1. What is Yin Deficiency
Li Lao believes that “Yin” is not an empty term, but refers to the various body fluids in the body. The Daoist scriptures state: “Tears, saliva, essence, fluids, sweat, blood, and other liquids are all classified as Yin.” Li Lao considers Yin to be the moisture present in all body tissues. The term “deficiency” indicates insufficiency. The body’s moisture is normally a constant, accounting for about two-thirds of body weight. This moisture is continuously consumed and replenished through diet, which is a normal phenomenon. However, if consumption exceeds replenishment over time, physiological functions will be affected when moisture is depleted by about 10%. This leads to noticeable changes, which Li Lao identifies as the commonly referred to Yin Deficiency syndrome. Therefore, insufficient lung fluids indicate Lung Yin Deficiency, insufficient kidney essence indicates Kidney Yin Deficiency, insufficient heart fluids indicate Heart Yin Deficiency, insufficient liver fluids indicate Liver Yin Deficiency, and insufficient spleen fluids indicate Spleen Yin Deficiency. Generally, Yin Deficiency is primarily focused on the lungs, spleen, and kidneys, while Heart and Liver Yin Deficiency, due to their emphasis on blood, are categorized under Blood Deficiency.
2. Causes of Yin Deficiency
Li Lao identifies the following causes:
1. Congenital insufficiency: This is the root cause of all deficiency syndromes, especially Yin Deficiency.
2. Chronic illness (such as febrile diseases, prolonged fevers, chronic cough, chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, chronic malaria, etc.): This is a significant cause of all Yin Deficiency.
3. Excessive sweating or purging (such as overuse of diaphoretic or purgative herbs): This is also a cause of all Yin Deficiency, particularly affecting the heart, spleen, and kidneys.
4. Improper sexual activity: This is a major cause of Kidney Yin Deficiency.
5. Excessive consumption of tobacco, alcohol, spicy, and hot foods: This is a primary cause of Lung Yin Deficiency, as excessive heat leads to Yin Deficiency.
6. Overthinking: This is a primary cause of Heart Yin Deficiency.
7. Long-term emotional distress: This is a primary cause of Liver Yin Deficiency.
8. Excessive fatigue: This is a primary cause of Spleen Yin Deficiency.
In summary, excessive indulgence in alcohol and sexual activity is the most common cause of Yin Deficiency. This is due to the fact that fewer people practice moderation, while many indulge excessively. Furthermore, a single factor alone will not quickly lead to Yin Deficiency; it often requires a combination of excessive sexual activity or congenital insufficiency to manifest quickly. Even if it does manifest, it is easier to treat as it does not damage the root cause.
3. Changes Caused by Yin Deficiency
In summary, the following 20 changes may occur:
1. Yin Deficiency leads to heat. This explains the phenomenon of body heat, bone steaming, five hearts heat, and all heat syndromes caused by Yin Deficiency.
2. Yin Deficiency leads to Blood Deficiency. This is because body fluids are a major component of blood.
3. Yin Deficiency leads to dry blood.
The above two points explain the dryness syndromes such as amenorrhea and all forms of blood insufficiency caused by Yin Deficiency.
4. Yin Deficiency leads to water deficiency.
5. Yin Deficiency leads to insufficient body fluids.
The above two points explain the symptoms of dry mouth, thirst, dry nose, and dry throat caused by insufficient moisture due to Yin Deficiency.
6. Yin Deficiency leads to essence deficiency. This explains symptoms such as low essence, sparse essence, and unstable essence caused by Yin Deficiency.
7. Yin Deficiency leads to excessive fire.
8. Yin Deficiency leads to fire movement.
9. Yin Deficiency leads to fire excess.
10. Yin Deficiency leads to Yang excess.
11. Yin Deficiency leads to excessive ministerial fire.
The above five points explain all fire phenomena caused by Yin Deficiency, such as bitter mouth desiring coolness, dry tongue, and dry throat.
12. Excessive fire from Yin Deficiency can consume body fluids and lead to phlegm.
13. Fire movement from Yin Deficiency can cause water to turn into phlegm.
The above two points explain phlegm syndromes caused by Yin Deficiency.
14. Excessive fire from Yin Deficiency can force blood out of various orifices. This explains various bleeding syndromes caused by Yin Deficiency.
15. Yin Deficiency leads to empty fire rising.
16. Yin Deficiency leads to empty Yang rising.
17. Yin Deficiency leads to empty Yang reversing.
The above three points explain all phenomena of upper body heat such as facial redness, red lips, red cheeks, dry cough, and vomiting caused by Yin Deficiency.
