Replenishing Body Fluids Formulas Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that body fluids (jin) have the function of moistening the skin and pores; while liquid (ye) serves to lubricate joints, moisten orifices, nourish the brain, and support the organs. When the body lacks fluids, symptoms such as dry intestines leading to constipation, dry throat, dry mouth, thirst, dry lips, and dry tongue may occur, along with rough and dry skin, a haggard appearance, dizziness, tinnitus, and weakness in the legs. Commonly used folk remedies and formulas to replenish body fluids are as follows. [Formula One] 100 grams of lard, 100 grams of ginger juice, and 50 milliliters of yellow wine. Boil the lard, ginger, and yellow wine together, let cool, and store in a bottle. Take 1 tablespoon each time, dissolve in boiling water, and drink twice daily. This is suitable for postpartum weakness, alternating chills and fever, and frequent spontaneous sweating. Sesame oil has a nourishing and moisturizing effect, combined with ginger, yellow wine, and honey, it helps to dispel dampness, stimulate appetite, promote blood circulation, and relieve pain. [Formula Two] 100 grams of lard and 100 grams of honey. Heat the lard and honey separately over low heat until boiling, then turn off the heat and let cool. Mix the oil evenly. Take 1 tablespoon directly, twice daily. This is suitable for dry cough due to lung dryness, constipation due to dry intestines, and body weakness. Both lard and honey are sweet and can work together to replenish deficiency, moisten dryness, and detoxify. Honey is neutral, while lard is cooling, making this mixture effective for treating dry cough due to lung heat.
[Formula Three] One crucian carp and 20 grams of green tea. Clean the crucian carp, removing the internal organs but keeping the scales. Place the tea leaves inside the fish’s belly. Wrap the fish in paper and steam it until fully cooked. This formula has the effects of clearing heat, generating fluids, and alleviating thirst. It is suitable for excessive thirst and drinking. This formula is derived from “Treating Heart Pain” and is commonly used for treating excessive thirst. Dry heat injures fluids, leading to excessive thirst, so the method should clear heat and generate fluids. Green tea is the main ingredient, clearing heat and generating fluids to alleviate thirst; the crucian carp serves as an auxiliary, replenishing deficiency to assist in generating fluids and alleviating thirst. Together, they create a formula that clears heat, generates fluids, and alleviates thirst, which can be used for diabetes. [Formula Four] 200 grams of radish and an appropriate amount of maltose. Wash the red-skinned radish, cut it into thin shreds, place it in a dish, and mix with maltose. Let it sit for half an hour before consuming; it can be eaten alone or as a side dish. Maltose, also known as malt sugar, is made from fermented grains such as rice, wheat, corn, and sorghum. It is best when soft and sticky, while hard maltose is of lower quality. Its taste is sweet and warm, with functions similar to licorice and honey, which can alleviate urgent conditions; it also generates fluids, moistens dryness, alleviates sore throat, and relieves cough. According to “Bencao Mengquan,” it can “moisten the lungs, alleviate thirst, and resolve phlegm.” Radish is good at clearing heat and resolving phlegm, and in this formula, maltose combined with radish clears heat, resolves phlegm, generates fluids, moistens dryness, and benefits the throat, making it suitable for cough and sore throat caused by phlegm heat or dryness. [Formula Five] 200 grams of red-fleshed watermelon, an appropriate amount of rock sugar, banana essence, and water starch. Cut a piece of watermelon, remove the seeds, and cut the flesh into small cubes. Boil water in a pot, dissolve the rock sugar, skim off the foam, add the watermelon cubes, thicken with wet starch, and add a little banana essence before serving. This formula quenches thirst, relieves irritability, clears heat, and promotes urination, suitable for those with thirst and irritability, including mild heatstroke.
