Penis

In TCM, the penis is considered a "great sinew," and as such it is closely related to the Liver through its function of nourishing the sinews, and to the Kidney through its reproductive and sexual function. As an analogy: the Liver relates to the gun and the Kidney to the bullets. After the age of 65, as Kidney-Jing declines, sexual activity diminishes.

Impotence, erectile dysfunction

• In a young person with strong Kidney Jing, an erection problem would be related to a blockage in the Liver Channel ("the gun is jammed"). This blockage is possibly caused by emotions (fear, for example), which block Liver-Qi so that it cannot perform its expansive movement.

• The case of premature ejaculation, ejaculation after minimal erection, is more related to Kidney-Jing deficiency and lack of Yang. There may be prostatitis: symptoms include difficult and frequent urination. There may be high libido and spermatorrhoea (seminal leakage).

"Any sexual thought ignites the ministerial fire." Heart-Fire ignites fire in the Lower Burner. If Water is weak, it cannot control Fire and semen must escape. If it stagnates, it produces inflammation and prostatitis.

• High libido: there may be excessive Heart-Fire with Kidney-Jing deficiency that prevents the descent and storage of energy.
• Low libido: deficiency of Kidney-Jing and Yang. Or Liver-Qi may be blocked, with a depressive state of mind.

It is important to understand that Kidney-Jing is the essence of both the Yin and Yang aspects of the Kidney. It may involve Kidney-Yin deficiency or Kidney-Yang deficiency. Their differences:

• Kidney-Yin deficiency: there will be much desire but little capacity to carry out sexual intercourse. There is exterior fire and interior cold. Tonify the Kidney and descend Heart-Fire.

• Kidney-Yang deficiency: little desire and little sexual capacity. Cold, blockage. Needs to warm and tonify the Kidney. If the Liver is blocked, drain to expand.

Genital infection

Genital infection affects both men and women. See also Urology

The symptoms are: itching, pain, inflammation. It may be caused by herpes, gonorrhoea, papilloma, or candida. In TCM this is a pattern of Damp-Heat in the genital area.

• Dampness accumulates when Yang is insufficient to perform the functions of transformation, and this is usually due to weak Kidney-Jing. The genital area is a Yin zone, but there must be Yang within the Yin. A healthy person with strong Kidney-Jing has Yang, which moves, warms, transforms, and prevents the accumulation of Dampness.

• Heat arises from accumulation and stagnation. Stagnant Dampness blocks Liver-Qi and over time produces Heat.

Treatment

If we were to understand the pathology using the analogy of a cold, sealed basement with a puddle of dampness, the treatment principle follows common sense:

• 1st Sun (Yang) dries and evaporates the Dampness.
• 2nd Cleanse: restore order in lifestyle (diet, activity, rest). Unblock Liver-Qi: LR-5, Liver Luo point, "bugs in the pipes," treats genital itching.