"When the weather is clean and bright, people will not go down. When the sun and the moon are not clear, evil will harm the air hole. When the yang is blocked, and when the earth is bright, clouds and mist are not refined, the sky should not be exposed. If the traffic is not clear, all things are destined not to do, and if not, many famous trees will die. If the evil spirit does not occur, the wind and rain are not restrained, and the white dew does not fall, then the withered will not be honored. When the thief wind is numbered, and the rainstorm is counted, the heaven and earth will not be protected at all times, and when the Tao is lost, then the sky will not disappear. Only saints follow it, so there is no strange disease in the body, and all things will not be lost, and the vitality will not be exhausted." -- The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine - Plain Questions - Four Qi Tunes to the Spirit Chapter II
Here we will see that when a person begins to age, a very important manifestation is the disharmony between the spleen and stomach in the middle burner, and the decline in the qi of the spleen and stomach in the middle burner. The middle burner spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal development and the source of qi and blood biochemistry. We see that people who have malignant tumors have a characteristic of being thin and not fond of eating. What are the reasons? According to Western medicine, malignant tumors are a debilitating disease. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, malignant tumors damage qi and blood, causing a decrease in the qi of the spleen and stomach. As a result, they do not like to eat and feel weak all over, with the spleen controlling the muscles of the limbs, leading to fatigue. The spleen controls qi, but due to qi deficiency and weakness, after speaking for a period of time, one's qi can no longer flow. What is the reason for this? Many doctors believe that lung qi deficiency is not the case. The five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth are interdependent. Earth generates metal, but if the earth qi is not enough, the spleen and stomach qi are not enough, and the lung qi is naturally insufficient, then if the spleen and stomach qi is enough, his qi will naturally be sufficient, and he will speak with vigor and Dantian qi.
Overall, if this person is aging, one of the important manifestations is the weakness of the spleen and stomach in the middle burner. After the spleen and stomach in the middle burner weaken, there is no energy to speak, no muscle strength, and at the same time, corresponding to the face, "the face begins to burn", the face begins to turn yellow, wrinkles begin to appear, and the skin begins to relax. What are the reasons for this? Due to the deficiency of spleen and stomach qi, ancient China was roughly divided into two schools of thought for nourishing the body and treating diseases. The first was the spleen and stomach school, represented by Li Dongyuan, one of the "Four Great Masters of the Jin Dynasty". Another one is the kidney tonifying faction, represented by Zhang Jingyue. Zhang Jingyue is good at nourishing the kidneys, and his nickname is Zhang Shudi. His name is Zhang Jiebin (also known as Jiebin or Jingyue).
Different doctors have different experiences of the same patient's illness. Zhang Jingyue believes that many people's illnesses are caused by kidney deficiency, while Li Dongyuan believes that many people's illnesses are caused by spleen deficiency, and the "four qi" cannot be reconciled. Who is right and who is wrong in their argument? From my perspective, everything seems right. Why? Because they have precisely grasped two key points, one is the innate foundation - the kidney, and the other is the acquired foundation - the spleen. So, whether starting treatment from the spleen or the kidneys, the ultimate goal is to make their lives stronger. Specifically in clinical practice, there are many people with kidney deficiency combined with spleen deficiency. For example, people with insufficient kidney essence have poor spleen and stomach, such as not liking to eat and feeling weak all over. People with spleen deficiency have kidney deficiency, while those with weak temperament also have lower back pain, weak legs, decreased memory, hair loss, and so on. So I often say that people don't get sick from books. The difference between spleen deficiency and kidney deficiency is so obvious in books. Spleen deficiency is spleen deficiency, and kidney deficiency is kidney deficiency. However, when it comes to clinical practice, you will find that there is also kidney deficiency in a person's spleen deficiency, kidney deficiency, spleen and kidney deficiency, as well as some liver qi deficiency, blood deficiency, lung qi deficiency, and excessive heart fire. The human body is a very complex system.
So, in the process of treatment, clinical doctors will find that (to some extent) every doctor in ancient times was right. Why? They describe very typical patient states separately. I believe that if those medical professionals were to go back to the present, they would all come back to life and come back to this era. Looking at the current patients, many of their ideas and statements would change according to their current state. They would definitely bring up the concept of "spleen kidney deficiency mixed with liver depression", which is the most common physical condition I have seen.
It is necessary to first nourish the spleen and stomach of the day after tomorrow. After the spleen and stomach become stronger, the absorption function becomes stronger, and then the liver qi is cleared. After the liver qi is cleared, let him adjust his mentality. After the liver qi is cleared, the last step is to replenish the kidney qi. At this point, the cloying medicines you use, such as Rehmannia glutinosa, Cornus officinalis, Eucommia ulmoides, Goji berries, and so on, can be absorbed into the kidneys through the spleen and stomach, in order to nourish the innate essence of the kidneys. So, when we study the traditional Chinese classic Huangdi Neijing, we must analyze it in relation to specific clinical situations. What does this passage mean? Why does the concept it describes need to be learned by people today, after more than two thousand years of accumulation? Why do people still need to learn now? Because it talks about the path of nature, the way of heaven, and this kind of law, which will not fade away after a thousand, two thousand, or even ten thousand, twenty thousand years. Why? Because it is a natural manifestation of the changes in yin and yang in heaven and earth, and also a law that we need to refer to when contemplating life. In future courses, I will gradually share with you some of my experiences in treating illnesses and maintaining health, as well as some insights into life. These contents are all hidden in the classic Huangdi Neijing. I hope everyone can join me and learn together to master and make good use of this classic.
Disclaimer: This article is a sharing of health knowledge. The drugs, prescriptions, acupuncture and moxibustion and other treatment and health preserving methods mentioned in this article should be applied under the guidance of professional doctors, and should not be applied by yourself. We are not responsible for any issues arising from improper use.