The onset of impotence involves multiple systems in the whole body, and it is often the interaction and mutual influence of psychological and organic factors. In the long-term medical practice, Chinese medicine has gradually formed two mainstream views on impotence: the kidney deficiency view and the liver depression theory.
Human beings are an organic whole. The various parts of the human body are relatively independent and closely connected. The liver and kidney belong to the lower part of the body and are closely related in physiology and pathology. The liver and kidney homology theory is the theory of zang-fu in traditional Chinese medicine, which has been guiding the syndrome differentiation and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Starting from the theory of “liver and kidney homology”, combining the two mainstream views of kidney deficiency view and liver depression theory of impotence can better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of impotence and make corresponding efficient treatment.
- The connotation and extension of the liver and kidney homology theory
The philosophical idea of ”liver and kidney homology” originated from the Book of Changes, and the medical foundation is rooted in the Neijing. “Suwen·Five Movements Theory” records that “the north produces cold, cold produces water, water produces salt, salt produces kidney, kidney produces bone marrow, and marrow produces liver”. Kidney stores essence, controls bones to produce marrow, and essence and marrow transform into liver blood. Kidney nourishes liver through marrow, which shows the close physiological relationship between the two organs. “Lingshu·Ben Shen” records that “liver stores blood, blood houses soul, liver qi deficiency causes fear”, “fear will hurt essence, and essence damage will cause bone soreness and paralysis”. If the liver’s blood storage function is disordered or liver blood is deficient, kidney essence will not be nourished, resulting in essence damage, which shows the mutual influence of liver and kidney in pathology. Later generations of doctors enriched and deepened the liver and kidney homology. Li Zhongzi, a doctor in the Ming Dynasty, proposed the theory that “Yinkui is of the same origin, liver and kidney are treated together”, marking the formation of the “liver and kidney homology” theoretical system.
- Liver and kidney are mutually generated, and essence and blood are mutually transformed
The relationship between the liver and kidney originates from the theory of the five elements of generation, restraint and transformation. Water generates wood, and water is the mother of wood. The liver is wood, and the kidney is water. The kidney is the mother of the liver. The mother-child relationship between the liver and kidney is the most fundamental understanding of the relationship between the liver and kidney. The liver and kidney coexist in the lower part of the body. The liver stores blood, and the kidney stores essence. The essence and blood have the same origin. The liver, blood and kidney essence originate from the innate essence, and are all generated and nourished by the essence of water and grain. “Zhang’s Medical Manual” says: “If the qi is not consumed, it will return to the kidney and become essence. If the essence is not leaked, it will return to the liver and become clear blood.” Liver blood is generated by kidney essence. Jueyin must wait for the Shaoyin essence to be sufficient before blood can be filled with qi and be smooth, and the discharge can be smooth. At the same time, the liver and kidney essence and blood are mutually transformed. The kidney essence nourishes the liver blood, so the liver blood is sufficient to control the liver yang; the liver blood is generated and nourishes the kidney essence, and the kidney essence is sufficient, and the kidney’s yin and yang are coordinated. The physiological relationship between the liver and kidney is very close, and they also affect each other pathologically. Pathologically, when one organ is deficient, the other organ will inevitably be deficient. For example, deficiency of kidney essence can lead to deficiency of liver blood; deficiency of liver blood can also cause deficiency of kidney essence. The yang of both belong to the phase fire and originate from the gate of life, so there is a mutually restrictive relationship between liver yin, liver yang, kidney yin and kidney yang. If kidney yin is insufficient, the liver loses nourishment, and water does not contain wood, which can lead to hyperactivity of liver yang, with symptoms such as dizziness, headache, irritability and irritability. If liver fire is too strong, yang qi is excessive, which hurts kidney yin, leading to deficiency of kidney yin, with symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, weakness of waist and knees, and night sweats.
