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Dried Rhizoma Gentianae (Qin Jiao) (1.5 qian), Gastrodiae Rhizoma (Tian Ma), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qiang Huo), Exocarpium Citri Reticulatae (Chen Pi), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang Gui), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuan Xiong) (each 1 qian), Prepared Radix Glycyrrhizae (Zhi Gan Cao) (0.5 qian), Fresh Zingiberis Rhizoma (Sheng Jiang) (3 slices), Young Branches of Morus alba L. (Sang Zhi)
(Jiu chao, stir-fried with wine, 3 qian)
Decoct in water and take orally.
If accompanied by cold pathogen, add Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fu Zi) and Cinnamomi Ramulus (Gui Zhi).
Buzhong Yiqi Tang (See under Stroke-like Syndromes).

Loin pain may be caused by wind, cold, dampness, heat, blood stasis, qi stagnation, or phlegm-fluid retention; these are all branch manifestations (biao), while kidney deficiency is the root (ben).
Loin pain with stiffness and spasm, radiating to the legs and feet, with a floating and wiry pulse indicates wind; loins feeling cold as ice, preferring hot hand compressions, with a deep, slow, or tight pulse indicates cold. Both are primarily treated with Duhuo Tang.
Loin pain as if sitting in water, heavy body sensation, feeling of a heavy weight around the waist, with a soggy and fine pulse indicates dampness. This is primarily treated with Cangbai Erchen Tang added with Duhuo.
If there is heaviness and pain in the loins, heat sensation in the waist, flaccidity and weakness, with a wiry and rapid pulse, it indicates damp-heat. There is a risk of developing Wei Syndrome (flaccidity syndrome); add Phellodendri Cortex (Huang Bo) to the previous formula for treatment.
If caused by sprains, falls, or trauma, with blood stasis accumulating internally, turning movements causing stabbing pain like knife or awl pricks, black stools, and a choppy or hollow pulse, it indicates blood stasis. This is primarily treated with Zelan Tang.
Stabbing pain that migrates, appearing and disappearing suddenly, with a wiry and urgent pulse indicates qi stagnation. This is primarily treated with Juhe Wan.
Swelling in the loins, soft upon pressure without pain, with a slippery pulse indicates phlegm. This is treated with Erchen Tang added with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma (Bixie), Brassicae Semen (Baijiezi), Bamboo Juice (Zhuli), and Ginger Juice (Jiangzhi).
Loin pain feeling as if dislocated, relieved slightly by firm pressure, with a fine, weak, and forceless pulse indicates deficiency. This is primarily treated with Liujunzi Tang added with Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong) and Dipsaci Radix (Xuduan).
If accompanied by yin-cold symptoms, supplement with Bawei Wan.
Generally, loins pain is attributed to kidney deficiency. If accompanied by pathogenic factors, they must be expelled; if no external pathogens exist, only tonification of the kidney is required.
However, within kidney deficiency, one must distinguish between cold and heat syndromes. If the pulse is deficient and soft, urine is clear, stool is loose, and loins are cold and painful, this is Yang deficiency. One must tonify the Fire of Mingmen, using Bawei Wan.
If the pulse is fine, rapid, and forceless, stool is dry, urine is red, and defervescence fire flares up intermittently, this is Kidney Qi Heat leading to marrow depletion and bone withering, risking Gu Wei Syndrome (bone flaccidity). This is Yin deficiency. One must tonify the Primordial Water, using Liuwei Wan combined with Buyin Wan, etc. Do not mistakenly use hot medicines to scorch the Yin. Practitioners must exercise caution.