There are obvious differences between spleen yang deficiency and spleen yin deficiency in terms of etiology, pathogenesis and symptoms, which can be judged here.
1. Etiology: Spleen yang deficiency may be caused by eating too much cold food, feeling foreign cold, or prolonged illness. Spleen yin deficiency may be caused by dietary irregularities, emotional disorders, overwork, and injury to yin after illness.
2. Pathogenesis: The basic pathogenesis of spleen yang deficiency is that the yang qi of the spleen is weak, and its functions of warming and promoting are weakened, resulting in the birth of cold. The basic pathogenesis of spleen yin deficiency is deficiency of yin and fluid, resulting in internalization of dryness and heat.
3. Symptoms: Spleen yang deficiency is characterized by abdominal pain, edema, dysuria, and fear of cold. Spleen Yin deficiency is characterized by abdominal distension, dry mouth and tongue, and hot hands (irritability and sultriness).
Patients should be identified according to the above factors and then different treatment plans should be adopted.