软者，胎气不固，精髓不充，为六淫所袭也。头顶软者，肾虚所致也。或因吐泻，脾弱而得，脾胃为主，六君子加
肉桂、炮姜。风邪侵入，祛风为主。
手软者，两手筋缩不能屈伸，薏苡仁、当归、秦艽、枣仁、防风、羌活、荆芥为末，芡实汤下。
脚软者，骨髓不满，气血不足，筋弱不能束骨而行也，宜地黄丸加牛膝、虎骨、鹿茸、五加皮为主。
身软者，肉少皮宽，饮食不为肌肤，补脾主之。
口软者，心神不足，故不能言语也，人参、石菖蒲、麦冬、远志、川芎、当归各二钱，乳香、朱砂各一钱，蜜丸。
又有禀气不足而蕊不生者，宜补肾丸或十全大补汤加知母、黄柏主之。
〔附方〕
六君子汤 见疟疾症内。
补肾地黄丸 见五淋症内。
十全大补汤 当归 川芎 生地 白芍 人参 白术 茯苓 甘草 黄 肉桂
肥儿丸 苍术（一两，米泔浸炒） 浓朴（一两，姜汁炒） 山楂肉（一两） 黄连（一两，姜汁炒） 陈皮
（一两，去白） 甘草（五钱，炙） 神曲（一两炒） 麦芽（一两） 白术（八钱，炒） 山药（一两） 半夏（一
两，制） 木香（六钱） 砂仁（六钱，炒） 莲肉（二两，去心） 胡黄连（五钱） 银柴胡（五钱） 白茯苓（一
两） 使君子肉（一两） 上为末，蜜丸如绿豆大，陈皮汤服。
四味丸 白术 茯苓 胡黄连 芦荟
"Softness" (Ruan) refers to a condition caused by unstable fetal qi, insufficient essence and marrow, and invasion by the Six Excesses (Liu Yin, six types of external pathogenic factors: wind, cold, summerheat, dampness, dryness, and fire). Softness of the crown is caused by Kidney deficiency. It may also result from vomiting and diarrhea leading to Spleen weakness; in such cases, treatment focuses on the Spleen and Stomach, using Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) with Rou Gui (Cinnamon Twig) and Pao Jiang (Prepared Ginger). If Wind pathogens invade, the primary treatment method is dispelling Wind.
Hand softness manifests as contraction of the tendons in both hands, preventing flexion and extension. Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), Qin Jiao (Gentiana Macrophylla), Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed), Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia Root), Qiang Huo (Notopterygium Rhizome), and Jing Jie (Schizonepeta Spike) are ground into powder and taken with Qian Shi (Euryale Seed) decoction.
Foot softness occurs due to incomplete marrow filling and insufficiency of Qi and Blood, causing weak tendons that cannot bind the bones for walking. Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) with Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root), Hu Gu (Tiger Bone - *note: use substitutes in modern practice*), Lu Rong (Deer Antler Velvet), and Wu Jia Pi (Acanthopanax Bark) should be used as the main treatment.
Body softness presents with little muscle and loose skin, where food intake fails to nourish the flesh. Treatment should focus on tonifying the Spleen.
Mouth softness results from insufficiency of Heart Spirit (Shen), leading to an inability to speak. Ren Shen (Ginseng), Shi Chang Pu (Acorus Rhizome), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Rhizome), and Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) each at two qian, along with Ru Xiang (Frankincense) and Zhu Sha (Cinnabar) each at one qian, are processed into honey pills.
There are also cases where congenital Qi insufficiency leads to delayed tooth eruption; these should be treated primarily with Bu Shen Wan (Kidney Tonifying Pill) or Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (Comprehensive Great Tonifying Decoction) added with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) and Huang Bai (Phellodendron Bark).
[Attached Formulas]
Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) See under Malaria symptoms.
Bu Shen Di Huang Wan (Kidney Tonifying Rehmannia Pill) See under Five Strangury symptoms.
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (Comprehensive Great Tonifying Decoction) Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex).
Fei Er Wan (Child-Nourishing Pill) Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, 1 liang, soaked in rice water and stir-fried), Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, 1 liang, stir-fried with ginger juice), Shan Zha Rou (Crataegi Fructus, 1 liang), Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 1 liang, stir-fried with ginger juice), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 1 liang, pith removed), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 5 qian, honey-fried), Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata, 1 liang, stir-fried), Mai Ya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus, 1 liang), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 8 qian, stir-fried), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, 1 liang), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum, 1 liang, processed), Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix, 6 qian), Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus, 6 qian, stir-fried), Lian Rou (Nelumbinis Semen, 2 liang, heart removed), Hu Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma alternative/Huanglian substitute, 5 qian), Yin Chai Hu (Stellariae Radix, 5 qian), Bai Fu Ling (Poria, 1 liang), Shi Jun Zi Rou (Quisqualis Semen, 1 liang). All ingredients are ground into powder, formed into pills the size of mung beans with honey, and taken with Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) decoction.
Si Wei Wan (Four-Ingredient Pill) Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Hu Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma alternative), Lu Hui (Aloe).