- Mutual use of liver and kidney
The kidney is responsible for sealing and storage, and the liver is responsible for dispersing and dispersing. Zhu Danxi’s “Gezhi Yu Lun·Yang Youyu Yin Buqi Lun” proposed: “The one who is responsible for closing and storing is the kidney; the one who is responsible for dispersing and dispersing is the liver.” “Tuqiu Shiyi-Yengye” further proposed: “The kidney is yin, which is responsible for storing essence; the liver is yang, which is responsible for dispersing and dispersing.” The kidney is responsible for closing and storing, which means. The kidney has the physiological function of storing and sealing the essence. The physiological characteristic of the kidney is that it is in hibernation. When the kidney qi is sealed, the essence is full and the human body is vigorous. The fire in the kidney (kidney yang) is contained in the kidney, hidden and not exposed, so as to play its role of warming and promoting. The liver governs the release of qi, which means that the liver qi has the function of keeping the whole body’s qi unblocked and smooth, unblocked, dispersed but not depressed, and not hyperactive. The mutual relationship between the liver and kidney storage and release refers to the opposition and unity of the liver governing the release of qi and the kidney governing the storage of essence, which complement and coordinate with each other to maintain the normal physiological function of the body.
- The liver and kidney meridians are connected and belong to the extraordinary meridians
The liver and kidney are connected through the meridians. The “Inner Canon” states: “The kidney’s foot Shaoyin meridian, the straight one, goes from the kidney to the liver.” The foot Jueyin liver meridian and the foot Shaoyin kidney meridian both run on the inside of the body, and are closely connected in the meridians, and are indirectly connected at the Guanyuan and Zhongji points of the Sanyinjiao and Renmai. The liver and kidney are closely related to the eight extraordinary meridians, and they belong to the extraordinary meridians. At the same time, the fetus is dominated by the liver and kidney, and the three meridians of Chong, Ren and Du all originate in the fetus, so there is also a saying that “the eight meridians belong to the liver and kidney”.
- The relationship between impotence and liver
“Lingshu·Jingjin” records: “The tendons of the foot Jueyin go up along the pubic thigh, knot at the genitals, and connect with all tendons”; “Lingshu·Jingmai” records: “The liver foot Jueyin meridians go along the pubic thigh, enter the hair, pass the genitals, and reach the lower abdomen. Another name for the foot Jueyin is Li Gou, and another one goes through the shin to the testicles and knots at the penis”. Therefore, there is a saying that “the liver governs the genitals”. The liver is responsible for storing blood, and the normal erection of the Zongjin depends on the liver blood flowing down to the Zongjin. If the liver blood is stagnant or the liver blood is insufficient and cannot reach the Zongjin, the Zongjin cannot erect and cause impotence. The liver is responsible for regulating and dispersing. If the liver’s regulating and dispersing function is normal, the qi is smooth, the male semen is stored and discharged in moderation, the excretion is smooth, and the qi and blood are delivered to the Zongjin, then the erection is free; if the regulating and dispersing function is insufficient, the qi is stagnant, and the qi and blood cannot be delivered to the Zongjin, then the Zongjin is not full and the erection cannot be made. Excessive regulating and dispersing will disturb the sperm chamber, and the male will be easily aroused, premature ejaculation, and nocturnal emission. As recorded in “The Origin of Miscellaneous Diseases, The Origin of the Front Yin and the Back Yin”, “There are also people who have lost their will, depression hurts the liver, the liver wood cannot be regulated, and the penis cannot be erected.” The erection is based on the Zongjin and the qi and blood are used. The fullness of liver blood is the basis of penis erection, the smooth and full liver qi is the driving force of penis erection, and the yang of the Zongjin erection is based on the yin blood of the Zongjin. At the same time, the liver’s regulating and dispersing function is normal, the whole body’s qi is smooth, and the emotional activities are smooth. If the liver qi is stagnant and the mood is not smooth, it often leads to reduced sexual desire. Therefore, the normal regulating and dispersing function of liver qi plays an important role in maintaining moderate sexual desire. Therefore, the onset of impotence is closely related to the liver.
- The relationship between impotence and kidney
“Lingshu·Jingjin” states: “The tendons of the foot Shaoyin start from under the little toe, and the tendons of the foot Taiyin, and go up along the yin thigh, knot at the genitals, and merge with the tendons of the foot Taiyang.”; “Suwen·Jinguizhenlun” states: “The north is black, enters the kidney, and opens the orifices of the two yin.” From the perspective of the meridian circulation, the kidney and the genitals are closely related. The kidney stores essence, controls growth and reproduction, and contains the original yin and yang. The root of the life gate fire is in the kidney. “Men are the place where all yang return. They often live in dryness. If the yang qi moves and is forcefully discharged, it will become a disease of deficiency and damage.” The warming of the life gate fire is the primary prerequisite for the erection of the zongjin; when the life gate fire is weak, the zongjin loses its warmth, leading to impotence. Tiangui, which is closely related to male reproductive function, is produced when kidney essence is full to a certain extent. It is the root of the occurrence of Xianghuo, which is the source of human sexual desire and erection of Zongjin. When kidney essence is deficient, Tiangui does not come, and impotence occurs. It can be said that the completion of sexual intercourse is based on the function of the kidney, the coordinated operation of the functions of the five internal organs is the key, and the meridians and Zongjin are the channels for erection. Therefore, the onset of impotence is closely related to the kidney.