[Formula Six] 250 grams of apples (preferably Guoguang apples), 50 grams of starch, 2 eggs, 30 grams of ketchup, 3 grams each of salt and cooking wine, 10 grams of vinegar, 20 grams of sugar, and 150 grams of oil (actual consumption 50 grams), 2 grams of starch. Peel and core the apples, then cut them into pieces measuring 2 cm long, 1 cm wide, and 1 cm thick, and coat them in dry starch; mix the eggs and starch into a thick batter; heat oil in a wok until it reaches 70% hot, coat the apple pieces in the batter and fry until light yellow, then remove and leave 20 grams of oil in the wok, add ketchup and stir-fry briefly, then add cooking wine, salt, vinegar, and sugar, along with 150 grams of water, add the apples, and simmer for about 2-3 minutes until cooked, then add 2 grams of starch dissolved in water to thicken, stir a few times, and serve. This formula generates fluids, alleviates thirst, and relieves irritability, suitable for those with dry mouth and constipation. [Formula Seven] 300 grams of pineapple, 100 grams of chicken breast, 5 grams of salt, 3 grams each of monosodium glutamate and starch, 1 egg, 5 grams of cooking wine, 50 grams of oil, and 25 grams of chicken broth. Remove the tough skin from the pineapple and cut it into 1.5 cm cubes; cut the chicken breast into 1 cm diamond-shaped pieces, marinate with 1 gram of salt, 1.5 grams of cooking wine, egg white, and 1.5 grams of starch; heat 50 grams of oil in a wok, add the chicken and stir-fry until 80% cooked, then add the pineapple, stir-fry evenly, and pour in the sauce made from salt, monosodium glutamate, cooking wine, starch, and chicken broth, cooking until the sauce coats the ingredients evenly. This formula alleviates thirst, generates fluids, benefits qi, and nourishes blood, suitable for those with qi and blood deficiency, shortness of breath, fatigue, dry mouth, and constipation.[Formula Eight] 500 grams of glutinous rice balls, 200 grams of ginkgo nuts, 50 grams each of banana and orange, 20 grams each of pear and apple, 90 grams of sugar, 30 grams of red dates, and appropriate amounts of jackfruit and osmanthus. Cut the preserved fruits into small pieces, and mash the bananas and other fruits. Wash the glutinous rice and soak it in cold water until it can be ground into a fine paste; place the paste in a cloth bag (the bag should be securely tied to the grinding stone), press it down with a suitable weight until it solidifies (or hang the bag to drain most of the water), knead until it no longer sticks to the hands and board; take a portion, roll it into a long strip, cut into small pieces, shape them into bowls, fill with the filling, and roll into balls, forming glutinous rice balls. (The filling can be made from roasted and ground sesame, sugar, and lard.) Clean the pot, add a large bowl of water (or a little more), add sugar, and bring to a boil, then add the glutinous rice balls, cooking until they change color (cooked) and float to the surface, then add ginkgo nuts (preserved fruits), fruits, and osmanthus, bring to a boil, sprinkle with wet starch (in several batches), stir gently, and cook until thickened, then serve. This formula moistens the lungs, relieves cough, generates fluids, and alleviates thirst, suitable for dry cough due to lung yin deficiency or thirst and constipation due to insufficient body fluids. It is best consumed after meals.[Formula Nine] 20 grams of tremella, 2 egg whites, 30 grams of red cherry preserves, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar. First, soak the tremella in warm water for 1 hour (changing the water 3 times), then remove the roots, wash, and steam for about 10 minutes. Clean the pot, add water and rock sugar, dissolve, then beat the egg whites and pour them into the sugar water, stirring to remove any foam, then add the cherry preserves and bring to a boil, pouring over the tremella to complete the dish. Tremella contains various amino acids needed by the body and is a high-quality natural tonic, with functions of nourishing yin, replenishing the kidneys, clearing heat, and benefiting qi. Combined with rock sugar, it enhances its nourishing properties. It is an excellent tonic for autumn and winter. Its characteristic is that it nourishes without causing dryness. It is commonly used for lung tuberculosis, hemoptysis, postpartum weakness, or conditions of qi, blood, and body fluid deficiency. Regular use of this formula can promote longevity and is an ideal health recipe.[Formula Ten] 500 grams of apples. 250 grams of crispy batter. Cut the apples into thin slices, using two iron rings of different sizes to press the apples into rings. Mix 250 grams of flour, 50 grams of oil, 35 grams of baking powder, 350 grams of water, and half an egg to make the crispy batter. Heat oil to about 150°C, dip the apple rings in the batter, and fry until golden brown, then remove and sprinkle with a little sugar. This dish generates fluids, alleviates thirst, and strengthens the spleen and stomach. It can also assist in treating heatstroke and constipation.
