Are your hands and feet cold? Interestingly, the symptoms don’t just appear in the winter, you can have them all year round. When you go to the doctors, they might check your thyroid function or see if you have anemia. Sometimes the doctors might attribute the cause to poor peripheral circulation if they can’t find anything on the test.
What does TCM see in cold hands and feet? Like conventional medicine, cold hands and feet are symptomatic manifestations, not diseases. But when we treat cold hands and feet, we look at the state of Qi, blood and essence.
Qi, blood and essence are the foundation of TCM. A person’s health is built on healthy dynamics between these three foundational substances. The interplay of the Qi, blood and essence determines the health condition of our body.
Qi is the vital energy that dominates our physical function, movement, and activities. The flow of Qi influences the health condition of the body. Blood is the nutritive substance that nourishes the organ, tissues, and meridians. Essence, known as Jing, is the foundation of Yin and Yang energy and it is responsible for our growth, development and reproduction. Our Essence is inherited from our parents prenatally, and replenished by Qi and blood.
Qi, blood and essence influence one another in a complex way. Qi moves blood and essence and also forms a unique collaboration with them. When Qi connects with blood, it becomes nutritive Qi that is nourishing throughout the body’s system including organs, skin, tendons and meridians. When Qi connects with essence, it forms into Yang Qi or Yin Qi which provides warmness or coolness to balance each other.
Causes of Cold Hands and Feet
In TCM, cold hands and feet are a common symptom that can be caused by a variety of factors. Some possible causes include:
- Qi and blood deficiency: When there is not enough Qi or blood circulating through the body, it can result in poor circulation and cold extremities. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as a poor diet, chronic illness, stress or exhaustion.
- Yang deficiency: Yang energy is responsible for warming the body and maintaining its metabolic processes. When Yang is deficient, the body may have difficulty regulating its temperature, resulting in cold hands and feet.
- External pathogens: Cold is considered to be a pathogenic factor in TCM. When the body is not strengthened with enough defensive Qi and Yang Qi, cold can invade the body and cause a series of problems, which include cold hands and feet.
- Blood stasis: Blood stasis occurs when blood becomes stagnant and does not flow properly through the body. When the blood is stagnant, the flow of Qi and essence is also affected, which leads to warmth (aka. Yang Qi) not being able to be distributed throughout the body.
- Qi Stagnation: The flow of Qi determines how healthy one can be. However, Qi flow is greatly influenced by emotional imbalance. When a person is under stress or having anxiety, it can deplete the flow of energy and cause the nourishing blood or essence to be stagnant as well.
Treatments for Cold Hands and Feet
In TCM, treatment for cold hands and feet will depend on the underlying cause. Some possible treatments may include:
- Acupuncture: Using acupuncture to treat cold hands and feet are common. Because of the effects on the neurological system, it makes a good modality, especially for patients that are undergoing emotional imbalance induced cold limbs.
- Herbal remedies: TCM herbs have different characteristics, some of which can promote the Qi, nourish the blood, and replenish essence. Practitioners can address different causes accordingly with herbs. For example, if a person suffers Yang deficiency, which leads to cold hands and feet, then we use warming herbs to promote the Yang Qi. The warming effect doesn’t just limit to hands and feet, it promotes the overall warmth to the whole system. The same herbs and formula can also promote metabolism to generate energy and promote circulation.
- Lifestyle changes: Simple lifestyle changes, such as improving diet, getting regular exercise, and reducing stress, can also help to improve circulation and reduce the severity of cold hands and feet.
In conclusion, understanding the dynamics of Qi, blood, and essence is crucial in maintaining overall health and vitality. Cold hands and feet can be a common symptom that may be caused by a variety of factors.