- Understanding the onset of impotence from the theory of liver and kidney homology
- Traditional Chinese medicine understanding of the onset of impotence
Ancient doctors mostly attributed the onset of impotence to the kidney, believing that impotence is mainly caused by sexual fatigue and kidney damage, kidney yang deficiency, and warming and tonifying kidney yang is the main treatment. In recent years, domestic scholars have found through clinical practice and epidemiological investigation that sexual fatigue is no longer the main cause of impotence. Liver depression and qi stagnation, emotional distress, play an important role in the onset of impotence. At the same time, bad living habits cannot be ignored. Real symptoms are rare, and deficiency symptoms are common. The onset organs are centered on the liver and kidneys and involve the five internal organs. The liver and kidneys are of the same origin, the mother and the child are born, the essence and blood are transformed, and the storage and discharge are used together to maintain the normal physiological function of the Zongjin. The two are closely related in the onset of impotence. Unfulfilled wishes, emotional discomfort, liver depression and qi stagnation, and over time, the kidneys are affected, resulting in kidney qi deficiency or kidney essence depletion; old age or long-term illness, kidney essence and qi deficiency, leading to liver’s main function of dispersing or storing blood. At the same time, qi and blood are the material basis for the erection of Zongjin. Whether it is liver depression or kidney deficiency, it will affect the circulation of qi and blood, leading to the appearance of blood stasis, thus causing Zongjin relaxation and impotence. Therefore, the most basic pathogenesis of impotence can be attributed to liver depression, kidney deficiency and blood stasis, among which liver depression is the main pathogenesis characteristic, kidney deficiency is the main pathogenesis trend, and blood stasis is the ultimate pathogenesis.
- Modern medical understanding of the onset of impotence
In modern society, the pace of life and work is accelerated, the sense of competition is strong, the social and work pressure is high, and people are under stress for a long time, with mental tension and emotional depression, resulting in impotence caused by liver depression. “Fear hurts the kidney”, we can equate these adverse mental stimuli with chronic panic. Long-term chronic panic can lead to kidney deficiency, that is, liver depression leads to kidney deficiency. At the same time, non-emotional factors, such as marital discord, lack of sexual knowledge, old age, chronic diseases and other factors, often lead to emotional depression and discomfort after impotence, resulting in depression caused by impotence. Whether it is “impotence caused by depression” or “impotence caused by depression”, a vicious cycle is formed, which leads to the complication of the onset of impotence, such as the mixed impotence we often see in clinical practice. Modern medical research shows that prolonged anxiety, depression and other adverse mental stimulation can lead to dysfunction of the cerebral cortex, subcortical higher centers and spinal cord lower centers, loss of normal integration and coordination, and enhanced inhibition of sexual excitement by the cerebral cortex, resulting in a decrease in male sex hormone levels, loss of libido and erectile dysfunction, and organic impotence caused by psychological impotence. Kidney-tonifying Chinese medicine can promote the secretion of male testosterone by regulating the gonad axis, thereby achieving the effect of tonifying the kidney. The increase in testosterone levels can significantly improve the body’s ability to resist stress, improve competitiveness, enhance self-confidence, and thus improve the impact of negative emotions. Other studies have shown that drugs that soothe the liver and relieve depression can effectively improve liver depression symptoms and increase the sex hormone levels of patients with liver depression. Therefore, the method of soothing the liver and tonifying the kidney can not only improve the patient’s liver depression symptoms, but also achieve the effect of tonifying the kidney by increasing the male testosterone level.