[Formula Eleven] 500 grams of fresh lemons and 500 grams of white sugar, with an appropriate amount of water. Peel and core the fresh lemons, cut them into pieces, place them in an aluminum pot with white sugar, and soak for one day. Once the lemon flesh has absorbed the sugar, simmer over low heat until the juice is reduced, then turn off the heat and let cool, mixing in a little more sugar before bottling. This formula has the effects of generating fluids, alleviating thirst, stimulating appetite, and calming the fetus. Regular consumption can treat loss of appetite, dry mouth and thirst, as well as reduced appetite and nausea during pregnancy. Lemons are best consumed fresh, often made into beverages or sweet syrup. Their strengths are to stimulate appetite, alleviate thirst, reduce nausea, and stop vomiting. This formula is known as “Hojia.”
There are also questions about whether these dietary therapies can be consumed by toddlers, three-year-olds, nursing mothers, the elderly, and adults. The answer is the same: general dietary therapies can be consumed if they are appropriate for the symptoms; it is not that consuming them will cause poisoning, but rather that they will only be effective if they match the symptoms.
Moreover, the method of consumption also matters. For example, yam can strengthen the spleen, while soy products and nuts can nourish the lower jiao. Some friends treat it like a task, eating it every day in large quantities. When consumed in smaller amounts, the body can absorb it quickly; if a person’s tendency has been corrected a bit, then eating more can become a burden.
Now let’s discuss the approach to replenishing body fluids:
If you cannot differentiate your symptoms, and you do not know why your body fluids are insufficient, and you feel like a lifelong beginner in TCM, then the first step is to drink water. If you cannot drink water and feel nauseous after drinking, then you can drink congee, noodle soup, rice soup, rice oil, soy milk, millet porridge, or rice porridge. These broths made from grains are the first choice because they enter the spleen and stomach easily, are easily absorbed, and can be transformed into body fluids.
If you still feel nauseous after drinking plain broth, you can add some sugar or salt, such as sweet soy milk. In situations where conditions are limited, like in the office, you can drink brown sugar water, honey water, or even effervescent vitamin tablets.
If you cannot drink sweet or salty, you can try sour. Make a bowl of sour soup with shredded ginger, a little salt, and vinegar; if you have additive-free soy sauce, you can add a little, but the vinegar should be twice the amount of soy sauce, and a few drops of sesame oil will make a bowl of sour soup.
Regardless of whether you think you have internal heat, dryness, or internal heat, you can try these methods.
The above is a straightforward approach; beginners can stop reading here.
Now let’s discuss some more nuanced TCM approaches:
Those who have some understanding of yin-yang theory and differential diagnosis know that methods for replenishing body fluids are not limited to just drinking water and soups. If you can identify the pathogenesis, then addressing the pathogenesis itself is a way to care for body fluids.
For example, if you have food stagnation, your entire abdomen feels hot, and your gastrointestinal tract is working overtime, like a racing car, the wheels will generate friction and sparks due to high-speed rotation, which can cause wear and tear on the car. For humans, the first thing to be consumed is body fluids. There are many approaches; on one hand, you can use external forces to help expel the food stagnation, such as eating radish, or in severe cases, taking Baohe Pills to help digestion faster, which will reduce the consumption of body fluids. Once the food stagnation is resolved, the body’s ability to produce body fluids will return to normal, and body fluids will be replenished.
It’s like a fountain pipe being blocked; repairing the pipe is equivalent to replenishing body fluids.
Similarly, wind-cold can also consume body fluids. Many children develop a fever the day after catching a cold, their tongues turn red, and their nasal discharge becomes thick because the body needs to expel the cold, which also requires the use of body fluids. If the spleen and stomach are slightly weak, the body fluids cannot be pushed out, and the cold is expelled slowly, leading to heat. The general approach to treating this cold is still to help expel the cold. Choosing to use cold wind-heat granules or simmering scallions with fermented soybeans for a longer time are still primarily aimed at expelling cold, which itself is a way to replenish body fluids.
It’s like thawing a frozen fountain pipe; once you thaw it, the water will spray out.
