Yang qi is the foundation of the body and the source of masculine energy in men. A lack of yang qi in men will not only make them lose their masculinity but also lead to a noticeable decrease in physical fitness, weaker strength, and an overall sense of “weakness.”
When there is excessive loss of yang qi in a man’s body, there are some apparent manifestations such as decreased physical strength, getting out of breath easily with slight movements, feeling cold with frequent chills in hands and feet, frequent fatigue, weakness, body soreness, decreased sleep quality, urinary incontinence, difficulty in urination, increased nocturnal urination, and so on.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the key to health preservation lies in nourishing yang qi, especially for men. Nourishing an adequate amount of yang qi is fundamental to maintaining health. When signs of yang qi deficiency appear, it is essential to promptly tonify yang qi.
How can men restore yang qi once it is lost in the body?
Abdominal massage is a great exercise to restore yang qi. Men with insufficient yang qi should massage their abdomen for 2-5 minutes daily. The specific method involves overlapping both hands, placing them flat on the stomach, and gently massaging in a clockwise direction until slight warmth is felt in the abdomen.
The abdomen is where internal organs gather, so massaging the abdomen regularly can promote the circulation of qi and blood in the internal organs, accelerate blood circulation, ensure ample blood supply to various tissues of the body, stimulate intestinal peristalsis, facilitate the elimination of feces, improve the internal environment, and even relax the brain if done before sleep, thereby enhancing sleep quality.
Engaging in anal sphincter exercises helps promote the restoration of yang qi. This simple exercise involves regularly contracting the anal sphincter, which can enhance blood circulation in the intestines, promote intestinal peristalsis, accelerate the elimination of feces, improve the intestinal microbiota environment, optimize gastrointestinal conditions, and boost the body’s digestive capacity.
Due to spending prolonged periods sitting, many men are prone to developing hemorrhoids, which can deplete yang qi. Regularly practicing anal sphincter exercises can also ameliorate and regulate hemorrhoids, alleviating local discomfort.
Performing five minutes of deep breathing upon waking in the morning can expel accumulated carbon dioxide from the body, enhance the body’s metabolic capacity, promote the ascending movement of yang qi, and improve lung function. As smoking is prevalent among men, it severely damages the lungs, affecting the body’s oxygen supply and consuming excessive yang qi. Deep breathing helps increase lung capacity, enhance lung function, and protect the lungs.
Oysters and beef are warm-tonifying foods that, when consumed regularly, aid in enhancing yang qi. Dietary supplementation is a crucial method for yang qi replenishment. To boost yang qi, one should consume more spleen-warming and yang-tonifying foods such as oysters and beef.
Oysters are rich in zinc and various nutrients. Regular consumption can delay physical decline and strengthen the body. Beef is protein-rich, warm-tonifying, and can increase muscle mass, tonify spleen, and improve symptoms of yang qi deficiency.
Sleep is the optimal time for yang qi restoration. To replenish lost yang qi, adjusting one’s schedule is important, and going to bed before the Hai time is necessary. The Hai time spans from nine to eleven o’clock at night, during which the Triple Burner meridian operates. Sleeping at this time helps clear the Triple Burner, ensuring better circulation of yang qi, benefiting spleen health. Persistently staying awake past Hai time not only leads to yang qi depletion but also blockages in the Triple Burner meridian, causing yang qi to disperse incorrectly, resulting in symptoms of upper heat and lower cold in the body.
Why does yang qi become deficient? The main reason is closely related to unhealthy lifestyle habits that deplete internal yang qi. Factors such as staying up late, consuming raw and cold foods, prolonged sitting, long hours of air conditioning exposure, excessive fatigue, and overstressing the body deplete yang qi silently over time, leading to a gradual depletion and leaving the body in a state of yang qi deficiency.
To restore internal yang qi, besides engaging in the above activities, it is crucial to change unhealthy lifestyle habits. Practicing early sleeping and rising, moderate exercise, balanced diet, a positive outlook, staying away from tobacco and alcohol, adopting a healthy lifestyle will help replenish yang qi, making it sufficient once again.
