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In TCM, it is believed that when Qi is chaotic, illness arises; when Qi is deficient, symptoms occur; when Qi is exhausted, death follows. Qi is the foundation of life; without it, the body withers. If we compare a person to a tree, Qi is the root, while the body is the trunk and leaves. A deep root leads to lush leaves, and abundant Qi leads to a long life.
Commonly, people refer to death as “cutting off Qi,” indicating that a person lives on a breath of Qi; when they die, Qi disperses. When the body’s Qi declines, Qi and blood circulation becomes obstructed, Yin and Yang become unbalanced, and various diseases invade. In men, Qi deficiency refers to kidney Qi deficiency, which corresponds to erectile dysfunction and prostate diseases in Western medicine, commonly referred to as kidney deficiency.
Usually, people do not clearly understand the difference between kidney deficiency and Qi deficiency. When symptoms like shortness of breath, excessive sweating, physical weakness, and sexual dysfunction appear, they immediately think of kidney deficiency, leading to kidney tonics. But have they considered where kidney deficiency originates? Kidney deficiency starts from Qi deficiency; Qi deficiency is the root of kidney deficiency. This is why patients with impotence and sexual dysfunction often experience fatigue, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, lower back pain, and leg weakness, feeling as if they are always out of breath.
A patient presented with eyelid swelling, pale complexion, self-reported leg weakness, poor sleep, and significant issues with sexual activity. At just fifty, he felt powerless. Despite daily consumption of medicinal wine and ginseng cordyceps, he remained weak, with frequent urination and a red, thick, and greasy tongue coating.
Patients with Qi deficiency have insufficient kidney essence. If they attempt to supplement the kidneys for sexual activity, it is like draining a pond; the more they drain, the drier it becomes. Supplementing the kidneys is for sexual health, while supplementing Qi is for life. Treatment should primarily focus on Qi supplementation, ensuring smooth urinary flow before addressing kidney supplementation; this is the correct treatment approach.
First supplement Qi for kidney deficiency, or else the more you supplement, the more deficient you become.
First supplement Qi for kidney deficiency, or else the more you supplement, the more deficient you become, because the root of kidney deficiency is Qi deficiency. Just like a car with engine problems, adding more fuel will not help it run far. In daily life, we should moderate our diet, maintain regular physical exercise to enhance the flow of Qi in the body, and reduce the accumulation of body fat. Obesity often leads to kidney deficiency, and it is especially important for middle-aged men to control their weight.
Early Symptoms of Qi Deficiency: Shortness of breath, frequent spontaneous sweating, head heaviness and dizziness, difficulty concentrating, talking less, dry eyes, bitter mouth, lower back pain, leg weakness, constipation or diarrhea, yellow and painful urination, low interest in sexual activity, cold hands and feet, obesity with cold intolerance, poor appetite, and restless sleep. If four or more symptoms appear, Qi deficiency can be confirmed.
Symptoms of Qi Deficiency: Chest tightness, general weakness, mental fatigue, headaches and irritability, dizziness and tinnitus, upper abdominal fullness, lower abdominal heaviness, urgency and frequency of urination, painful urination, weak erections, premature ejaculation, insomnia, hair loss, numbness in limbs, joint spasms, night sweats, vivid dreams, and disordered thinking. If three or more symptoms appear, a diagnosis of Qi deficiency can be made.
There are three types of Qi; how should Qi deficiency be supplemented?
In TCM, Qi is generally divided into three aspects:
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First is Yuan Qi (Original Qi), which is inherited from parents and is innate;
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The second is Gu Qi (Food Qi), which is obtained through eating and drinking, transformed by the spleen and stomach;
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The third is Qing Qi (Clear Qi), which is inhaled by the lungs, roughly equivalent to what we commonly refer to as air, primarily depending on lung function.
The health of the human body is closely related to these three types of Qi; any issue in one aspect can lead to a loss of vitality.
When Qi is problematic, the direct manifestation is Qi deficiency. Commonly seen in individuals with chronic illnesses, severe diseases, excessive fatigue, postnatal care deficiencies, and the elderly, due to the decline of organ function, they experience insufficient Qi, characterized by low energy, quiet voices, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a dull complexion, leading to a series of health issues.