Of course, if during a cold, there is a significant heat presence, with symptoms of extreme heat, irritability, and anger, and the person feels very hot, with foul-smelling stools, a red tongue, and a red anus, they will always want to drink water. It’s like there is a fire burning inside. At this point, you need to consider clearing heat, such as using related Yangming herbs, like Chiqiao Qingre Granules or Chai Gui Granules.
This is like cooling down a burning fountain pipe; otherwise, the pipe will be damaged. As long as the pipe is intact, there is no need to worry about the fountain.
Finally, how is your ability to produce body fluids?
Is it a first-class spleen and stomach, a second-class spleen and stomach, or a poor spleen and stomach?
For example, if you feel dry with the slightest wind, if you eat too much, or if you feel irritable after staying up late, you might think that you are always burning with heat. Then you need to consider your spleen and stomach issues, as they are the source of body fluid production, which may be insufficient. You need to appropriately nourish the spleen and stomach.
In daily life, we should also be aware of behaviors that consume body fluids:
Body fluids are good things transformed by the spleen and stomach, but our daily activities will utilize body fluids. For example, digestion requires body fluids; when you eat, saliva helps with digestion. When you exercise, body fluids are needed; your limbs will heat up, and the body needs to maintain a balanced temperature, so body fluids help you sweat and regulate your body temperature. If you are exposed to wind or cold, your qi, blood, and body fluids will first reach your back and areas like Fengchi, and before you even realize it, your qi, blood, and body fluids will have already dealt with it. Mental labor is the same; qi, blood, and body fluids must flow to the brain for you to use your mind. When you get angry, you use even more body fluids because when a person is angry, qi and body fluids rush to the head.
These are all normal behaviors, but the key is not to overdo it.
For example, don’t eat too much, too cold, or too oily, or your body fluids will not keep up.
If you are already very weak and still want to exercise, your body fluids will not keep up.
If you are so cold that you are shivering but still want to wear a skirt to look good, your lower body fluids will not keep up, and even if your legs have nice lines, they will be dry because there are no body fluids.
If you work hard to prove yourself, staying up late every night, no matter how hard you try, the money you earn will just go towards your medical bills.
Finally, regarding anger, it is human nature to get angry, but if you are angry every day, you should consider what kind of switch that anger is for you.
The ability to produce body fluids decreases at night; the spleen and stomach are almost off duty. Therefore, no matter what, don’t overdo it at night. Sleep well; sleeping is a way to replenish body fluids, and relaxing the body is also a way to replenish body fluids.
The Concept of Body Fluids
Body fluids refer to all normal water and liquid in the body, which are essential substances that constitute and maintain life activities. Body fluids are considered yin in nature, hence also referred to as “yin fluids” or “yin liquids.” Body fluids encompass a wide range, primarily referring to the liquids and their metabolites within the organs, including secretions such as mucus, tears, and saliva, as well as excretions like sweat and urine. Body fluids are distributed throughout the body; within the vessels, they can become part of the blood, while outside the vessels, they permeate the organs and interstitial spaces.
Body fluids are a collective term for jin and ye, which have certain differences in properties, distribution, and functions. Physiologically, jin is relatively thin and fluid, mostly distributed on the surface of the body, in the skin, muscles, and orifices, playing a moisturizing role and can penetrate the blood vessels to generate blood. Ye is thicker and less fluid, filling the joints, organs, brain, and marrow, serving a nourishing function. Pathologically, there are differences between “injured jin” and “lost ye”; jin can be easily replenished, while ye is difficult to recover. Clinical differentiation should take this into account. Although jin and ye have certain distinctions, both originate from food and water, generated in the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), and are liquid substances flowing within the body. Therefore, in metabolic activities, they often supplement and transform into each other, and pathologically, they often influence each other, hence they are commonly referred to together without strict differentiation.
Metabolism of Body Fluids
The metabolism of body fluids refers to the complex physiological processes of their generation, distribution, and excretion. This process involves the physiological functions of multiple organs and is the result of their coordinated interaction. The “Suwen: Discussion on Meridians” briefly summarizes this process as: “Drinking enters the stomach, diffusing essence and qi, ascending to the spleen, where the spleen disperses essence, ascending to the lungs, regulating the water pathways, and descending to the bladder. Water essence is distributed, and the five meridians operate together.”