V. “Liver and kidney treatment” is the basic rule for treating impotence
Liver depression, kidney deficiency and blood stasis are the basic pathogenesis of impotence, and the treatment is mainly to soothe the liver, tonify the kidney and activate blood circulation. Patients with dampness and heat should be assisted with clearing heat and removing dampness, patients with qi and blood deficiency should be assisted with invigorating qi and nourishing blood, and patients with cold stagnation should be assisted with warming yang and dispersing cold. At the same time, we should pay attention to age factors. In the middle-aged and young age, liver depression and blood stasis are the main symptoms, followed by kidney deficiency; in the elderly, kidney deficiency and blood stasis are the main symptoms, followed by liver depression. In clinical treatment, we must adhere to the pathogenesis, distinguish between disease and syndrome, and combine syndrome and symptom differentiation, so as to achieve the best treatment effect.
- Soothing the liver and relieving depression, nourishing the kidney and activating blood circulation
It is common in young and middle-aged patients with a short course of disease. Impotence is accompanied by depression, sighing, flank distension, bitter mouth and dry throat, red tongue with white fur, and stringy pulse.
- Warming the kidney and assisting yang, soothing the liver and activating blood circulation
It is more common in elderly patients with a long course of disease. Impotence is accompanied by apathy, sore waist and knees, fatigue, cold limbs, fear of cold, and clear and long urine. The tongue is pale and fat, the coating is white or slippery, and the pulse is deep and thin.
- Nourishing Yin and clearing heat, soothing the liver and activating blood circulation
Impotence is accompanied by soreness of waist and knees, insomnia and dreaminess, hot flashes and night sweats, hot flashes and night sweats, fatigue and dry mouth, spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation. The tongue is red and less moist, and the pulse is thin and rapid.
Summary:
The onset of impotence is centered on the liver and kidney. The liver and kidney homology theory reveals that the liver and kidney are closely related in physiology and pathology. Due to the mutual influence of pathology, in the clinical treatment of liver disease and kidney disease, both must be taken into account, that is, liver blood deficiency, nourishing liver blood should also replenish kidney essence; kidney essence deficiency, nourishing kidney essence should also nourish liver blood. For example, hyperactivity of liver yang is often caused by insufficient yin, so calming the liver and suppressing yang should also nourish kidney yin. Only by taking both into account can the yin and yang be balanced and normal physiological activities be restored. In addition, the causes of impotence are numerous and the pathogenesis is complex. Deficiency of yin and yang, qi, blood and body fluids, qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm, cold coagulation, dampness and heat can all lead to the loss of nourishment of the main tendons, or the inability of the essence, qi and blood to flow smoothly. Clinical treatment should be based on disease differentiation and syndrome differentiation, or deficiency or excess, or cold and heat. It should also be analyzed and treated from many factors such as the patient’s constitution, primary disease, onset time, age, course of disease and treatment process, and comprehensive individualized treatment should be given to achieve the best treatment effect.
How to replenish the body’s essence and blood to make the liver and kidney healthy and solve the problem of impotence?
The secret of human illness: kidney essence = kidney qi = kidney yang = temperature = dampness and cold = symptoms (deficiency-cold-dampness-coagulation-stagnation-blockage-tumor-cancer); the secret of human health: essence and blood = kidney qi (yang) is sufficient, all diseases are eliminated! This is the root cause.
Special in-hospital prescription preparations for replenishing essence and blood – Chinese patent medicine:
Shenhe capsules, a holy medicine for replenishing yang: the kidney stores essence and the liver stores blood. A large amount of ginseng is used to assist cornus and cooked rehmannia, which are pure yin medicines, so that there is yang in yin, blood and essence are produced, and the liver and kidney are replenished at the same time. Warming the kidney and assisting yang, replenishing qi and consolidating essence. Raising kidney yang, raising temperature, dispelling cold and dampness, and restoring health.
Regulating the five internal organs and improving kidney qi deficiency. It has the effects of replenishing fire and assisting yang, dispelling cold and dampness, and activating blood circulation and dredges menstruation. It is suitable for various symptoms caused by kidney qi deficiency. The combination of several Chinese medicines can guide the fire back to its origin, directly into the kidney meridian, warm and nourish the kidney yang, balance yin and yang, and solve the symptoms from the root.
Replenishing kidney qi, dredging blockage, replenishing liver and kidney at the same time, warming the kidney and assisting yang, replenishing qi and consolidating essence. Pure Chinese medicine extraction, no side effects; acting on the whole body through multiple targets, multiple systems, and multiple parts, warming and replenishing, step by step.
Replenishing yang and yin, replenishing both yin and yang, consolidating essence and reducing urine.
