劳则气耗新解

New Interpretation of Work Leading to Qi Consumption

“劳则喘息汗出,外内皆越,故气耗矣。”出自《素问·举痛论》。该句揭示了过度劳累会引起喘息、汗出的症状,喘息则肺气散失而内气越,汗出营卫散失而外气越,因而气为之耗散,此处所耗散之“气”,强调的是肺气和营卫之气。但作者认为,一方面此处的劳不仅仅是过度劳累,还应涵盖形劳、房劳以及神劳;另一方面所耗之气也不单单指肺气和营卫之气;正所谓心藏神,过度劳神,心气则伤;久作劳累,思劳伤脾,脾失健运,脾气则伤;肝藏血,疲劳日久,伤及肝血,肝气则伤;房劳过度,肾气不固,气逆而喘,肾气则伤,因此“劳则气耗”所耗之气与肝气、脾气、心气、肾气均有密切关系。

“Hard work can make people breath and sweat heavily,both inside and outside,which lead to Qi consumption as a result.”Which is recorded in“Suwen·pain theory”.The meaning of the above paragraph is that overwork can cause symptoms of wheezing and sweating.Wheezing leads to the loss of lung Qi and the decrease of internal Qi,while Sweating leads to the loss of the Qi of Ying and Wei and the decrease of external Qi,therefore Qi decreases greatly.However,I think on the one hand work not only consumes overwork but also physical over strain,psychological over strain and sexual strain.On the other hand Qi consumption is closely related not only to Qi of lung and Ying-Wei,but also to the Qi of the other four Zang-Organs.Psychological over strain and sexual strain can expend Qi of the spleen and kidney.Spirit is hidden in the heart,blood is hidden in the liver,overwork can expend spirit and blood,which lead to Qi consumption of the heart and liver.Above all,Qi consumption is closely related to the Qi of five Zang-Organs.