Today, let's talk about a particularly practical concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine called "treating child deficiency by nourishing its mother." This may sound mysterious, but the principle is quite practical—it's like when a weak child in the family doesn't respond well to nutritional supplements alone. In such cases, we first need to regulate the mother's health, and the child will naturally grow stronger. In TCM, we liken the five major organs of the human body to a family, where the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys each have their own "mother-child relationships." When one organ is deficient and difficult to nourish directly, we can try addressing the imbalance through its "mother" organ instead.

Let's start with the most common condition—kidney deficiency. If you constantly experience soreness in the waist and weakness in the legs, frequent nighttime urination, and find no relief even after taking Liuwei Dihuang Pills, then it's time to check whether symptoms like coughing, breathlessness, low speaking volume, or excessive sweating with minimal exertion are present. This is similar to a reservoir running low on water—merely filling the reservoir won’t solve the problem unless the upstream water supply is sufficient. In the Five Elements theory, the lungs correspond to Metal (金), while the kidneys correspond to Water (水). Metal generates Water. In such cases, tonifying the lungs with Bufei Tang (Lung-Nourishing Decoction) to replenish lung qi, combined with Shenqi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill) to warm and reinforce kidney yang, is like dredging the river channel while also reinforcing the embankment. Symptoms like frequent urination and nocturia will naturally improve.

Now let's talk about lung deficiency. Some people catch colds easily and speak in a faint voice like a mosquito. When Yupingfeng San (Jade Screen Powder) for lung supplementation doesn't work, you should check if they have poor appetite or feel sleepy after meals. In the five elements theory, the spleen belongs to earth while the lungs belong to metal—earth generates metal. In this case, using Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) with astragalus to strengthen the spleen is like fertilizing a field sufficiently—lung qi will naturally become abundant, and immunity will improve. This illustrates the old saying, "The spleen is the mother of the lungs."

For those with spleen deficiency, common symptoms include abdominal bloating and loose stools. When Shenling Baizhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) doesn't help, pay attention to whether there's frequent palpitations or insomnia. The heart belongs to fire and the spleen belongs to earth—fire generates earth, just as food won't cook well if the stove's fire is weak. In this case, Guipi Tang (Spleen-Restoring Decoction) with cinnamon twig can both nourish heart blood and warm heart yang—like adding firewood to the stove, restoring proper spleen and stomach function, which in turn resolves bloating and diarrhea.

Liver deficiency also requires careful analysis. If dizziness, blurred vision, numb limbs, and short temper persist even after taking Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder), check for signs of kidney deficiency like sore waist and knees or tinnitus. The kidneys belong to water and the liver belongs to wood—water generates wood. A lack of water causes trees to wither. Here, Zuogui Wan (Left-Restoring Pill) with white peony root can nourish kidney essence, allowing ample kidney water to moisturize liver wood—improving dizziness and numbness.

Finally, let's discuss heart deficiency. Some people suffer from constant palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia, or vivid dreams, but even Tianwang Buxin Dan (Heavenly Emperor Heart-Nourishing Pellet) may not work well. Observe whether they often sigh or feel depressed. The liver belongs to wood and the heart belongs to fire—wood generates fire, just as weak flames may stem from damp firewood. In such cases, Xiaoyao San with wild jujube seed can soothe the liver and nourish blood—stabilizing liver qi so it can properly support heart fire, ultimately resolving palpitations and insomnia.

This TCM concept of "treating deficiency in the child organ by nourishing the mother organ" is essentially about leveraging the interrelationships between organs and addressing the root cause for proper regulation. As the old saying goes, "To cure a disease, treat its root." Sometimes direct supplementation proves ineffective, but by adopting the approach of regulating from the source, unexpected results may be achieved. However, specific application should be tailored to individual constitutions. It's best to consult a professional TCM practitioner for pulse diagnosis to ensure accurate treatment and achieve maximum results with minimal effort.