Here are seven manifestations of insufficient Yuan Qi:
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1. Cold hands and feet, especially in winter.
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2. Cysts, fibroids, or tumors in the uterus, ovaries, or breasts.
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3. Prone to hair loss.
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4. Urgency and frequency of urination, with severe cases leading to incontinence after age 40.
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5. Prone to varicose veins, leg swelling, or rheumatism, lower back pain, bone hyperplasia, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
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6. Experiencing mental fear, restless sleep, and early morning diarrhea.
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7. Entering menopause too early.
How to nourish our Qi? Pay attention to three important acupoints.
Qihai, Shanzhong, and Zusanli, all effective for various uses.
1. Qihai
[Function] As the ocean of Yuan Qi, it has a high capacity for replenishing Yuan Qi. TCM classics state that Qihai can treat all diseases caused by Qi deficiency, making it the first choice for Qi supplementation.
[Location] Qihai is an acupoint on the Ren Meridian, easily located 1.5 cun below the navel (Shenque point refers to the navel). You can measure 1.5 cun by placing four fingers together, measuring from the navel downwards; the width of four fingers is 3 cun, half of which is 1.5 cun, or as shown in the image, two fingers also equal 1.5 cun.
[Technique] Qihai is a very important strengthening point for the whole body, best treated with moxibustion. You can use moxa cones for 5-14 cones or moxa sticks for 20-30 minutes. Regularly moxibustion on Qihai can cultivate Yuan Qi and provide excellent preventive health benefits.
2. Shanzhong
[Function] Known as the upper Qihai, its main function is to tonify lung Qi, regulating the Qi of the entire body, especially beneficial for lung health. Using Shanzhong in conjunction with Qihai can both replenish Yuan Qi and regulate lung Qi, ensuring smooth Qi flow and maintaining overall health.
[Location] Shanzhong is easily located at the midpoint between the two nipples on the chest.
[Technique] Regularly massaging Shanzhong for health maintenance is beneficial, and moxibustion for 20-30 minutes can also be performed. When people are sad, they often pound their chest, which is precisely where Shanzhong is located. This has scientific reasoning: pounding the chest is essentially massaging Shanzhong, promoting smooth lung Qi and alleviating depression. Additionally, chest pounding stimulates the thymus in the chest, having an immune-regulating effect.
3. Zusanli
[Function] Zusanli can tonify both spleen and stomach Qi and replenish Yuan Qi. As mentioned earlier, Gu Qi is an important component of Qi, relying on the spleen and stomach for transformation, making Zusanli essential for Qi supplementation.
[Location] How to locate Zusanli? There are two methods. The first method: while sitting, when the lower leg and thigh form a right angle, measure downwards from the outer knee point (Xiyan) by 4 horizontal fingers, which is 3 cun of your own measurement, then measure 1 horizontal finger (middle finger) towards the anterior edge of the tibia. The second method: while standing, open the palm of the same side, encircle the outer edge of the patella with the thumb, and the four fingers pointing downwards; the point where the middle finger points is Zusanli.
[Technique] For health maintenance at Zusanli, moxibustion is best, using moxa sticks for 20-30 minutes, and it can be done regularly.
Now you can see the mystery of using Qihai, Shanzhong, and Zusanli to greatly replenish Yuan Qi, right? Using Qihai to replenish Yuan Qi, Shanzhong to regulate lung Qi, and Zusanli to supplement spleen and stomach Qi, thus supplementing the three types of Qi: innate Qi, Gu Qi, and Qing Qi together, strengthens the original driving force of life, making it difficult for the body to be unwell.
It is particularly noted that the method of using Qihai, Shanzhong, and Zusanli to replenish Yuan Qi can serve as a basic method for health maintenance in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Regular use can strengthen the body, prevent diseases, and prolong life. Additionally, issues like constipation, difficulty urinating, frequent colds, and low immunity can also be treated with this method.
What TCM patent medicines should be taken for Qi deficiency?
Shiquan Dabu Wan (Ten Complete Great Tonifying Pills)
This is a Qi and blood supplement, with warming and tonifying effects. It is used for Qi and blood deficiency, pale complexion, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, spontaneous sweating, fatigue, cold limbs, and heavy menstrual flow. This product is a brownish-black water honey pill or large honey pill; it has a fragrant aroma and a sweet, slightly spicy taste. Oral dosage: 30 pills (6 grams) each time, 2-3 times a day.
