Cold and thin sperm according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Cold and thin sperm can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like cold and thin sperm here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here cold and thin sperm is often associated with lower back pain, cold and weak knees and feeling of cold in the pattern “Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of cold and thin sperm we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Li Zhong Wan can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause cold and thin sperm
In Chinese Medicine cold and thin sperm is a symptom for the pattern "Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to cold and thin sperm, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency include lower back pain, cold and weak knees and feeling of cold.
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency is often treated with Li Zhong Wan, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Dried Ginger - Gan Jiang - as a key herb). Li Zhong Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm the middle and dispel cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Middle Burner".
A herbal formula that might help with cold and thin sperm
Li Zhong Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle Burner. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Li Zhong Wan help with cold and thin sperm?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which cold and thin sperm is a symptom.
Dried ginger might help with cold and thin sperm
Why might Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) help with cold and thin sperm?
Because it is a key herb in Li Zhong Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' (a pattern with cold and thin sperm as a symptom)
Dried Ginger is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold.
Other symptoms often associated with cold and thin sperm
Lower back pain Cold and weak knees Feeling of cold Weak legs Bright-white complexion Impotence Premature ejaculation Low sperm count Loss of libido Tiredness