(1) Generation of Body Fluids
Body fluids originate from food and water, primarily generated through the qi transformation activities of the spleen, stomach, large intestine, and small intestine. Specifically, after food enters the stomach, it is digested and transported to the spleen, which, through its function of transportation and transformation, along with the small intestine’s role in separating clear from turbid, absorbs the liquid substances to produce body fluids. The large intestine also plays a role in body fluids, as it can absorb some water during the process of transforming waste, forming feces. Thus, the generation of body fluids depends on two factors: sufficient intake of water-rich foods and the spleen’s leading role, with the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine participating together. Therefore, if the spleen’s qi transformation and the gastrointestinal absorption functions are deficient or disordered, it will affect the generation of body fluids, leading to conditions of insufficient body fluids.
(2) Distribution of Body Fluids
After body fluids are generated, they are distributed throughout the body with the coordination of the spleen, lungs, kidneys, liver, and sanjiao (triple burner).
1. The Role of the Spleen
The spleen governs the transportation and transformation of water and fluids. On one hand, it transports the fluids absorbed by the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine upward to the lungs through its ascending function; on the other hand, the spleen can also directly distribute fluids to the entire body. The “Suwen: Discussion on the True Organs” states that the spleen has the physiological function of “irrigating the surroundings.” If the spleen loses its ability to transport, the metabolism of body fluids will be obstructed, leading to symptoms such as phlegm, edema, fullness, and distension.
2. The Role of the Lungs
The lungs govern the diffusion and descent of fluids, regulating the water pathways and serving as the upper source of water. After the lungs receive the fluids transported from the spleen, they distribute them to the upper body and surface through their diffusing function, and also distribute them to the lower body and internal organs through their descending function, transporting the turbid fluids produced by the organs to the kidneys and bladder. If the lung qi’s diffusing and descending functions are abnormal, the regulation of water pathways will be impaired, leading to the stagnation of fluids and resulting in phlegm or edema.
3. The Role of the Kidneys
“The kidneys are the water organ, governing body fluids” (“Suwen: Discussion on Reversal Regulation”). They play a dominant role in the distribution of body fluids. On one hand, the essence and qi in the kidneys promote and regulate the entire metabolism of body fluids; the dispersing function of the spleen, the regulation of water pathways by the lungs, and the separation of clear from turbid by the small intestine all rely on the warming of kidney yang and the activation of kidney essence. On the other hand, the kidneys themselves are also an important link in the distribution of body fluids. The turbid fluids produced by organ metabolism are transported downward to the kidneys and bladder through the lung qi’s descending function. The kidney’s yang qi vaporizes and transforms these fluids, reabsorbing the clear portion for participation in the body’s fluid metabolism, while the remaining turbid portion is transformed into urine and excreted through the bladder. The kidney’s vaporization function adjusts the total amount of body fluids in the body by increasing or decreasing urine output based on the body’s needs. Therefore, deficiency of kidney yang can also lead to obstruction in the distribution of body fluids, resulting in pathological changes such as edema.
4. The Role of the Liver
The liver governs the smooth flow of qi and regulates the movement of body fluids. The distribution of body fluids relies on the movement of qi. When qi flows, body fluids are distributed, promoting their circulation. If the liver fails to regulate, qi stagnation can occur, often affecting the distribution of body fluids, leading to stagnation and resulting in symptoms such as phlegm, edema, and conditions like plum pit qi, goiter, and abdominal distension.
5. The Role of the Sanjiao
The sanjiao serves as the channel for the distribution and movement of body fluids, facilitating their flow. When the sanjiao’s qi transformation is normal, the water pathways are unobstructed, ensuring that various organs can distribute body fluids smoothly. In summary, the distribution of body fluids in the body primarily relies on the spleen’s qi transformation, the lung’s diffusion and descent, the kidney’s vaporization, the liver’s regulation, and the unobstructed water pathways of the sanjiao.
(3) Excretion of Body Fluids
After body fluids are distributed throughout the body and utilized, the remaining water and metabolic waste are excreted through the coordinated functions of the lungs, kidneys, large intestine, and bladder. Since urine is the primary pathway for the excretion of body fluids, the kidneys play a crucial role in this process.
