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Numbness occurring only on one side of the body is referred to as hemilateral numbness.

In ancient medical texts, both hemilateral numbness and numbness of the limbs were categorized under conditions such as "bi" and "apoplexy." It was not until the Jin Dynasty that the term "numbness syndrome" began to be used.

This article focuses specifically on hemilateral numbness; for numbness of the limbs, a separate section is dedicated to its discussion.

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1. Spleen Qi Deficiency︰Hemiplegic numbness accompanied by limb weakness, along with flusteredness, shortness of breath, aversion to wind, spontaneous sweating, weak pulse, pale tongue, and thin white tongue coating. $Middle qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness and nutrient-blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness! Both are deficiency patterns with a slow onset. However, the disease cause and mechanism of disease differ. Qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness often results from excessive physical labor, improper diet, or overly aggressive medicinal treatment, leading to damage to middle qi and insufficiency of original qi, thereby causing numbness. Blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness, on the other hand, is mostly due to excessive blood loss, sexual overexertion, or multiple childbirths depleting nutrient-blood and yin essence, or Rebing late stage [third stage] scorching yin fluids, or excessive consumption of pungent and warm substances that promote heat, leading to yin-blood deficiency and cervical malignancy with cachexia, resulting in numbness. Qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness is attributed to spleen qi deficiency, as Xie Li-zhai said, "Numbness in the arms and weakness in the body indicate spleen dysfunction"; blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness is traced to liver and kidney insufficiency. According to ancient experience and clinical observation, qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness often occurs on the right side of the body, accompanied by mild aversion to wind, occasional sweating, flusteredness, and shortness of breath; blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness often occurs on the left side, accompanied by dizziness, dizzy vision, insomnia, and palpitations. Both conditions manifest a weak pulse, but qi deficiency presents with a slow pulse, while blood deficiency presents with a rapid pulse. For treatment, qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness should be addressed by tonifying qi and relaxing the sinews, using the effective Astragalus Decoction; blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness should be treated by nourishing blood and relaxing the sinews, using Hua Shi's Liver-Tonifying Powder.
2. Insufficiency of Nutrient-blood︰Hemiplegic numbness accompanied by dizziness, dizzy vision, palpitation, insomnia, weak and thin pulse, pale and tender tongue with thin and slightly dry coating. $Middle qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness and nutrient-blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness! Both are deficiency patterns, with a slow onset. However, the disease cause and mechanism of disease differ. Qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness is mostly caused by excessive physical labor, improper diet, or overuse of purgative medications, leading to damage of middle qi and insufficiency of original qi, resulting in numbness. Blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness, on the other hand, often stems from excessive loss of blood, or depletion of nutrient-blood and yin essence due to sexual overindulgence or multiple childbirths, or Rebing late stage [third stage] where yin fluids are scorched, or excessive consumption of pungent and warm substances that promote heat, leading to deficiency of yin-blood and cervical malignancy with cachexia, resulting in numbness. Qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness is attributed to spleen qi deficiency, as Xie Li-zhai said, "Numbness in the arms and weakness in the body indicate spleen dysfunction"; blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness is rooted in liver and kidney insufficiency. According to ancient experience and clinical observation, qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness often occurs in the right limbs, accompanied by mild aversion to wind, occasional sweating, flusteredness, and shortness of breath; blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness often occurs in the left limbs, accompanied by dizziness, dizzy vision, insomnia, and palpitation. Both conditions present with weak pulse manifestations, but qi deficiency tends to show a slow pulse, while blood deficiency tends to show a rapid pulse. For treatment, qi deficiency hemiplegic numbness should be addressed by tonifying qi and relaxing the sinews, with the formula selection of the miraculous Astragalus Decoction; blood deficiency hemiplegic numbness should be treated by nourishing blood and relaxing the sinews, with the formula selection of Hua's Liver-Tonifying Powder.
3. External Contractionwind-cold︰Numbness in half of the body, accompanied by headache and body pain, aversion to wind and cold, without sweating, floating and tight pulse, thin white and moist tongue coating. The numbness in half of the body is caused by wind-cold invading the skin and hair, then entering the collateral vessels, leading to obstruction of the collaterals. There are symptoms such as body pain, aversion to wind, and floating pulse, indicating an exterior pattern. Treatment should focus on warming and releasing the exterior, relaxing the sinews, and activating the collaterals. The recommended formula is Astragalus and Cinnamon Twig Five Ingredients Decoction with the addition of centipede and Stiff Silkworm.
4. Internal Stirring of Liver Wind︰Numbness in half of the body, accompanied by varying degrees of tremor, along with dizziness, headache, dysphoria, irritability, insomnia, dreamfulness, a wiry and forceful pulse, a dark red tongue texture, and a thin or scanty yellow and dry coating. Internal stirring of liver wind. The numbness in half of the body is due to the inherent exuberance of liver yang, which generates wind when hyperactive, and the wind traverses the channels and collaterals, leading to cervical malignancy with cachexia and the onset of illness. It is often related to emotional fluctuations. There are varying degrees of tremor, as well as symptoms of liver exuberance such as dizziness, headache, and a wiry pulse. Treatment should focus on liver-calming and wind-extinguishing, relaxing the sinews and harmonizing the collaterals. The recommended prescription is Gastrodia and Uncaria Drink.
5. Damp Phlegm︰Numbness in half of the body, accompanied by a heavy sensation, along with dizziness, nausea, chest tightness, a wiry and slippery pulse, a pale and dull tongue, and a slippery or white greasy coating. This condition arises from the spleen's failure to transform fluids, leading to fluid accumulation as dampness, which then congeals into phlegm. The phlegm lodges in the meridians, resulting in hemilateral numbness. The key diagnostic points are: 1. A relatively plump physique; 2. Numbness accompanied by heaviness in the limbs; 3. A wiry and slippery pulse, with a white slippery or greasy tongue coating; and in women, increased leucorrhea. In this syndrome, damp-phlegm is the manifestation, while spleen deficiency is the root cause. Therefore, the treatment should focus on tonifying the spleen and replenishing qi, supplemented by resolving phlegm and unblocking collaterals. The recommended prescription is Pineilia, White Atractylodes and Gastrodia Decoction with modifications.

