Treatment of Cardiac Aging Based on Essence-Qi-spirit Theory of Qi-collateral Doctrine
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20260443
- VernacularTitle:基于气络学说精气神理论论治心脏衰老
- Author:
Xuan LU
1
;
Hongrong LI
1
;
Runtao ZHANG
1
;
Yuning JIANG
1
;
Yutong LI
1
;
Yuqin YANG
1
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory， Shijiazhuang 050091，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Qi-collateral doctrine;
essence-Qi-spirit theory;
Bazi Bushen capsules;
cardiac aging
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(20):213-220
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Cardiac aging is a key factor in the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Investigating the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） pathogenesis and therapeutic principles of cardiac aging is of great importance for curbing the common phenomenon of the heart aging faster than the body and implementing the national strategy in response to population aging. Essence （Jing）， Qi， and spirit （Shen） are the origin， driving force， and manifestation of life， respectively. The Essence-Qi-spirit theory within the Qi-collateral doctrine delineates the core pathogenesis and therapeutic principles of aging. This framework identifies kidney essence deficiency as the fundamental cause of aging， with primordial Qi depletion as a key factor and the consumption of body and spirit as its manifestations. Corresponding treatment principles involve tonifying the kidney to replenish essence， warming and supporting primordial Qi， and nourishing the body and spirit. During the process of tonifying the kidney， regulating Yin and Yang remains essential. Relevant studies indicate that this theoretical system provides significant guidance for anti-aging research in TCM. Guided by the Essence-Qi-spirit theory within the Qi-collateral doctrine， this paper posits that kidney essence constitutes the material foundation for cardiac development， and primordial Qi acts as the fundamental driver of cardiac function. Physical form and spirit together provide the structural carrier and functional manifestation of the heart. We further propose the core pathogenesis and therapeutic principles for cardiac aging. The fundamental pathogenesis lies in the deficiency and decline of kidney essence， leading to malnourishment of the heart. The key pathogenesis is the deficiency of primordial Qi， resulting in obstruction of the heart collateral. The manifestation involves the accumulation in the collateral and the dysfunction of the heart spirit. The corresponding treatment principles are tonifying the kidney and replenishing essence to nourish the heart， warming and reinforcing primordial Qi to unblock the heart collateral， and fortifying the physical form to invigorate the spirit mechanism. Existing studies demonstrate that Bazi Bushen Capsules， with the effects of tonifying the kidney， replenishing essence， warming primordial Qi， and fortifying the physical form and spirit， can delay cardiac aging. Guided by the Essence-Qi-spirit theory within the Qi-collateral doctrine， these findings support the development of effective herbal formulas to intervene in cardiac aging.
