Library

Various forms of Lin syndrome (strangury) and difficulty in urination are all caused by the obstruction of the Qi mechanism of the Five Zang organs, the disharmony of the Six Fu organs, the stagnation and roughness of the San Jiao (Triple Burner), and the depletion and loss of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi. These conditions may result from drinking alcohol after being exposed to heat, engaging in sexual intercourse while excessively drunk, leading to the exhaustion of spirit and laboring injury of Qi and Blood; or from lust for women causing seminal fluid to remain unexcreted; or from excessive indulgence in concubines leading to the massive loss of true marrow; or from惊惶 (fright and panic) with irregular daily routines; or from excessive worry and unsettled mind; or from irregular timing of hunger and fullness; or from vigorous running followed immediately by stopping; or from forcibly holding back urine and feces; or from prolonged sexual arousal without release; or from cold pathogens invading the bladder; or from summer-heat pathogens affecting the urinary bladder sac. Such injuries arise from carelessness, giving rise to this disease. The symptoms vary, and thus the names differ, falling into eight categories: Cold Lin, Heat Lin, Qi Lin, Labor Lin, Gao (Paste/Grease) Lin, Sha (Sand) Lin, Deficiency Lin, and Excess Lin.

Cold Lin is characterized by frequent urination with urine color white like rice wash water.
Heat Lin is characterized by difficult, astringent urination with urine color red like blood.
Qi Lin is characterized by fullness and oppression in the umbilical and abdominal regions, with difficult and painful urination.
Labor Lin is characterized by continuous dribbling of urine, dripping like water without cessation.
Gao Lin is characterized by the discharge of substances resembling grease or paste in the urine.
Sha Lin is characterized by dull pain in the abdomen and umbilicus, difficult urination, and unbearable pain that subsides momentarily as sand-like stones are passed through the urethra. The stones may be as large as fish eggs, varying in color between red or white (or yellow according to some texts), with no fixed luster. This condition arises from weak Kidney Qi combined with lust for women, where sexual activity occurs without ejaculation, or where ejaculation is uncontrollable, damaging the True Qi. Pathogenic heat gradually intensifies, condensing and aggregating to form stones. This is analogous to boiling salt in water: when the fire is strong and the water scarce, the salt gradually solidifies into stones. The Kidney belongs to Water, and the salty flavor returns to the Kidney. As water is consumed downward and deficiency-heat increases daily, it boils and coagulates to form stones. This pathology does not develop overnight but emerges after a long period, typically manifesting around five years. Once the condition deteriorates, death may occur within three years. Even in robust individuals, disaster will inevitably strike within five years. Urgent treatment is required. Among the eight types of Lin, Sha Lin is the most critical. If the pulse is large, forceful, and excess, the condition is treatable; if the pulse is deficient, small, and choppy, it is untreatable. "Deficiency" refers to the simultaneous weakness of the Kidney and Bladder, manifesting as seminal slipperiness, nocturnal emission, and involuntary urination. "Excess" refers to the closure and stagnation of meridians and collaterals, impeding the water pathways, manifesting as penile pain and leg soreness. Furthermore, regarding various Lin syndromes, if the accompanying signs match the syndrome, the prognosis is favorable; if they contradict the syndrome, the prognosis is ominous. Therefore, during treatment, careful deliberation is essential.