, pain, general aversion to cold, fatigue, thin white tongue coating, wiry fine pulse. Syndrome belongs to spleen-kidney deficiency with cold congealing and collateral obstruction. Treatment aims to tonify spleen and kidney, warm channels, and unblock collaterals. Formula includes: Astragalus (Huang Qi), Codonopsis (Dang Shen), Gentiana (Qin Jiao), Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi), Leech (Shui Zhi), Black Fly (Mang Chong), Witch Hazel (Wei Ling Xian), Stir-fried White Mustard Seed (Chao Bai Jie Zi), Eucommia (Niu Xi), Asarum (Xi Xin), Cinnamon (Rou Gui), Licorice (Gan Cao), Sappanwood (Su Mu), Deer Antler Glue (Lu Jiao Jiao), Atractylodes (Bai Zhu), Dodder Seed (Tu Si Zi), Ligustrum (Nü Zhen Zi), White Peony (Bai Shao), Corydalis (Yuan Hu),升Ma (Sheng Ma), and Prepared Ginger (Pao Jiang).
Blood Deficiency Type: Cold, cyanotic extremities, fingertip thinning, stiffness, swelling, even ulceration and oozing, severe pain, pale complexion, general weakness, shortness of breath, pale tongue, thin white coating, deep fine weak pulse. Syndrome belongs to blood deficiency with cold invasion and channel obstruction. Treatment aims to nourish blood and qi, unblock blood vessels. Formula includes: Astragalus (Huang Qi), Peach Kernel (Tao Ren), Scrophularia (Yuan Shen), Eucommia (Niu Xi), Licorice (Gan Cao), White芷 (Bai Zhi), Angelica (Dang Gui), Rehmannia (Shu Di), White Peony (Bai Shao), Licorice (Gan Cao), Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi), Asarum (Xi Xin), Chicken Blood Vine (Ji Xue Teng), Lu Lu Tong, Frankincense (Ru Xiang), Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua), Herba Lichen (Liu Ji Nu), Windproof (Fang Feng), Prickly Ash (Zao Ci), Fritillary Bulb (Bei Mu), and Trichosanthes (Hua Fen).