18. Yin Deficiency leads to empty marrow, with fire penetrating the bones. This explains the phenomenon of bone steaming and skin cold caused by Yin Deficiency.
19. Yin Deficiency leads to Yang having no support.
20. Yin Deficiency leads to sudden Yang collapse.
The above two points explain the phenomena of sudden fainting, loss of voice, and absence of heat in the body caused by Yin Deficiency.
4. Symptoms of Yin Deficiency
(1) Symptoms of Yin Deficiency in various body parts
Head: dizziness, headache.
Face: facial redness and flushed cheeks.
Eyes: blurred vision, red eyes.
Ears: tinnitus, deafness (deafness occurs when Yin Deficiency fire rises).
Nose: dry nose, nasal congestion, breath like fire, nosebleeds.
Mouth: dry mouth, thirst, vomiting blood, spitting blood, vomiting.
Tongue: dry tongue, painful tongue, tongue bleeding.
Teeth: loose teeth, bleeding gums.
Throat: dry and painful throat, loss of voice, throat ulcers.
Chest and abdomen: fullness in the chest, internal heat sensation, abdominal fullness (Zhongchun states: Spleen Deficiency leads to fullness during the day and severity at night, indicating Spleen Yin Deficiency).
Lower back: back pain.
Genital area: blood in urine, painful or obstructed urination, men with nocturnal emissions, women with irregular menstruation, blood depletion leading to amenorrhea, and pain during intercourse.
Rectum: constipation, blood in stool, diarrhea.
Limbs: leg and calf soreness, dry heat in the soles of the feet, heel pain, heat in palms and soles, nails dry and brittle.
Hair: hair loss, hair disorder.
Skin: night sweats, dry and rough skin.
Muscles and bones: bone steaming at night, widespread muscle and joint pain, or pain like fractures.
Diet: lack of taste in food, excessive hunger.
Breathing: breath reversal, breath obstruction, shortness of breath, phlegm cough, dry cough, coughing blood.
Sleep: insomnia.
These symptoms, if not correctly identified, may lead to misdiagnosis of Yang Deficiency, Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, or empty fire as Yin Deficiency, as different syndromes may present similar symptoms. We must carefully analyze the specific situation, progression, and accompanying symptoms to accurately differentiate the syndrome.
(2) Main symptoms of Yin Deficiency
1. Afternoon body heat.
2. Five hearts heat.
3. Weak and thin pulse.
4. General symptoms are mild during the day and severe at night or light in the morning and heavy in the evening.
5. Sensation of heat, preference for cool foods, but eating does not resolve the issue.
(3) Accompanying symptoms of Yin Deficiency
1. Lung Yin Deficiency
(1) Chronic cough that does not improve.
(2) Producing turbid phlegm, or dry cough with little phlegm, or phlegm with blood.
(3) Nasal breath like fire, or nosebleeds.
(4) Fullness in the chest, inability to sleep on one side, shortness of breath, or hoarseness.
2. Spleen Yin Deficiency
(1) Reduced appetite.
(2) Fatigue in the limbs.
(3) Muscle wasting.
(4) Diarrhea.
3. Kidney Yin Deficiency
(1) Pain in the lower back and legs.
(2) Nocturnal emissions.
(3) Dry heat in the soles of the feet.
(4) Heel pain.
(5) Painful or obstructed urination.
(6) Tinnitus and deafness.
(7) Loose teeth.
(8) Bone steaming and internal heat.
Note: The above three types of Yin Deficiency are not completely fixed and do not have clear boundaries; there are often overlapping situations. However, we can determine the focus of treatment based on the severity of symptoms in each area.
5. Diagnosis of Yin Deficiency
The diagnostic methods for this condition, like other diseases, involve the four examinations: observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation, along with various experiential methods for diagnosis.
1. Recognizing from the main symptoms. This is the primary diagnostic method for all diseases, as every disease has its fixed main symptoms.