Hemiplegic numbness is more severe than numbness in the limbs. According to reports, "unilateral limb numbness and lack of strength are important precursors to apoplexy" (S City Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine8:8, 1981). This is especially prone to occur due to the internal stirring of liver wind, but we must not overlook the role of qi and blood deficiency in causing hemiplegic numbness. Qi and blood deficiency easily attract wind, and blood deficiency is prone to generate wind. Only when qi and blood are abundant, and the "true qi of the five zang-organs flows smoothly," can "evil wind not invade the meridians." Therefore, strengthening exercise, regulating diet, nurturing temperament, and maintaining the harmony of qi and blood are the primary methods for preventing apoplexy.

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1. Lanshi Micang．A woman asked: "Numbness is considered as wind, even a three-foot child believes so, but upon closer examination, there are distinctions. Sitting for a long time and then standing up can also cause numbness, like being tied with a rope for a long time, and when released, one feels numbness and dares not move, but after a while, it subsides on its own. From this, it can be inferred that it is not caused by wind evil, but by the stagnation of qi. The main treatment should be to replenish the qi in the lungs, and the numbness will naturally disappear. If Jingmai is affected by yin fire invading the yang aspect, and the fire is active within causing numbness, then the yin fire should also be eliminated to cure it. When there is phlegm and cough, it is due to the coolness of autumn affecting the exterior and upper parts, and warm remedies should be used to strengthen the skin and hair. A heavy body and slow pulse indicate the presence of dampness. When there is occasional agitation, the yang should be raised to assist qi and benefit blood, slightly purge the yin fire and dampness, unblock the meridians, and regulate the yin-yang to achieve balance."
2. Zabing Yuanliu Xizhu．The origin and flow of numbness: "It starts from the head and goes to the heart, leading to death, or from the sole of the foot to the knee, leading to death."