1. Urine
Urine is the main pathway for the excretion of body fluids and is the final product of body fluid metabolism, containing waste materials produced by the body’s metabolism. The production and excretion of urine depend on the kidneys, which vaporize the fluids after organ metabolism and transport them to the kidneys or bladder, separating them into clear and turbid portions. The clear portion is reabsorbed by the body, while the turbid portion becomes urine and is excreted through the bladder. The kidney’s yang qi and its ability to retain fluids also control the opening and closing of the bladder, regulating urine excretion. Of course, the production and excretion of urine are also related to the normal functions of the lungs, spleen, liver, and small intestine.
2. Sweat and Water Vapor
The lungs distribute body fluids to the surface of the skin through their diffusing function. After metabolism, body fluids can form sweat under the action of qi vaporization. Additionally, during exhalation, the lungs can also expel some water in the form of water vapor. Therefore, sweat and respiratory water vapor are also pathways for the excretion of body fluids.
3. Feces
The large intestine receives food residues from the small intestine, absorbs the remaining water, and forms feces for excretion. When the large intestine expels feces, it also carries away some residual water, making it another pathway for the excretion of body fluids. If there is too much residual water in the feces, it can lead to diarrhea; if there is too little, it can cause constipation.
In summary, the processes of generation, distribution, and excretion of body fluids are the results of the coordinated and close cooperation of multiple organs, with the lungs, spleen, and kidneys playing the most important roles. The lungs govern diffusion and descent to regulate the water pathways, the spleen governs the transportation and transformation of fluids, and the kidneys govern water. Zhang Jiebin summarized the roles of these three organs in the metabolism of body fluids as “the sign is in the lungs, the regulation is in the spleen, and the foundation is in the kidneys.” If the functions of the lungs, spleen, kidneys, and other related organs are disordered, it will affect the generation, distribution, and excretion of body fluids, disrupting the coordinated balance of body fluid metabolism, leading to insufficient generation of body fluids, excessive consumption, or obstruction in distribution and excretion, resulting in pathological changes such as phlegm and edema.
Functions of Body Fluids
The physiological functions of body fluids mainly include nourishing and moistening, generating blood, regulating yin and yang, and excreting waste.
1. Nourishing and Moistening
Body fluids contain a large amount of water and some nutrients, providing strong nourishing and moistening effects. They nourish the internal organs and tissues, from the five zang and six fu to the skin and muscles, all of which rely on the nourishment and moistening of body fluids. The body fluids distributed on the surface can nourish the skin and muscles, making them plump and shiny; the fluids penetrating into the body can nourish the organs, maintaining their normal functions; the fluids entering the orifices can moisten the mouth, eyes, and nose; the fluids flowing into the joints can lubricate them, allowing for smooth movement; and the fluids penetrating the bones, spine, and brain can nourish the marrow. Therefore, if body fluids are insufficient, the nourishing and moistening functions will be impaired, affecting the physiological activities of the skin, muscles, orifices, joints, organs, and even the physiological structure of the marrow, spine, and brain.
2. Generating Blood
Body fluids are an important component of blood, and they permeate the vessels together with qi to generate blood, circulating throughout the body to exert their nourishing and moistening effects. As stated in the “Lingshu: Abscesses and Sores,” “The middle jiao produces qi like dew, which flows into the valleys and permeates the vessels; body fluids harmonize and transform into blood.” Body fluids also regulate blood concentration and maintain circulating blood volume. When blood concentration is too high, body fluids can permeate into the vessels to dilute the blood and replenish blood volume; when the body is deficient in body fluids, the body fluids in the blood can also seep out of the vessels to replenish body fluids. Due to this mutual penetration and transformation between body fluids and blood, both originating from the essence of food and water, there is a saying that “body fluids and blood share the same source.”
3. Regulating Yin and Yang
The metabolism of body fluids plays an important role in regulating the yin-yang balance of the body. As a part of the body’s yin fluids, sufficient body fluids can restrain excessive yang heat and can be vaporized into sweat to dissipate body heat, thus maintaining the coordinated balance of yin and yang within the body. On the other hand, the metabolism of body fluids often changes with the body’s activities and the external environment. As stated in the “Lingshu: Five Types of Body Fluids,” “In cold weather, thin clothing leads to urination and qi; in hot weather, thick clothing leads to sweating,” indicating that the metabolism of body fluids adjusts the excretion of sweat and urine according to changes in external temperature, thereby regulating the yin-yang balance of the body and promoting the body’s adaptation to the external environment.
