Menopause Symptoms - Kidney-Yang Deficiency Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Menopause Symptoms · Kidney-Yang Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Kidney-Yang Deficiency is a common pattern in menopause symptoms, characterized by estrogen decline, cold intolerance, fatigue, low libido, urinary incontinence, and cold extremities. The core pathogenesis is Kidney-Yang deficiency failing to warm the body, leading to reduced energy metabolism, bone loss, and cold sensitivity.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Cold intolerance, fatigue, low libido, urinary incontinence |

| Associated Symptoms | Cold extremities, back pain, frequent urination, pale complexion |

| Tongue and Pulse | Pale and swollen tongue with thin white coating, deep and weak pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Kidney-Yang deficiency failing to warm the body |

| Etiology | Aging, constitutional Yang deficiency, overwork, chronic illness |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Shenshu (BL23) | Lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to L2 | Back-Shu point of Kidney meridian; warms Kidney-Yang |

| Mingmen (GV4) | On the midline, between L2 and L3 spinous processes | Warms Kidney-Yang and strengthens the body |

| Guanyuan (RN4) | 3 cun below the umbilicus | Warms Yang and supplements Yuan Qi |

| Qihai (RN6) | 1.5 cun below the umbilicus | Tonifies Qi and warms the lower abdomen |

| Shenque (RN8) | Center of the umbilicus | Warms the interior and supplements Yang |

Clinical Recommendation: Filament needle, reinforcing method; heavy moxibustion is strongly recommended to warm Kidney-Yang.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: You Gui Wan (右归丸)

Composition:

Rehmannia (Shu Di), Dioscorea (Shan Yao), Cornus (Shan Zhu Yu), Goji Berry (Gou Qi), Eucommia (Du Zhong), Cuscuta (Tu Si Zi), Aconite (Fu Zi), Cinnamon (Rou Gui), Deer Antler Glue (Lu Jiao Jiao)

Action: Warms Kidney-Yang, tonifies Kidney-Qi, and strengthens the body.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe cold intolerance | Add Ba Ji Tian, Yin Yang Huo to warm Yang |

| Urinary incontinence | Add Yi Zhi Ren, Sang Piao Xiao to astringe the Kidneys |

| Back pain | Add Du Zhong, Xu Duan to strengthen the lower back |

| Fatigue | Add Huang Qi to enhance Qi supplementation |

Western Mechanism Reference

Estrogen decline causing abnormal bone metabolism, reduced energy metabolism, hypothyroidism tendency, and reduced basal metabolic rate. Kidney-Yang Deficiency corresponds to menopause with cold sensitivity and metabolic symptoms, where reduced estrogen levels and decreased metabolic rate contribute to cold intolerance and fatigue.

References

  1. Gynecology of TCM - Menopausal Syndrome with Kidney-Yang Deficiency.

  2. Zang-Fu Pattern Differentiation: Kidney-Yang Deficiency → Ignition Layer Warming Yang.

  3. WHO. (2023). Women’s health. World Health Organization.

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