Hypothyroidism · Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency is a core pattern in hypothyroidism, characterized by reduced basal metabolic rate, fatigue, cold intolerance, myxedema, and weight gain. The core pathogenesis is Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency failing to warm and transform the body, leading to reduced metabolism, fluid retention, and systemic hypofunction.

Infertility · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a common pattern in infertility, characterized by pelvic adhesions, endometriosis, tubal obstruction, hypercoagulability, and immune-inflammatory factors. The core pathogenesis is Blood stasis in the uterus and pelvic region, leading to tubal obstruction, endometrial dysfunction, and impaired implantation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Infertility · Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Kidney Deficiency is the fundamental pattern in infertility, characterized by ovulation disorders or luteal phase defect, HPO axis dysfunction, poor endometrial receptivity, and irregular menstruation. The core pathogenesis is Kidney deficiency failing to govern reproduction, leading to HPO axis dysfunction, impaired follicular development, and poor endometrial receptivity.

Infertility · Liver Depression Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Liver Depression is a common pattern in infertility, characterized by psychological factors causing ovulation disorders, elevated prolactin, tubal spasm, endometriosis, and emotional symptoms. The core pathogenesis is chronic stress causing Liver-Qi stagnation, leading to endocrine dysfunction, tubal spasm, and impaired fertility.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Infertility · Phlegm-Dampness Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Dampness is a common pattern in infertility, characterized by obesity-related ovulation disorders (PCOS-associated), insulin resistance, chronic anovulation, and thin endometrium. The core pathogenesis is Phlegm-Dampness accumulation obstructing the uterus, leading to chronic anovulation, insulin resistance, and impaired fertility.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Irritable Bowel Syndrome · Damp-Heat Internal Accumulation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Internal Accumulation is a pattern in IBS, characterized by intestinal low-grade inflammation, diarrhea with urgency, abdominal pain, and sticky sensation. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the intestines, causing low-grade inflammation, mast cell activation, and increased enteric nerve excitability.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Irritable Bowel Syndrome · Liver Depression with Spleen Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Liver Depression with Spleen Deficiency is the most common pattern in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), characterized by gut-brain axis dysregulation, abdominal pain triggered by stress, alternating diarrhea and constipation, and bloating. The core pathogenesis is emotional stress causing Liver Qi depression, which overacts on the Spleen, leading to visceral hypersensitivity and abnormal gut motility.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome · Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency is a severe deficiency pattern in IBS, characterized by autonomic dysfunction, diarrhea at dawn, abdominal pain, and cold intolerance. The core pathogenesis is Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency failing to warm and transform the intestines, leading to abnormal colonic transit, impaired fluid absorption, and chronic diarrhea.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome · Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Stomach Deficiency is a common pattern in IBS, characterized by digestive enzyme insufficiency, abdominal pain, diarrhea, poor appetite, and fatigue. The core pathogenesis is Spleen Qi deficiency failing to transform and transport food, leading to incomplete digestion, loose stools, and abdominal discomfort.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Osteoarthritis · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a chronic pattern in knee osteoarthritis, characterized by bone remodeling with osteophytes, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation at night. The core pathogenesis is prolonged stasis of blood in the knee collaterals, leading to bone remodeling, osteophyte formation, and persistent pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Osteoarthritis · Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Bi is an acute inflammatory pattern in knee osteoarthritis, characterized by synovitis with effusion, swelling, redness, and burning pain. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the knee joint, causing acute synovitis, joint effusion, and severe inflammation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Osteoarthritis · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is the fundamental pattern in knee osteoarthritis, characterized by chronic degeneration, ache, weakness, and aggravation with overwork. The core pathogenesis is insufficient nourishment of the knee joint by Liver Blood and Kidney Essence, leading to progressive cartilage degeneration, bone changes, and pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Osteoarthritis · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in knee osteoarthritis, characterized by chronic weakness, dull pain, fatigue, and poor recovery. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the knee joint and muscles, leading to weakness, chronic pain, and impaired function.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Osteoarthritis · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in knee osteoarthritis, characterized by cartilage degeneration, cold pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the knee meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow, synovitis, and accelerated cartilage degeneration.

Knee Pain · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a common pattern in knee pain, characterized by ligament injury, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation at night. The core pathogenesis is stagnation of blood in the knee collaterals following injury or overuse, leading to pain, swelling, and impaired healing.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Pain · Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Bi is an acute inflammatory pattern in knee pain, characterized by acute swelling, redness, and burning pain. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the knee joint, causing acute synovitis, swelling, and severe pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Pain · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is a chronic degenerative pattern in knee pain, characterized by degenerative changes, chronic ache, weakness, and aggravation with overwork. The core pathogenesis is insufficient nourishment of the knee joint by Liver Blood and Kidney Essence, leading to progressive joint degeneration and pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Pain · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in knee pain, characterized by chronic weakness, dull pain, fatigue, and poor recovery. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the knee joint and muscles, leading to weakness, chronic pain, and impaired function.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Knee Pain · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in knee pain, characterized by knee inflammation, cold pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the knee meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow, synovitis, and muscle tension.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Lower Back Pain · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Lower Back

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a common pattern in lower back pain, characterized by disc-related pain, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation at night. The core pathogenesis is stagnation of blood in the lumbar collaterals, leading to nerve root compression, local hematoma organization, and persistent pain.