2. Comparing similar symptoms. After identifying the main symptoms, to avoid errors, we need to compare similar symptoms to ensure accuracy. For example, the main symptom of Yin Deficiency is afternoon body heat, but we cannot immediately assume it is Yin Deficiency without comparing it to the “afternoon body heat” of warm diseases, checking for any changes in climate or external factors. This comparison can help reduce errors. From a treatment perspective, ancient texts state: “If it is not cool, it is because there is no water.” Also, “If internal heat does not resolve, and repeated cooling does not reduce the fire, it indicates Yin insufficiency.” Furthermore, “If the exterior pathogen does not resolve, and repeated dispersing does not lead to sweating, it indicates that Yin Qi cannot reach the surface.” According to the proportion of diseases, Gu’s theory states: “Yin Deficiency accounts for 80-90%, while Yang Deficiency accounts for 10-20%.” This method is only applicable when distinguishing between Yang and Yin Deficiency, serving as a helpful guide when other methods are unclear, rather than being universally applicable.
6. Treatment Methods for Yin Deficiency
The treatment methods for Yin Deficiency mainly consist of three parts:
(1) Treatment methods for Lung Yin Deficiency
1. Clear the lungs and moisten dryness (Clear Metal and moisten the lungs).
This is the primary method for treating Lung Yin Deficiency, such as using Qingjin Decoction, Baxian Yuye, etc. When taken for a long time, care should be taken not to be overly simplistic to avoid causing diarrhea or reduced appetite.
2. Clear the lungs and nourish the kidneys.
This is a method for treating Lung Yin Deficiency with accompanying Kidney Yin Deficiency, such as using formulas that combine Er Dong and Er Di (such as Guben Wan), or using lung-clearing herbs (like Qingjin Decoction) in the morning and kidney-nourishing herbs (like Liuwei Dihuang Wan) in the evening, focusing on the lungs. When Lung Yin Deficiency is severe, regardless of whether Kidney Yin Deficiency symptoms are evident, it is essential to nourish Kidney Yin, as the kidneys are the root of congenital essence, while also being careful not to harm the spleen.
3. Clear the lungs and tonify the spleen.
This is a method for treating Lung Yin Deficiency with accompanying Spleen Yin Deficiency, such as using Jiawei Qingning Gao. Treating both meridians can be challenging, as the lungs prefer moisture while the spleen prefers dryness. Nourishing the spleen can hinder lung function, and nourishing the lungs can hinder spleen function. If lung-moistening herbs are used excessively, appetite may decrease, or diarrhea may worsen. Therefore, when treating Lung Yin Deficiency, regardless of whether there are signs of spleen deficiency, it is crucial to prevent spleen deficiency from arising.
(2) Treatment methods for Kidney Yin Deficiency
1. Nourish Yin and tonify the kidneys (Nourish water and control fire).
This is a common method for treating Kidney Yin Deficiency with fire, such as using Liuwei Dihuang Wan, Zuogui Yin, etc. Yin Deficiency is always accompanied by fire; as Yin becomes more deficient, fire becomes more excessive. However, this fire is different from excess fire and should not be treated with bitter cold herbs, as using bitter cold herbs may not only be ineffective but can also worsen the condition. Therefore, for fire syndromes that do not respond to bitter cold herbs or worsen, this method is most appropriate.
2. Nourish Yin and lower fire (Nourish Yin and subdue Yang).
This is a method for treating Kidney Yin Deficiency with upward-reversing fire or slight excess fire, such as using Zhibai Dihuang Wan, Dabuyin Wan, or Liuwei Dihuang Wan with modifications. Since fire is always upward-reversing, it often accompanies excess fire, but lighter cases can be treated with the method of nourishing water and controlling fire, while more severe cases require this method for effectiveness.
3. Nourish Yin and clear the lungs.
This is a method for treating Kidney Yin Deficiency with accompanying Lung Yin Deficiency, such as using Maiwei Dihuang Wan. Kidney Yin Deficiency easily affects the lungs, leading to cough and other symptoms.
4. Nourish the kidneys and regulate the spleen.
This is a method for treating Kidney Yin Deficiency with accompanying Spleen Yin Deficiency. When both organs are Yin deficient, the treatment should focus on the spleen; otherwise, spleen deficiency can lead to poor absorption, and even the best medicines will not be effective. Therefore, when treating Kidney Yin Deficiency, attention must be paid to diet.
(3) Treatment methods for Spleen Yin Deficiency
The main treatment methods require the use of neither overly drying nor overly moistening herbs, as the spleen prefers dryness and dislikes moisture, while Yin Deficiency prefers moisture and dislikes dryness. This condition is the most challenging to treat with herbs. Based on experience, Li Lao believes that the most effective herbs include yam, lotus seeds, lentils, and coix seeds, or combined with lily, winter flower, leaf of the pear tree, and Mai Dong to treat accompanying Lung Yin Deficiency, such as using Jiawei Qingning Gao. Alternatively, after stopping diarrhea, one can take Liuwei Dihuang Wan in the morning and evening to treat accompanying Kidney Yin Deficiency.
