The Common Syndrome Combinations

1 - No Communication between the Kidneys and Heart
(Heart Fire Flaming with Kidneys Yin Deficiency)

Primary Symptoms: Weak lower back, insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, forgetfulness, weak legs, dizziness, ringing in the ears, night sweats and/or seminal emission.

Individual herbs: Cinnamon, Schisandra – see also the information given for the individual kidney and heart syndromes.

Energetic Herbals Formulations: Moisten & Soothe, Elixir, Nerve Nourish, Anxiety Ease.

Foods: Favour cooling and moistening foods such as banana, egg, wheat, mulberries, spinach, strawberries, salty foods, grains, lean meats, sprouts, soy products and most vegetables.
Avoid garlic, star anise, alcohol, tea, coffee, sugar and refined flour products.

2 - Simultaneous Deficiency of the Heart and Spleen
(Heart blood deficiency causing spleen energy deficiency)

Primary Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, palpitations with anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, dizziness, bleeding, abdominal swelling, watery stools, weakness, decreased appetite and depression

Individual herbs, formulations and foods:
See the relevant individual heart and spleen syndromes.

3 - Yang Deficiency of the Heart and Kidneys

Primary Symptoms: Palpitations, oedema, chest pain, anxiety, cold limbs, meager urine, pressure in the chest, fear of the cold, muscular twitching or cramps.

Individual herbs, Formulations and Foods:
See the relevant individual heart and kidney syndromes.

4 - Energy Deficiency of the Spleen and Lungs

Primary Symptoms: Chronic cough, shortness of breath, copious clear white phlegm, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite or diarrhoea. Applicable diseases are asthma, emphysema and/or Tuberculosis.

For Individual herbs, Formulations and Foods:
See the relevant individual spleen and lung syndromes.

5 - Yang Deficiency of the Spleen and Kidneys

Primary Symptoms: Cold sensation in the back and knees. Puffy face and limbs. Diarrhoea on rising. Fatigue and weakness. Undigested food in stools. Poor appetite and pale complexion.

Individual herbs: Cayenne, Cinnamon, Clove, Black Pepper, Fennel, Fenugreek, Nutmeg and Prickly Ash.

Energetic Herbals Formulations: Digestion and Digestion, Classic Warmth.

Foods: Favour chicken, lobster, mutton, pistachio, raspberry, sardine, shrimp, strawberry, beef, corn, beans, royal jelly, rice, whitefish and pineapple.
Avoid cold foods such as banana, grapefruit, honey, salt, squash, potato and wheat.

6 - Yin Deficiency of the Lungs and Kidneys

Primary Symptoms: Cough with little or no phlegm, phlegm containing blood, tidal fever, sore loins and weak legs, loss of voice, chronic fatigue, dry mouth, red cheeks, hot sensations, seminal emission, night sweats, loss of weight, insomnia, wheezing or panting.

Individual herbs: See the relevant individual lung and kidney syndromes.

Energetic Herbals Formulations: Moisten and Soothe.
See also the relevant individual lung and kidney syndromes.

Foods: Cooling and moistening foods generally, with particular mention of kelp, mulberry, plum, seaweed, brown sugar, cheeses, chicken egg, duck, pork, royal jelly, apples, coconut milk, dates, figs, milk, grapes, lemon, mango, milk, peas, pineapple, rice, shrimp, tomato and watermelon.
Avoid drying food and drink to include alcohol, cayenne pepper, garlic and fresh ginger.

7 - Yin Deficiency of the Liver and Kidneys

Primary Symptoms: Pain under mid to lower right ribs, dizziness, weak loins, insomnia, forgetfulness, red cheeks, night sweats, many dreams, hot sensations in chest, palms and soles of feet, meager or absent menstruation, ringing in the ears, numbness of limbs, chronic fatigue, bleeding, menstrual pain, dryness, tumors, anaemia or high blood pressure.

