Shaoyin syndrome refers to the syndrome at the advanced stage of six-meridians pathological changes due to cold-attack. This syndrome is divided into shaoyin cold transformation syndrome and shaoyin heat-transformation syndrome according to the pathogenic factors and constitution of the patient.

Shaoyin cold-transformation syndrome:
The Shaoyin cold- transformation syndrome is more commonly seen in shaoyin syndrome, caused by deficiency of the yang-qi of the heart and kidney, and the consequent transformation from the yin syndrome to the cold syndrome as a result of the invasion of pathogenic factors. It is mainly manifested as cold limbs, preference for hot drinks, abundant clear urine,diarrhea, palpitation, sleepiness, thready and feeble pulse.

Shaoyin heat-transformation syndrome:
Shaoyin heat-transformation syndrome refers to the syndrome of asthenia-heat due to asthenia of heart and kidney yin, hyperactivity of heart and kidney yang as well as pathogenic factors transforming into heat from yang. This syndrome is caused by failure to relieve pathogenic heat and consumption of kidney yin; or by frequent yin asthenia, invasion of pathogenic factors into shaoyin, transformation of pathogenic factors into heat following the nature of yang and consumption of kidney yin scorched by heat.
 
Clinical manifestations:
Vexation and insomnia, dry mouth and throat, reddish tongue tip or deep-red tongue and thin and rapid pulse.

Analysis of the symptoms:
Vexation and insomnia are due to deficiency of kidney yin, disharmony between water and fire which leads to hyperactivity of heart fire to disturb the mind; dry mouth and throat, reddish tongue tip or deep-red tongue and thin and rapid pulse are the signs of deficiency of water and superabundance of fire.