In general, Yin Deficiency should be treated with sweet and cold herbs, avoiding bitter cold herbs, as bitter cold herbs are drying and can harm Yin. Additionally, herbs should be decocted for a long time, as Yin Deficiency requires heavy and turbid decoctions, necessitating prolonged cooking. There are historical suggestions for using large doses to nourish Yin, but Li Lao found in practice that small doses taken frequently over a long period are more beneficial without adverse effects. This is because when taking Yin-nourishing herbs, the greatest concern is harming Spleen Yang, leading to diarrhea and loss of appetite; large doses are more likely to cause such issues. In treatment, moxibustion should not be used. Zhang Zhongjing stated: “Even a slight fire can cause internal damage, harming bones and muscles, making recovery difficult.” In terms of herbs, Shengma and Zisu should be avoided. Gu’s theory states: “If Yin Deficiency is mistakenly treated, it will cause Yin fire to rise, leading to increased coughing and phlegm, and bleeding will occur.”
7. Formulas for Yin Deficiency
Li Lao commonly uses the following formulas to nourish Yin:
(1) Formulas for treating Lung Yin Deficiency
1. Qingjin Decoction
This treats Lung Yin Deficiency cough, whether with excessive phlegm, dry cough, phlegm with blood, or pure blood. Ingredients: 7.5g mulberry bark, 6g rehmannia root, 6g ophiopogon, 30g fresh lily, 6g coltsfoot flower, 6g fritillaria, 6g apricot kernel, 6g fried pear leaf, and 3g honey-fried licorice. If there is blood, add 9g white grass root, half a teacup of lotus root juice and children’s urine, and decoct with water.
2. Baxian Yuye
This treats Lung Yin Deficiency cough with blood. Ingredients: 2 cups lotus root juice, 1 cup each of pear juice, sugarcane juice, reed root juice, and white grass root decoction, 1 cup each of human milk and children’s urine, and 3 raw egg whites, mixed and taken frequently. For better results, add 30g coix seeds, 60g white lily, 10 pieces of pear leaves, and decoct into a concentrated juice, then mix in 15g fritillaria powder and 15g persimmon frost, and take frequently.
3. Guben Wan
This treats elderly patients with Lung Yin Deficiency, cough, and constipation. Ingredients: 60g tian dong, 60g mai dong, 60g raw rehmannia, 60g cooked rehmannia, and 30g ginseng. Grind into powder and form honey pills. Each dose is 9g, taken with warm water. The role of ginseng in this formula is to prevent reduced appetite and diarrhea.
4. Jiawei Qingning Gao
This treats Lung Yin Deficiency cough with blood, especially in cases of reduced appetite and increased diarrhea. Ingredients: 120g mai dong, 300g fresh lily, 60g coltsfoot flower, 15g peppermint powder, 150g fried pear leaf, 15g tangerine peel, 60g fritillaria (powdered), 30g poria, 120g coix seeds, 60g longan meat, 60g fried white peony, and 15g honey-fried licorice. Except for peppermint and fritillaria, the other herbs are boiled into a paste, then add the powdered peppermint and fritillaria, and mix in 360g rock candy until dissolved. Each dose is one teaspoon, taken with warm water.
(2) Formulas for treating Kidney Yin Deficiency
1. Liuwei Dihuang Wan
This treats all symptoms of Kidney Yin Deficiency. Ingredients: 240g cooked rehmannia, 120g cornelian cherry, 120g raw yam, 90g powdered peony, 90g poria, and 90g ze xie. Grind into fine powder and form honey pills the size of wutong seeds. Each dose is 9g, taken with warm water. It can also be taken as a decoction. Modifications: For fever and thirst, add raw tortoise shell, tian hua fen, and Er Dong; for breath obstruction, add sandalwood, cardamom, and mai dong; for phlegm cough, add fritillaria, lily, and mai dong; for sore throat and tongue pain, add raw egg white, yuan shen, and mai dong; for bleeding gums, add mai dong and children’s urine, or add ren zhongbai and mai dong; for loose teeth, add ginseng, mai dong, schisandra, deer antler, pig marrow, dragon teeth, and oyster; for leg and calf pain, add niuxi, duzhong, goji berries, and tortoise shell; for blood in urine, remove cornelian cherry and add Er Dong, niuxi, lotus root juice, and licorice; for erectile dysfunction and painful urination, add zhi mu, huang bai, and licorice; for blood in urine, add ginseng, inchong, schisandra, white peony, lotus root, and he shou wu; for loss of voice, add mai dong and raw egg white; for dry heat in the soles of the feet, add Er Dong, niuxi, and tortoise shell. (Note: Any modifications cannot be exhaustive or fixed; they must be tailored to the specific syndrome for proper matching.)
