Cold

Cold, the predominant qi of winter, may occur in other seasons but not as severely. Thin clothing, exposure to cold after sweating, being caught in rain. and wading in water in cold winter can give rise to invasion of pathogenic cold.

Cold is a yin pathogenic factor that consumes the yang qi of the body. As a result the warming function of the body will be impaired, resulting in symptoms such as cold limbs, cold pain in the epigastria and abdominal regions, diarrhea containing undigested food. increased flow of clear urine, etc.

Contraction and stagnation, resulting in impairment of the opening and closing of the pores, spasmodic contraction of tendons and meridians, and impaired circulation of qi and blood characterize cold. Accompanying symptoms include pain, aversion to cold, lack of sweating and restricted movement of the limbs.