The formula includes Ren Shen (Ginseng), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Bai Fu Ling (White Poria), and Gan Cao (Licorice) which form the Four Gentlemen Decoction, benefiting Qi and tonifying the middle, strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach; Dang Gui (Angelica), Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia), Bai Shao (White Peony), and Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage) form the Four Substances Decoction, nourishing blood and enriching Yin, benefiting the liver and kidneys; Huang Qi (Astragalus) greatly tonifies lung Qi, and when used with the Four Gentlemen, enhances the Qi tonifying effect, while Rou Gui (Cinnamon) warms the spleen and stomach. The combination of these herbs works together to warm and tonify Qi and blood.
Xiangsha Liujunzi Wan (Fragrant Sand Six Gentlemen Pills)
Grind into a fine powder, using 30 grams each of fresh ginger and jujube, decocting them in water to form pills about the size of green beans, totaling approximately 300 grams. Take twice daily, 6 grams each time, with warm water after meals.
Contains Mu Xiang (Costus), Sha Ren (Amomum), Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel), Zhi Ban Xia (Processed Pinellia), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Fu Ling (Poria), and Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), each 6-9 grams, taken twice daily. It benefits Qi, strengthens the spleen, and harmonizes the stomach.
Gui Fu Di Huang Wan (Cinnamon and Aconite Rehmannia Pills)
This is a tonifying agent with warming effects on kidney Yang. It is indicated for kidney Yang deficiency, lower back and knee soreness and coldness, limb swelling, difficulty or excessive urination, phlegm and cough, and thirst.
This product is a black-brown water honey pill, or small or large honey pill; it has a sweet and slightly sour, spicy taste. Oral dosage: 6 grams for water honey pills, 9 grams for small honey pills, and 1 pill for large honey pills, taken twice daily.
This formula includes Di Huang (Rehmannia), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus), which tonify kidney Yin; Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), Fu Ling (Poria) strengthen the spleen and drain dampness; Ze Xie (Alisma) drains water from the kidneys; Mu Dan Pi (Moutan) clears liver and gallbladder fire; Rou Gui (Cinnamon) and Fu Zi (Aconite) warm and tonify the true fire of the life gate. The combination of these herbs works together to warm and tonify kidney Qi.
Qi Ling Yi Qi Granules (Qi Ling Energy Granules)
These granules benefit Qi and solidify the foundation. They are used for fatigue and weakness due to insufficient kidney Qi, poor appetite, low energy, and lower back and knee weakness.
Take 3 grams each time, three times a day, dissolved in warm water. A month is one treatment course. Patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease should take them under the guidance of a physician. Not suitable for patients with colds and fevers.
The above are four types of TCM patent medicines that can supplement Qi and regulate Qi deficiency. It is best to consult a local professional physician before taking TCM patent medicines to avoid unnecessary harm.
What foods are good for Qi deficiency?
Peanuts
Peanuts are rich in protein, fat, and various vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other minerals. The fats in peanuts are mostly unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid, which help lower cholesterol and have excellent beauty benefits.
Red Dates
Red dates can invigorate blood circulation, regulate menstruation, nourish the heart, and calm the mind, improving symptoms of insomnia and dark circles, and can enhance skin tone and beauty.
Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo shoots are rich in protein, amino acids, fats, sugars, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, and vitamins B1, B2, and C. Sea cucumbers are very low in cholesterol, making them a typical high-protein, low-fat, and low-cholesterol food.
Moreover, its meat is tender and easy to digest, making it very suitable for the elderly, children, and those with weak constitutions.
Chestnuts
Chestnuts can nourish the stomach, strengthen the spleen, and invigorate blood circulation.
Chinese Cabbage
Chinese cabbage is sweet and neutral in nature, with effects of clearing heat, relieving irritability, quenching thirst, and promoting urination, and regularly eating Chinese cabbage can prevent vitamin C deficiency.
Dark complexion is often due to insufficient kidney Qi and Yin fluid deficiency, while chestnuts strengthen the spleen and kidneys, and Chinese cabbage nourishes Yin and moistens dryness, working together to improve complexion.