4. Excreting Waste
After metabolism, body fluids can carry various toxic waste products out of the body during the excretion process, thus playing a role in waste excretion and preventing the accumulation of toxic waste within the body, ensuring normal life activities. If the function of body fluids in excreting waste is disordered, abnormal sweating or urination can occur, leading to the retention of metabolic products and various pathological changes. Additionally, body fluids are also one of the carriers of qi, facilitating the transport of qi throughout the body. The body’s qi must rely on tangible body fluids to circulate and distribute within the body to exert its effects.
Relationship Between Qi and Body Fluids
Qi and body fluids are opposites; qi is yang, while body fluids are yin. The relationship between qi and body fluids is similar to that between qi and blood, mainly reflected in several aspects: qi can generate body fluids, qi can move body fluids, qi can retain body fluids, and body fluids can carry qi.
(1) The Role of Qi on Body Fluids
1. Qi Can Generate Body Fluids
Qi can generate body fluids, meaning that the qi transformation process can promote the generation of body fluids, serving as the driving force for their production. Body fluids originate from food and water, which undergo a series of physiological activities in the spleen, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, where the refined liquid portion is absorbed by the body to generate body fluids for distribution throughout the body. In the series of qi transformation activities that generate body fluids, the qi of various organs, especially the qi of the spleen and stomach, plays a crucial role. If the qi of the spleen and stomach is strong and the qi transformation function is normal, the body will generate sufficient body fluids; conversely, if the qi of the spleen and stomach is weak, the qi transformation function will be impaired, leading to insufficient body fluids.
2. Qi Can Move Body Fluids
Qi can move body fluids, meaning that the movement of qi can promote the distribution and excretion of body fluids, serving as the driving force for their normal circulation within the body. After body fluids are generated by the spleen and stomach, they are distributed throughout the body with the help of the qi of the spleen, lungs, kidneys, and sanjiao. The remaining water and metabolic waste are transformed into sweat and urine for excretion, maintaining the physiological balance of body fluid metabolism. Therefore, if qi is deficient and unable to promote movement, or if qi stagnation occurs, it can lead to obstruction in the distribution and excretion of body fluids, resulting in the accumulation of dampness and the generation of phlegm. Conversely, if there is an obstruction in the distribution and excretion of body fluids, it can also hinder the movement of qi, leading to stagnation.
3. Qi Can Retain Body Fluids
Qi can retain body fluids, preventing their unnecessary loss. The retention of body fluids by qi is achieved through the actions of the qi of various organs, such as the lung’s control over sweat, the kidney and bladder’s regulation of urine, and the spleen and kidney’s retention of saliva and saliva. Therefore, when the qi of these organs is deficient, the retention function will weaken, leading to abnormal loss of body fluids, such as excessive sweating, frequent urination, or drooling. The treatment often involves tonifying qi to retain body fluids.
(2) The Role of Body Fluids on Qi
1. Body Fluids Can Carry Qi
Body fluids can carry qi, meaning that body fluids are also carriers for qi to circulate within the body. Qi must rely on tangible body fluids to exist and distribute throughout the body. Especially, the body fluids outside the vessels can carry defensive qi, allowing it to reach the organs and surface of the body. As stated by Mo Meishi in the Qing Dynasty, “The essence flows within the vessels, adhering to the blood; the defensive qi flows outside the vessels, adhering to the body fluids.” If the function of body fluids in carrying qi is impaired, for instance, due to excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea leading to significant loss of body fluids, qi will also be lost, resulting in a condition known as “qi following the loss of body fluids.” Conversely, when the distribution and movement of body fluids are obstructed, it can also lead to stagnation of qi.
2. Body Fluids Can Generate Qi
Body fluids can generate qi, meaning that body fluids can promote the generation of qi by providing sufficient nourishment for the organs related to qi production, such as the lungs, spleen, stomach, and kidneys, thereby ensuring the normal generation of qi. In pathological conditions, prolonged deficiency of body fluids can also lead to the development of qi deficiency.
