Patient's question:
I am 42 years old, male, Han Chinese. I have been masturbating for over 30 years, every day, and now I often feel lower back pain. The sides of my lower back often hurt, but not severely. However, I have noticed a significant decline in my memory—I sometimes forget the names of celebrities even when I see them. There are also occasional cases of tinnitus. Is this related to masturbation? I am married with children, and my sexual life is relatively normal, averaging about four times a month. But I cannot break the habit of masturbation. I am also very troubled. What should I do? Is the lower back pain related to masturbation? Please give me an urgent reply from an expert. Thank you very much for your help!Doctor's answer:
Hello: This is a clear symptom of kidney deficiency, but it's hard to determine whether you have yang deficiency or yin deficiency based on your description. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers kidney yang deficiency as a type of cold syndrome characterized by the decline of kidney yang, failure to warm the body, and loss of function in Qi transformation.Symptoms include: pale complexion, sore and cold knees and lower back, feeling cold, especially in the limbs, impotence and premature ejaculation in men, cold semen, uterine cold and infertility in women, reduced libido, or loose stools, frequent clear urine, nocturia, pale tongue with white coating, weak and deep pulse, especially on the (solar plexus). Treatment generally focuses on warming and tonifying kidney yang, and herbs like Jinkui Shenqi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pill) and Yougui Wan (Right Regulating Pill) may be used.
TCM also considers kidney yin deficiency as a weak syndrome caused by insufficient nourishment and the generation of internal heat. Symptoms include: sore and weak knees and lower back, dizziness and tinnitus, spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation in men, insomnia and forgetfulness, dry mouth and throat, heat in the palms, soles, and chest (), night sweats, flushed cheeks (feeling hot), yellow and scanty urine, red tongue with little moisture, thin or no coating, and a thin and rapid pulse. Treatment generally focuses on nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys, and herbs like Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Flavor Rehmannia Pill) and Zuogui Wan (Left Regulating Pill) may be used.
However, TCM emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment. It's best to consult a local traditional Chinese medicine hospital for a clinical examination and a combination of the four diagnostic methods ().