Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency pí shèn yáng xū · 脾肾阳虚

What it describes: a pattern combining a weak Spleen with a weak Kidney, so the warming and transforming functions are described as depleted. Classically recorded: cold limbs, loose stools or early-morning diarrhoea, oedema, a cold lower back, a deep weak pulse.

How it is read: as a pattern, not a disease. Conventional medicine has no equivalent category - the same symptoms would first be investigated for thyroid, kidney, gut and other causes.

What this is not: something you can diagnose from a symptom list, and not a reason to self-prescribe warming herbs.