Individual herbs: See the relevant individual liver and kidney syndromes.

Energetic Herbals Formulations: Moisten and Soothe.
See also the relevant individual liver and kidney syndromes.

Foods: Cooling and moistening foods generally, with particular mention of kelp, mulberry, plum, seaweed, brown sugar, cheeses, chicken egg, duck, pork, royal jelly, apples, coconut milk, dates, figs, milk, grapes, lemon, mango, milk, peas, pineapple, rice, shrimp, tomato and watermelon.
Avoid drying food and drink to include alcohol, cayenne pepper, garlic and fresh ginger.

8 - Disharmony between the Liver and Spleen
(Liver Excess with Spleen Deficiency)

Primary Symptoms: Abdominal pain preceding diarrhoea, watery stools, pain in abdomen and/or under ribs, irregular menstrual periods, vaginal discharge, stomachache, belching, nausea, regurgitating acid, intestinal rumbling or flatulence.

Individual herbs: Peony, Atractylodis, Buplureum, Liquorice root, Celandine, Blessed Thistle, Milk Thistle, Barberry, Yellow Gentian, Wormwood, Wilde Als and Peppermint, Elecampane root, Parsley root, Spirulina, Flower Pollen, Alfalfa, Wheatgrass, Asian ginseng, Ashwagandha, Oat Berry & Astragalus.

Energetic Herbals Formulations: Liver and Gall, Resist and Recover, Natural Antibiotic, Down with Pressure, Anti-Fungal, Stamina, Herbal Multi, Elixir, Digestion and Absorption.

Foods: Favour apple, cucumber, carrot, brown sugar, cherry, potato, corn, naartjies, royal jelly and white fish.
See also the relevant individual liver and spleen syndromes.
Avoid hot and spicy items, such as those listed as warming and drying in the section on Food Energetics, to include tea and tobacco.

9 - Disharmony between the Liver and Stomach
(Liver Energy Congestion with Stomach Deficiency)

Primary Symptoms: Stomach ache, vomiting, hiccups, pain and swelling of chest and under ribs, abdominal rumbling, belching or pain at top of head, worse with coldness. Vomiting acid or blood, morning sickness or irregular bowel movements.

Individual herbs: Liquorice root, Celandine, Blessed Thistle, Milk Thistle, Barberry, Yellow Gentian, Wormwood, Wilde Als and Peppermint, Calamus, Rosemary, Horseradish root, Angelica root, Cardamom pod, Elecampane.

Energetic Herbals Formulations: Liver and Gall, Digestion and absorption, Natural Antibiotic, Resist and Recover.

Foods: Barley, dates, kumquat, peanuts, brown sugar, carp, celery, oranges, perch, white fish, sweet potato and vinegar. Ginger root, orange peel, mango or sweet potato may be useful at first to stop the vomiting.
Avoid warming and drying (spicy) food and fatty, fried or oily food.
See also the relevant individual liver and stomach syndromes.

10 - Liver Fire Offending the Lungs
(Liver yang excess with lung yin deficiency)

Primary Symptoms: Coughing up or vomiting fresh blood or yellow phlegm, jumpiness, anger, dizziness, red eyes, reddish complexion, bitter taste in mouth and/or rapid breathing.

Individual herbs: Kelp, Bladderwrack, Cascara Sagrada bark, Rhubarb root, Yellow Gentian, Goldenseal, Barberry, Dandelion Root, Passionflower, Mistletoe, Coltsfoot, Comfrey leaf, Iceland Moss, Mullein leaf, Borage leaf, Red clover, Boneset, Linden flower, Elder flower, Catnip and Eucalyptus.

Energetic Herbals Formulations: Moisten and Soothe, Thyroid Balance, Peristalsis, Liver and Gall, Natural Antibiotic.

Foods: Cooling and moistening foods generally, to include chicken egg, liver, mung bean, pork, salt, spinach and strawberries.
See also the relevant individual liver and lung syndromes.