Mr. Zhang, a middle school teacher in his 40s, has found that he often feels tired for no reason, sleeps poorly, has difficulty concentrating at work, has a deteriorating memory, and often forgets students' names or meeting times.
In addition to this, Mr. Zhang also found that his skin became dry, his throat often felt thirsty, and he needed to get up several times at night to drink water. When it comes to sexuality, he also feels a loss of libido, which makes him feel very distressed and anxious.
At first, Mr. Zhang thought that these problems were simply due to high work pressure and lack of rest. However, there was no significant improvement in these symptoms after a week off during the holiday. He began to realize that these problems might not be just simple fatigue.
At the suggestion of his wife, Mr. Zhang went to see a Chinese medicine practitioner. After asking for a detailed medical history, the TCM examined Mr. Zhang's pulse and tongue and told him that these symptoms were a manifestation of "qi and yin deficiency".
What is the loss of qi and yin
"Qi and Yin" is a TCM term that refers to a condition in which both "Qi" and "Yin" in the human body are deficient at the same time.
"Qi" is the basic substance that sustains life activities, and has the functions of promoting, warming, defending, and fixing.
"Yin" represents the body's fluid components, including blood and body fluids, which are primarily responsible for moisturizing and nourishing all parts of the body.
When both are deficient, the person feels physically weak, fatigued, and has a range of physical and psychological symptoms.
Why does there be a loss of qi and yin?
The causes of the loss of qi and yin are usually related to the following aspects:
Life is stressful: Long-term psychological stress and mood swings can consume a person's qi and blood, leading to a deficiency of qi and yin.
Overwork: Unreasonable work and life rhythm, such as staying up late after working overtime, overwork not only consumes qi, but also damages yin fluid.
Improper diet: Long-term unhealthy eating habits, such as excessive intake of spicy and greasy foods, not only harm the stomach qi, but also lead to a lack of yin fluid in the body.
Lack of exercise: Lack of moderate physical exercise can lead to poor flow of qi and blood, which in turn affects the balance of qi and yin.
How to deal with the loss of qi and yin
In the face of the problem of qi and yin loss, it can be improved and regulated through the following aspects:
Adjust your diet: Maintain a balanced diet and eat more vitamin- and mineral-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and soy products, which help replenish qi and blood and nourish the body.
Moderate exercise: Appropriate physical exercise, such as walking, yoga, tai chi, etc., can promote the flow of qi and blood and enhance physical fitness.
Adjust lifestyle habits: Maintain adequate sleep, reduce staying up late, try to avoid overwork, and maintain a regular life to reduce the consumption of qi and yin.
Emotion management: Regulate emotions and reduce psychological stress through meditation, breathing exercises, etc., so as to reduce the consumption of qi and yin.
TCM conditioning: Under the guidance of a TCM practitioner, take traditional Chinese medicines that nourish yin and replenish qi, such as astragalus, codonopsis, and wheat dong, to help restore the balance of qi and yin.