Relationship Between Blood and Body Fluids
Blood and body fluids are both liquid substances that possess nourishing, moistening, and transporting functions, and both are considered yin in relation to qi. Therefore, they mutually support and transform each other physiologically, and pathologically, they influence and affect each other, establishing a closer relationship.
(1) Blood’s Role on Body Fluids
Blood circulating within the vessels can seep out and transform into body fluids, providing moisture to the organs and orifices, and can also compensate for the deficiency of body fluids outside the vessels. Some body fluids can be transformed into sweat and excreted, hence the saying “blood and sweat share the same source.” When blood is depleted, especially during blood loss, the blood volume decreases, and it cannot transform into body fluids; instead, body fluids from outside the vessels must enter the vessels to compensate for the deficiency in blood volume, leading to a loss of body fluids outside the vessels, resulting in symptoms such as thirst, reduced urine output, and dry skin. Therefore, for patients with blood loss, it is not advisable to use sweating methods, as stated, “Those who lose blood should not sweat” (“Lingshu: Discussion on Nourishing and Regulating”).
(2) Body Fluids’ Role on Blood
Body fluids are one of the main components that generate blood. The body fluids generated from the transportation and transformation of food by the spleen and stomach can be transported to the heart and lungs, entering the vessels and combining with qi to generate blood. Additionally, body fluids distributed in the muscles and pores can continuously seep into the vessels to generate and replenish blood. Therefore, if body fluids are significantly depleted, not only will the body fluids entering the vessels decrease, but the liquid components within the vessels will also seep out more, leading to a reduction in blood volume and thickening of the blood, resulting in conditions such as blood vessel emptiness, dry body fluids, or blood stasis. Thus, for patients with excessive sweating or significant loss of body fluids due to vomiting or diarrhea, it is not advisable to use harsh blood-breaking or stasis-removing medications. This is the meaning of “Those who lose sweat have no blood” as stated in the “Lingshu: Discussion on Nourishing and Regulating.”
Blood and body fluids not only share a common origin and transform into each other, but they also complement each other during circulation and distribution. Body fluids can enter the blood, and blood can become body fluids. “There is water in the blood, and blood in the water,” and “water and blood run parallel without conflict” (“Blood Pathology: Discussion on Yin, Yang, Water, Fire, Qi, and Blood”), both exerting their nourishing and moistening effects, hence the saying “body fluids and blood share the same source.” In pathological conditions, blood and body fluids also influence each other and coexist, so in clinical treatment, attention should be paid to treating water diseases with blood treatments, blood diseases with water treatments, and addressing both water and blood together.
In dry weather, many people feel tightness in their faces, dry lips, and some even experience skin peeling, chapped lips, nosebleeds, irritability, and restlessness. TCM believes that this is often due to a deficiency of body fluids. Many people are puzzled: is a deficiency of body fluids the same as a lack of water? Does replenishing body fluids mean just drinking more water? Actually, it is not that simple.
TCM believes that body fluids are a collective term for all normal water and liquid in the body, including sweat, saliva, and marrow fluid. The “Lingshu: Discussion on Qi” states: “The pores release sweat, which is called body fluids.” “Food enters the qi, and the essence permeates the bones; the bones are responsible for movement, and the essence nourishes the brain; the skin is moistened, which is called liquid.” This means that jin is highly mobile and can penetrate the blood vessels and orifices, nourishing the skin and warming the muscles; while ye has lower mobility and fills the joints and organs, mainly nourishing the marrow and organs. Although jin and ye have distinctions, they also permeate and supplement each other, which is why they are often referred to together.
Body fluids are distributed throughout the body, and daily diet is the main source of body fluids. To help body fluids penetrate deeply into the body, multiple organs must work together, with the lungs, spleen, and kidneys being the most closely related. The lungs govern the qi of the body, and the movement of body fluids relies on qi, hence the saying that the lungs govern the water pathways; the spleen governs transportation and transformation, which is to send the refined essence of food from the stomach to the heart and lungs, and then distribute it throughout the body; the kidneys are the water organ, responsible for the metabolism of body fluids. Therefore, when body fluids are deficient, multiple organs need to work together to regulate; simply drinking water is far from sufficient.