**4. Kidney stores Essence theory**

"Qi" in TCM is the overall appellation on all the invisible subtle energetic materials in constant motion in the human body and functional activities of internal organs, is both an important part of the body, and is the power source of vital activities. In terms of its source, Qi originated from Essence and can be converted by Essence and is a more subtle material than Essence; Qi can also produce Essence, Essence, and Qi can be interconverted. In terms of its function, Qi can stimulate and promote the functional activities of the Zang-Fu organs and control the process of the human body; Qi is the fundamental that supports the life activity of the body, so when the movement of Qi stops, the end of life will arrive. Essence belongs to Yin, is tangible, and tends to be a material property; Qi belongs to Yang, is intangible, and tends to be a functional property. Essence is the material basis of viscera functional activities, and Qi is the

motive force of promoting and regulating physiological activities of Zang-Fu organs.

shows that Qi is closely related to health, disease, and life.

4 Chinese Medical Therapies for Diabetes, Infertility, Silicosis and the Theoretical Basis

**3. Qi and diseases**

Qi deficiency"—especially.

Qi, as the master of the brain, regulates Yin-Yang and five elements, tonifies the five vital organs of the human body, keeps the six hollow viscera unobstructed, and is in charge of chemical and biological transformation and defenses. Qi of the human body comes from the congenital Essence inherited from parents, the refined food Essence transformed by the spleen, and the fresh air inhaled by the Lung. After birth, the congenital Essence is stored in the kidney to promote development and to control the reproductive activity of the human body. "Both life and death depend on Qi." Qi always underpins the basic theory of TCM and acts as its cornerstone. Qi has been used as a healing technique in China for 4000 years. This

According to TCM, "Qi is the root of the human"; "All the diseases originate from Qi." Qi dominates the whole vital activities. Qi can make the human body work in an orderly fashion by promoting a variety of physiological activities; "Qi deficiency" will lead to a decline of physiological functions. As one part of a central medical classic *The Yellow Emperor*'*s Inner Canon*, "Plain Questions" pointed out that consumption of the vital Essence Qi leads to deficiency. The basic idea of TCM to prevent and cure diseases is strengthening vital Qi to eliminate pathogenic factors. Strengthening vital Qi can improve body's resistance to disease, in order to eliminate weakness syndromes, ward off illnesses, and be physically strong. On the understanding of the etiology, TCM theory emphasizes the cause of disease—"vital

Xing-Tai Li proposes a scientific hypothesis that "Qi is bioenergy" [1] and Qi deficiency can lead to bioenergetic dysfunction, which can be improved by Qi invigoration and demonstrates that Qi invigoration was achieved through improved mitochondrial bioenergetics [2]. The central player in bioenergetics is the mitochondrion. Bioenergetic dysfunction is emerging as a cornerstone for understanding the pathophysiology of mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction would undermine the function of cells, tissues, and organs, thereby causing cancer, diabetes, obesity, strokes, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, aging, etc. Currently, there are no effective treatments, yet the causes of these Essence Qi theory of ancient Chinese philosophy provides a premise condition to the birth of the Kidney stores Essence theory of TCM. Kidney stores Essence, Essence can be converted to Qi, and Qi converted by the Kidney Essence is Kidney Qi; therefore, if the Kidney Essence is sufficient, Kidney Qi is filling, and if the Kidney Essence is deficient, Kidney Qi fails. Kidney dominates growth, development, and reproduction of the body; this is the physiological function of Kidney Essence and Kidney Qi. Thus, the life processes of the human body, including birth, growth, prime, aging, and death, as well as reproductive ability, all depend on the rise and fall of Kidney Essence and Kidney Qi. Kidney Essence deficiency will result to insufficient reproductive Essence and ultimately lead to male infertility, female menopause, and infertility. Deficient Kidney Essence cannot produce enough Kidney Qi, so the sexual hypofunction will occur.

Kidney Qi can be divided into Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang, whose material basis is Kidney Qi, and they are the two different attributes of the Kidney Qi, of which Kidney Yin is the source of Yin Qi in the whole body and Kidney Yang is the root of Yang Qi in the whole body; the balance and coordination between Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang maintain the function of Kidney in TCM [5].

In Chapter 1, Shuang Ling et al. reviewed the effects of Kidney Essence-, Kidney Yang-, Kidney Yin-, Kidney Qi-, and kidney-nourishing Chinese herbal formulas and single herbs on the kidney endocrine substances and propose the idea that kidney endocrine substances, such as renin, kallikrein, erythropoietin (EPO), calcitriol, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)- 7, and klotho, are potential candidates of the material basis of Kidney Essence.