2. Zuogui Yin
This treats the same symptoms as Liuwei Dihuang Wan, with superior Yin tonifying power, specifically Liuwei Dihuang Wan minus ze xie and dan pi, adding goji berries and honey-fried licorice. Modifications: For lung heat and restlessness, add mai dong; for excessive cough, add lily; for blood deficiency, add angelica; for blood stagnation with heat, add dan pi; for unstable Yin, add nu zhen zi; for blood heat causing restlessness, add raw rehmannia; for spleen heat causing hunger and excessive sweating, add white peony; for heart heat causing dryness, add yuan shen; for kidney heat causing bone steaming, add di guo pi; for dry mouth and thirst, add flower pollen; for excess below and deficiency above, add niuxi.
3. Zhibai Dihuang Wan
This treats bone atrophy, marrow depletion, labor heat, night sweats, tinnitus, easy erection, painful urination, and all symptoms of excessive fire due to Yin Deficiency. This is Liuwei Dihuang Wan plus zhi mu and huang bai. Each dose is 9g, taken with warm water.
4. Dabuyin Wan
This treats all symptoms of excessive fire due to Yin Deficiency. Ingredients: Huang bai (salt-fried), zhi mu (salt-fried), cooked rehmannia, and fried tortoise shell are ground into fine powder, mixed with pig spinal marrow, and formed into pills the size of wutong seeds. Each dose is 15g, taken with warm water.
5. Maiwei Dihuang Wan
This treats chronic cough due to Yin Deficiency or phlegm with blood. This is Liuwei Dihuang Wan plus mai dong, shi hu, raw yam, raw atractylodes, raw lentils, raw coix seeds, raw lotus seeds, western ginseng, mai dong, and jinyin stone. Dosage varies according to symptoms, decocted in water.
8. Herbs for Yin Deficiency
Here are the commonly used herbs for nourishing Yin:
(1) Key herbs for Lung Yin Deficiency
Tian Dong: Nourishes Lung Yin, moistens lung dryness, and clears lung heat. It is cold and slippery, not suitable for those with spleen deficiency and loose stools.
Mai Dong: Nourishes Lung Yin, moistens lung dryness, and clears lung heat. Not suitable for those with loose stools, but can be used with coix seeds, yam, and poria.
Bai He: Used for cough. Fresh white flowers are better.
Zhi Pa Ye: Descends Qi and stops cough. Can be used for Qi reversal.
Sang Pi: Clears lung fire. Not suitable for those with lung deficiency and no fire or wind-cold cough.
Chuan Bei: Can be used for turbid phlegm with white foam; not suitable for clear phlegm or no phlegm.
Bo He: Disperses heat and clears the lungs. Can be used for slight wind-heat.
Sha Shen: Nourishes Lung Yin.
Li: Moistens the lungs and clears heat.
Wu Wei Zi: Astringes lung Qi and kidney Qi. Can be used for prolonged cough, excessive sweating, or kidney Qi reversal.
Kuan Dong Hua: Can be used for cough.
Shi Frost: Clears heat and transforms phlegm.
Bai Mao Gen: Sweet and cold, removes internal heat, stops bleeding, and resolves stasis.
Ou Gen: Clears heat, stops bleeding, and resolves stasis.
Children’s Urine: Nourishes Yin and lowers fire. Most suitable for bleeding syndromes; effective for those with bone steaming and ineffective with general herbs. Not suitable for those with no fire, poor digestion, or loose intestines.
Zhi Mu: Clears the lungs and nourishes the kidneys. Can be used for phlegm with foul odor. Together with Huang Bai, it can nourish Yin and lower fire, but long-term use may cause diarrhea, so it is not suitable for those with spleen deficiency and loose stools.
Ren Shen: A key herb for lung deficiency. However, it should be avoided in cases of Lung Yin Deficiency with excessive heat. It can be used with Er Dong and Er Di to prevent harming the spleen and causing diarrhea in those with spleen and kidney deficiency.
Western Ginseng: Cooler in nature, better for those with Yin Deficiency and heat than Ren Shen.
