Seminal emission

1. Also seminal loss. Involuntary loss of semen (essence). In a broad sense, seminal emission refers to any involuntary loss of semen (seminal loss); in a narrower sense, it refers to loss of semen during sleep, the most common form. Seminal emission is mildest when it occurs while dreaming (dream emission). It is more severe if it occurs without dreaming (seminal emission without dreaming), or while awake in the daytime (seminal efflux and when profuse great seminal discharge). It is said that essence [i.e., semen] is moved by the spirit in response to the heart. In dream emission, the disease is mostly in the heart, whereas in seminal emission without dreaming, the disease is usually in the kidney. If evil is involved, the patterns are repletion and heat; if no evil is involved, the patterns are vacuity and cold. Seminal emission at the onset of illness is usually caused by evil fire stirring the essence chamber. In enduring illness In enduring illness In enduring illness, it is usually due to internal damage by the seven affects and disharmony of the organs. The main causes are effulgent sovereign and ministerial fire, heart vacuity and liver depression, insecurity of kidney qì, noninteraction of the heart and kidney, and spleen vacuity qì fall.

Patterns

Effulgent sovereign and ministerial fire (君相火旺 jūn xiàng huǒ wàng) causes dream emission and frequent erections. Other signs include a) heart palpitation or fearful throbbing, vexation, red face, b) dizzy head and flowery vision, c) aching lumbus and tinnitus, and d) tidal heat, night sweating, and emaciation. The tongue is red with little fur, the pulse fine stringlike and rapid, large and vacuous, or stringlike and vacuous at the cubit.

Medicinal therapy: Treat by enriching yīn and downbearing fire, assisted by subduing and settling. Use Heaven, Human, and Earth Marrow-Retaining Elixir (三才封髓丹 sān cái fēng suǐ dān) plus dragon bone (Mastodi Ossis Fossilia, 龙骨 lóng gǔ), oyster shell (Ostreae Concha, 牡蛎 mǔ lì), tortoise shell (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum, 龟版 guī bǎn), gardenia (Gardeniae Fructus, 栀子 zhī zǐ), and coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma, 黄连 huáng lián).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, HT, KI, and LR. Drain BL-15 (Heart Transport, 心俞 xīn shù), HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén), HT-8 (Lesser Mansion, 少府 shào fǔ), and LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng); supplement BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), BL-52 (Will Chamber, 志室 zhì shì), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo).

Heart vacuity and liver depression (心虚肝郁 xīn xū gān yù) causes frequent alternating dream emission and seminal emission. Accompanying signs include: a) distension and fullness in the rib-side, sighing; b) heart palpitation, insomnia, dizziness, and lassitude of spirit, c) heart vexation, susceptibility to fright, reduced sleep, and mental depression; d) intermittent alternating heat and cold, bitter taste in the mouth, and reduced food intake. The tongue is red at the tip with a white fur, while the pulse is large, stringlike, vacuous and rapid.

Medicinal therapy: Course the liver and eliminate depression; nourish the heart and quiet the spirit. Use Free Wanderer Powder (逍遥散 xiāo yáo sǎn) plus cinnabar (Cinnabaris, 朱砂 zhū shā), or use Arborvitae Seed Heart-Nourishing Pill (柏子养心丸 bǎi zǐ yǎng xīn wán) combined with Free Wanderer Powder (逍遥散 xiāo yáo sǎn).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on PC, LR, SP, HT, and back transport points. Supplement HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén), BL-15 (Heart Transport, 心俞 xīn shù), and BL-43 (Gāo-Huāng Transport, 膏肓俞 gāo huāng shù) to nourish the heart and quiet the spirit. Drain PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo) to soothe the liver and eliminate depression. A combination of supplementing and draining nourishes the heart and regulates the liver, quiets the spirit and secures essence.

Insecurity of kidney qì (肾气不固 shèn qì bù gù) causes seminal emission unassociated with dreaming or frequent seminal emission. Accompanying signs are: a) limp aching lumbus and knees and listlessness of essence-spirit; b) clouded head and tinnitus, panting on physical exertion, bright-white facial complexion and emaciation; c) increased urination at night or frequent urination. The tongue is pale with white fur, and the pulse is sunken and weak.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the kidney and astringe essence. Use Essence-Containing Pill (秘精丸 mì jīng wán).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, and KI. Select CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), KI-12 (Great Manifestation, 大赫 dà hè), BL-52 (Will Chamber, 志室 zhì shì), BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ): needle with supplementation and add moxa.

Noninteraction of the heart and kidney (心肾不交 xīn shèn bù jiāo) causes dream emission accompanied a) vexation and insomnia and limp aching lumbus and knees; and b) dizziness and tinnitus, dry mouth and pharynx, and in some cases tidal heat and night sweating. The tongue is red with scant fur, and the pulse is rapid at the inch and sunken at the cubit, or large, vacuous, and rapid.

Medicinal therapy: Promote heart-kidney interaction; enrich water and quiet the spirit. Use Cinnabar Spirit-Quieting Pill (朱砂安神丸 zhū shā ān shén wán) combined either with Celestial Emperor Heart-Supplementing Elixir (天王补心丹 tiān wáng bǔ xīn dān) or with Coptis and Ass Hide Glue Decoction (黄连阿胶汤 huáng lián ē jiāo tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, HT, and KI. Drain BL-15 (Heart Transport, 心俞 xīn shù), HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén), and PC-7 (Great Mound, 大陵 dà líng); supplement BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo).

Spleen vacuity qì fall (脾虚气陷 pí xū qì xiàn) causes seminal efflux with a) shortness of breath and laziness to speak, fatigued limbs and lack of strength, and withered-yellow facial complexion; b) torpid intake, bland taste in the mouth, diarrhea with sloppy stool, distension and sagging in the stomach duct and abdomen after eating, and lack of warmth in the limbs. The tongue is pale with white fur, while the pulse is sunken and weak or sunken and fine.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the center and boost qì; fortify the spleen and secure essence. Use Center-Supplementing Qì-Boosting Decoction (补中益气汤 bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng) plus lotus fruit/seed (Nelumbinis Semen, 莲子 lián zǐ), dragon bone (Mastodi Ossis Fossilia, 龙骨 lóng gǔ), and oyster shell (Ostreae Concha, 牡蛎 mǔ lì) to fortify the spleen and upbear qì and to secure essence. Alternatively, use Mysterious Fragrance Powder (妙香散 miào xiāng sǎn) or Origin-Securing Brew (秘元煎 mì yuán jiān).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, SP, and ST. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán); needle with supplementation and add moxa. For other patterns, see damp-heat seminal emission; depressed heat seminal emission; phlegm congestion seminal emission. See also white ooze.

2. Specifically, involuntary loss of semen during sleep.