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Xu (30 years old): The pulse is fine, rapid, and choppy. Fire-heat in the upper jiao ascends; he prefers pungent and sour foods that refresh the palate. Last year, due to seminal emission and impotence, he used Er Zhi Wan (Two Winter Decoction) combined with various tonifying and filling prescriptions without effect. This is due to damage from overwork and excessive thinking causing Qi stagnation. Treatment should focus on the Shaoyang channel to smooth and unblock Qi and Blood. (Etiology: Qi Stagnation)

Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), Yu Jin (Curcumae Radix), Shan Zhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata), Guang Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Fu Ling (Poria), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens).

Zhong (16 years old): Under thirty years of age, yet unable to achieve erection. This is due to weak congenital endowment, where Heart Qi fails to descend and interact with the Kidney. It is not like the Yang decline in the elderly, where warm-tonifying methods are routinely applied. Treatment should fill the Marrow Sea and facilitate communication between the Heart and Kidney. (Pathogenesis: Heart-Kidney Non-Interaction)

Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata), Xiong Yang Shen (Aries Testis), Qi Zi (Lycii Fructus), Bu Gu Zhi (Psoraleae Fructus), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), Yuan Zhi (Polygalae Radix), Fu Ling (Poria), Hu Tao Ren (Juglandis Semen), Qing Yan (Halitum), Lu Jin Jiao Wan (Deer Sinew Gelatin Pills).

Wang (57 years old): Reported having no male offspring and a history of penile retraction/shrinkage. In men, deficiency often begins in the lower jiao. Working at an inn and exerting mental effort excessively, Heart Yang has long consumed Kidney Yin. Treated with a combination of Ban Long Wan (Spotted Dragon Pill) and Ju Jing Wan (Accumulate Essence Pill). (Etiology: Overexertion of the Mind)

For men, the number eight is significant. By the age of sixty, impotence is natural. If one can still procreate beyond this age, it indicates strong congenital endowment, what is referred to as "Yang is often in excess." However, for those suffering from this condition in youth, adulthood, or middle age, it is caused by sexual excess damaging the Liver and Kidney. The Master's established method requires vigorous tonification of True Yuan. Since Yang Qi is damaged, True Yin must also be impaired. Purely using harsh, hot, dry, and astringent tonics will inevitably cause imbalance. Therefore, moistening substances from animal sources (flesh and blood products) are usually combined for slow regulation. There are also cases caused by fear; since fear injures the Kidney and causes Qi to sink, treatment should secure the Kidney with a slight addition of herbs that raise Yang. Cases resulting from mental worry and fatigue require simultaneous treatment of the Heart, Spleen, and Kidney. Cases where depression damages the generation of Yang Qi must be treated via the Gallbladder. As the Classics state, "All eleven zang-fu organs depend on the Gallbladder," and "Shaoyang serves as the pivot." If Gallbladder Qi expands and flows freely, how can there be stagnation? Furthermore, in cases of Damp-Heat, the tendons (Zong Jin) become flaccid and unable to erect. Treatment uses bitter herbs to firm Yin and bland herbs to leach out Dampness. Once Dampness is removed and Heat cleared, the disease recedes. In cases of Yangming deficiency, the tendons relax because the Stomach is the sea of water and grain; if food intake is poor, Essence and Qi will be deficient. Moreover, the external genitalia are called "Shi" (Power/Momentum); if Grain Qi is not sufficient, seeking robust erection is difficult. Treatment lies solely in unblocking and tonifying Yangming. (Commentary by Hua Xiuyun)

Xu's Commentary: The symptoms of impotence are manifold and endless; they cannot be fully explained without a dedicated treatise of thousands of words. I will detail them separately elsewhere and will not repeat them here.