(2) Key herbs for Kidney Yin Deficiency
Shu Di: Nourishes the kidneys and benefits Yin. This is a key herb for nourishing Kidney Yin, effective for essence deficiency, marrow deficiency, and blood deficiency. However, it is slightly warming and can stagnate; for those with Yin Deficiency and heat, it should be used with Sheng Di and other Yin-nourishing herbs. For those with Yin Deficiency and excessive phlegm, chest fullness, it may be avoided or used with sandalwood, cardamom, mai dong, and fritillaria.
Sheng Di: Nourishes Yin and cools the blood. Can be used for those with heat, but not for those with poor appetite and excessive diarrhea.
Gui Jia: Nourishes Yin and subdues Yang. Can be used for those with alternating cold and heat, or bone steaming and internal heat. Not suitable for those with spleen and stomach heat, nausea, or diarrhea.
Gui Ban: Nourishes Yin and subdues Yang, reduces bone steaming. Not used for those with kidney deficiency and no heat.
Dan Pi: Can be used for five hearts heat and bone steaming. Suitable for those without sweating, clears liver and kidney heat.
Di Guo Pi: Can be used for five hearts heat and bone steaming. Suitable for those with sweating, reduces hidden fire in the lungs.
Goji Berries, Du Zhong: Treats kidney deficiency and back pain.
Pig Kidneys, Pig Spinal Marrow: Boiled to make soup for treating back pain.
Lotus Stamen: Used for those with unstable essence.
Zi He Che: Strongly nourishes essence and blood. Can be used for severe deficiency.
Nu Zhen Zi: Suitable for those with Kidney Yin Deficiency and heat. Long-term use may cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Shan Zhu Yu: A nourishing herb for Yin. Can be used for those with unstable essence, excessive sweating, or urinary incontinence. Not suitable for those with bladder heat and difficulty urinating.
(3) Key herbs for Spleen Yin Deficiency
Sheng Shan Yao: Nourishes the spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Most suitable for those with Yin Deficiency, diarrhea, and poor appetite.
Poria: Can be used for those with diarrhea and reduced urination. Not suitable for those with Yin Deficiency, as excessive use may harm moisture.
Coix Seeds, Lotus Seeds, Lentils: Can be used for those with diarrhea.
Sheng Bai Zhu: A key herb for nourishing the spleen. Most suitable for those with diarrhea and poor appetite, but those with severe Yin Deficiency may find it too drying; it can be replaced with coix seeds or stone lotus.
Sheng Bai Shao: Can be used for fullness (severe at night and mild during the day), abdominal pain, sweating, diarrhea, and gas discomfort. Not suitable for those with cold abdominal pain and diarrhea, or a sensation of cold in the intestines.
Shi Hu: Suitable for those with internal heat in the stomach or muscles.
9. All Prohibitions for Yin Deficiency
During treatment, strict adherence to prohibitions is essential; otherwise, it may affect recovery. The key prohibitions are as follows:
1. Absolute prohibition of tobacco and alcohol.
2. Regarding ginger, scallions, and garlic, a small amount may be used to enhance flavor for mild cases, but caution is needed for severe cases.
3. Absolute prohibition of all spicy foods (chili, pepper, mustard).
4. Absolute prohibition of all raw, cold, slippery, or hard foods, as they may harm the stomach and intestines. Sexual desire is a major cause of Yin Deficiency and must be strictly prohibited, even to the point of avoiding any thoughts of desire. Gu’s theory states: “When desire arises, ministerial fire ignites; even without intercourse, essence is already consumed.” In severe cases, complete abstinence for three years is necessary.
5. Anger harms the liver, and worry harms the spleen; constant attention is required.
6. Labor should be minimized. Excessive labor causes Qi to rise externally and essence to deplete internally, but light exercise is still necessary.
This article is excerpted from “A Century of Chinese Medicine Clinical Experts Series (2nd Edition) • Internal Medicine Expert Volume: Li Hanqing” (Published by China Traditional Chinese Medicine Press, edited by Wang Xiangli and Zhao Tongli), recommended for publication by Yuedu TCM.
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Disseminating knowledge of TCM health preservation, “Do not treat existing diseases, but prevent diseases before they occur, and do not treat chaos after it has occurred.”
For sharing and communication on tapping and stretching, please add[Flying Bird] WeChat ID: 604681786
For purchasing related tools, please long press and scan the QR code in the image to go directly to the store.
You can also click below to read the original text