Expert: R. Scott Malone L.Ac. - 9/26/2009

Question
I am a 60 year old woman currently seeing a TCM practitioner - a younger Chinese male - for issues related to fatigue. I have an concern I am not quite ready to talk about with him. I have been having some problems with a variety of interesting sensations in my genital area and have been struggling with what is going on. I have wondered if I have a UTI, a vaginal infection, etc. There has been some discomfort when urinating, but none of the major symptoms that I associate with those issues.  I have posted questions elsewhere, about this as I try to figure out if I need to go get tested. In continuing to research this, however, I have a more specific question that I hope that you can help me with that has to do with the initial and primary symptom.

I am wondering if as a result of the Chinese herbs that I have been taking for and/or my practice of a Qi Gong approach targeted to women, I am experiencing increased blood flow to my clitoris and surrounding area. I have this constant sensation that is like being slightly aroused and I am wondering if increased blood flow is the explanation.

Among the herbs that I have taken and may take based on what is going on are: An Shen Bu Xin Wan (I read that the Schisandra in that might have an impact on hormones), Six Gentlemen Plus Teapills, Gui Pi Wan, Te Xiao Bi Min Gan Wan, Jade Screen, Eight Flavor Rehmannia Teapills. (I have multiple issues and my process seems to be “dynamic” - one issue recedes, another comes forward, etc.) If the herbs might be causing this hormonal adjustment, does that mean I should reduce the amount or just assume it will all level out eventually?

Answer
Hi Ellen,

First off let me commend you for adding qi gong to your acupuncture/herbal regimen.
For fatigue especially, but really any issue, qi gong is a great boon to your recovery.

When you build and circulate qi, you will also build and circulate blood.
Blood is the mother of qi, qi is the commander of blood.
As the qi circulates, so will blood. Qi gong can directly build the kidney qi, the kidney channel is a major player in sexual function. You may be awakening and enlivening sexual function again.
Another factor in sexual function is the liver channel as it actually circles the sex organs.
The liver channel is responsible for the circulation of qi in the body to a large extent.
As you build and circulate qi, you balance the liver function and this too can activate sexual sensation.

The herbs you are on sound perfect to me, I think you have found a great practitioner and that these sensations, while unnerving, are a great sign of your recovery. They should all settle down as the system balances and regulates.

Sexual energy is a great indicator of healthy qi. When sexual energy builds up, most people release it, to help build the energy of the body, it is important to circulate it in the body.

If the energy build up is bothersome, perhaps more focus on circulation is needed.
Here is a simple, safe exercise to help you circulate excess energy.

This is called the microcosmic orbit and is a common and well know practice in qigong.

Put the tongue to the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth. VERY IMPORTANT.
Focus on the perineum and breathe in and out with your focus there until you feel it start to tingle.
Then, inhale the energy into your coccyx the small residual tail at the base of the spine.
Inhale the energy up into the tailbone and exhale to the perineum. You may feel a coldness or spikiness as the channel clears. When the channel feels clear, proceed to inhale up the spine into the skull and down the tongue and the front of the body to the perineum.

If you feel a blockage just inhale back and forth through across it gently until it dissolves.
You may also just rest your mind at the blockage until it clears. Then proceed to inhale up the spine.

When you are done circulating, place your mind at the dan tien two or three fingers below the navel in front of the spine and store the energy there.

Qi gong is a dynamic process and fluctuations in the qi system are to be expected as your body acclimatizes to a greater qi flow.

I think you have a great practitioner and are making great strides. Keep it up, circulate the energy and you should balance out in short order. Realize that you may reach a balance and then things get a bit weird again, this is normal in qi gong, concentrate on circulation again instead of building and you'll be fine. KEEP YOUR TONGUE UP! It creates a circuit so that energy in the head can be sent down the body.

Feel free to ask again in the future if you have other questions, your practitioner is probably well aware of these qi gong symptoms, they are normal and natural and you should feel free to talk to him about them.

Best of luck and good job,

R. Scott Malone L.Ac.