Premature aging 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.
Premature aging 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 premature aging 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 premature aging is often associated with dizziness, tinnitus and sore back in the pattern “Kidney Essence Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of premature aging we’ve identified three herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat premature aging.
Kidney Essence Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause premature aging
In Chinese Medicine premature aging is a symptom for the pattern "Kidney Essence Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Essence Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Pale
Kidney Essence (Jing 精) Deficiency usually involves Deficiency of Kidney Yin and, to some extent, Kidney Yang. Its symptoms are typically in relation to growth, development, reproduction, sexuality, bones, marrow, the brain, teeth, memory and hair.
In addition to premature aging, other symptoms associated with Kidney Essence Deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus and sore back.
Kidney Essence Deficiency is often treated with Zuo Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Zuo Gui Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Yin".
Three herbal formulas that might help with premature aging
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan
Source date: 1550 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Kidney Yang. Strengthens the Essence.
Why might Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan help with premature aging?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which premature aging is a symptom.
Tu Si Zi Wan
Source date: 1253 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Kidneys. Prevents abnormal leakage such as urinary incontinence or seminal emissions.
Why might Tu Si Zi Wan help with premature aging?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which premature aging is a symptom.
Zuo Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys. Fills the Essence. Augments the marrow.
Why might Zuo Gui Wan help with premature aging?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which premature aging is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat premature aging
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with premature aging?
Because Cuscuta Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat premature aging as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Cuscuta Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver.
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with premature aging?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat premature aging as a symptom, like Zuo Gui Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Why might Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi) help with premature aging?
Because Goji Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat premature aging as a symptom, like Zuo Gui Wan or Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan for instance.
Goji Berries is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Yin of the Kidneys. Brightens the eyes. Moistens the Lungs.
Why might Deer Antler Glue (Lu Jiao Jiao) help with premature aging?
Because Deer Antler Glue is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat premature aging as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Zuo Gui Wan for instance.
Deer Antler Glue is a Warm herb that tastes Salty and Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Yang tonification of the Kidneys and Liver, and to nourish vital Essence and Blood
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with premature aging?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat premature aging as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Raises the collapse of Yang. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold. Reduces Damp caused by Deficiency in Yang.
Other symptoms often associated with premature aging
Dizziness Tinnitus Night sweats Hot flushes Sore back Blurred vision Dry throat Infertility Poor memory Malar flush