Properties: Salty, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidneys
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Replenishes Jing and extends lifespan
Used in sexual alchemy practices to extend life.
Suggested Daily Dosage: None given.
Cautions: Besides no evidence of efficacy there are clearly possible risks of STDs.
Notes:
Not normally consumed but is an important component of many sexual internal alchemy longevity techniques where one's own semen is retained to prevent loss of Jing and instead redirected into the subsequent meditation practices. However, some rites have existed that involve the consumption of one's own or others' essence as an alchemical substance to artificially supplement their own Jing, a practice considered wicked and harmful to most.
Li Shizhen writes: "Evil alchemists [邪術家] fool stupid maidens and mate with them. Then they drink the vaginal secretions of the girls. Or they blend their own semen with the menstrual blood of a maiden and eat it. This mixture is called Qiangong [鉛汞] (lead and mercury). They consider this a treasured drug and indulge in sex excessively, eating such a foul thing. This practice will shorten their lifespans greatly. What a stupid thing!
(Li Shizhen, 1597, trans. Luo, 2003: 4173)".
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, has been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
