↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Deep, aching cold in the knees; lower-back soreness and weakness; worse at night and in cold weather; frequent night-time urination; feeling cold all over, especially in the lower body.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender, tooth-marked, wet white coat. Pulse: Deep, slow, weak; especially feeble at the rear positions.
Treatment principle: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang to disperse deep cold from the knees and lower back.
Note: moxa is strongly indicated. Linked to this site's own Kidney-Yang-deficiency slide.
2. Qi and Blood Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Dull, persistent cold in the knees; knee weakness and soreness, worse with exertion; fatigue, pale complexion, dizziness, poor appetite.
Tongue: Pale, may be thin or tooth-marked, thin white coat. Pulse: Fine and weak, lacking strength.
Treatment principle: Tonifies both Qi and Blood, treating the root deficiency that leaves the knees cold.
Note: moxa is appropriate. No deck combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide — no pattern link is given here.