Part 5 of 6 in the "Can I see a TCM practitioner while preparing for pregnancy" series. Part 4 covers the advice that applies to both partners and the options a consultation raises; this part covers the angle the theory takes.

In TCM theory, this stretch of life centres on three things: attending to the cycle (调经), nourishing blood (养血), and settling the spirit (安神).

The three are often quoted and rarely explained. To see why they belong together, two underlying concepts come first — 天癸 (tian gui) and 冲任 (the Chong and Ren meridians).

What this part is not. It sets out how one body of theory describes this stage — not a judgement about anyone, and not a guide to "how to conceive more easily". It makes no such promise, and anyone who does is worth being careful about.

The short version

• 天癸 — tian gui: the World Health Organization's standard terminology for TCM defines it as a substance generated by abundant kidney essence that boosts the maturity of the reproductive organs and maintains the reproductive function.
• 冲任 — the Chong and Ren: listed among the eight extra meridians; the standard's definition of menstrual disorders states these often result from disharmony between them.
• The three therefore line up: tian gui the foundation, the Chong and Ren the cycle, blood the material basis, the spirit the coordinator.
• The practitioner reads a few months of cycle records. That is an observation the practitioner reads, not a target to be corrected.
• These are the theory's directions, not a prescription for you personally. The assessment of reproductive function itself belongs to the doctors in parts 1 and 6.
• Severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, or fever with lower abdominal pain: call 999 now, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

I. Two underlying concepts: tian gui, and the Chong and Ren

天癸 — tian gui. The World Health Organization's standard terminology for TCM defines tian gui as a material substance transformed and generated by abundant kidney essence, which boosts the maturity of the reproductive organs and maintains the reproductive function.

The same standard defines "the kidney governs reproduction" as the function of kidney essence and qi in boosting the maturity of the reproductive organs and maintaining reproductive ability. In other words, the theory places the foundation of reproductive function in the "kidney" system.

冲任 — the Chong and Ren meridians. The standard lists the Chong and Ren among the eight extra meridians, which facilitate the connections among the twelve regular meridians and harmonize yin, yang, qi and blood. The Ren meridian runs mainly along the neck, face and the midline of the chest and abdomen; the Chong mainly over the chest and face, inside the spine and along the first lateral line of the abdomen.

In its definition of the "menstrual disorders" group, the standard states that these often result from disharmony between the Chong and Ren meridians. The theory therefore hangs the regularity of the cycle directly on the state of these two meridians.

With those two concepts, the three things line up: the kidney and tian gui are the foundation, the Chong and Ren govern the cycle, blood is the cycle's material basis, and the spirit is the overall coordinator.

This is the theory's framework, not a judgement about anyone. The tian gui and "kidney governs reproduction" entries describe how the theory accounts for where reproductive function comes from; they are not something the consultation sets out to "tonify" or "adjust". The assessment of reproductive function itself belongs to the doctors in parts 1 and 6.

II. Each of the three in turn

调经 — attending to the cycle. The theory treats the menstrual cycle — its timing, flow and what accompanies it — as a window on the state of qi, blood and the Chong and Ren. The practitioner reads a few months of cycle records — start date, days, changes in flow — as a reference for your overall state. Those records and a medication list are worth preparing beforehand (see what to prepare before an online consultation).

The record is an observation the practitioner reads, not a target to be corrected.

• Why a few months, not one: the standard's entries for cycles that run early, late or irregularly are each defined over three consecutive cycles, with "one week" as the yardstick for early or late.
• What the practitioner reads from the record: two things — regularity (how many days between one start date and the next) and length (how many days each lasts). That is an observation, not a judgement about fertility; the assessment of fertility belongs to the doctors described in parts 1 and 6.

养血 — nourishing blood. The standard defines blood as the red liquid that circulates within the blood vessels to moisten and nourish the body, and "acquired essence" as the nutritive substances obtained through qi transformation of the zang-fu organs after birth.

The theory therefore holds that whether blood is sufficient relates to regular eating, sleep and long-term depletion. The practices attached are ordinary: regular meals, no long run of late nights, no long run of restrictive dieting.

安神 — settling the spirit. The standard defines spirit (神, shen) as the dominance of life activities, the outer manifestation reflecting them, and the state of mind, mood and mental activities, and states that "the heart stores the spirit".

The theory places ongoing tension, low mood and poor sleep under 神, and holds that it interacts with the two above. The practice attached is leaving a stretch of the day for winding down. The pressure those few festive-season questions from relatives create falls under this one too — say it as it is.

III. The habits the theory attaches these to

• Asleep before 11 pm: the theory treats 子时 (11 pm–1 am) as the body's restorative window, so the aim is to be asleep before it begins.
• Regular meals: the everyday practice under nourishing blood.
• Fewer iced drinks: the theory holds the spleen-stomach prefers warmth and that raw-cold slows its work.
• Gentle daily movement: a walk is enough.
• A shared wind-down routine for both partners: closing work together, walking a stretch together.

These are the theory's directions, not a prescription for you personally.

First, the things that cannot wait

Severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, or fever with lower abdominal pain — call 999 now, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. The NHS's pelvic inflammatory disease page puts pelvic pain that is severe or getting worse, pelvic pain with heavy bleeding from the vagina, and a very high temperature at the call-999 tier; the same page describes pelvic inflammatory disease as an infection that affects the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Periods absent for a long stretch or a marked change in the cycle, bleeding between periods or after sex — get this checked. Vaginal bleeding that is unusual for you, including bleeding between periods and during or after sex, is listed among the symptoms of cervical cancer by the NHS.

The full list, and the reason for four of them, are in part 6. TCM and Western medicine complement each other; it is not a choice between them.

A note: this section is general information only. For conditions like these, follow your doctor's diagnosis and treatment, and seek medical attention when you need it.

The words in this part

• 天癸 (tian gui) — a concept inside the theory (defined in section I), not a measurable index.
• 冲任 (the Chong and Ren meridians) — the Chong and the Ren, which the standard lists among the eight extra meridians (section I).
• 后天之精 (acquired essence) — the nutritive substances obtained through qi transformation of the zang-fu organs after birth, in the standard's definition. The theory uses it to account for the relation between eating and blood.
• 神 (shen, spirit) — the standard's definition has three parts (section II), and it states that "the heart stores the spirit".
• 子时 — 11 pm to 1 am, which the theory treats as the body's restorative window.
• 运化 (transformation and transportation) — digestion and absorption. The theory holds the spleen-stomach prefers warmth, and that raw-cold slows it.

The other five parts

• Part 1: Can I see a TCM practitioner while preparing for pregnancy — what this stage is, and how long before you see a doctor
• Part 2: What the pre-pregnancy checks usually include, and where each belongs
• Part 3: What three of those checks are looking for — thalassaemia, rubella, folic acid
• Part 4: The advice that applies to both partners, and the options a consultation raises
• Part 6: When to see a doctor first

👉 To understand your routine and general state during this period from the theory's angle, you are welcome to book an online consultation with HansMed, where a practitioner registered under the T&CM Act 2016 can assess it with you. For questions about fertility itself, see an O&G or a fertility specialist first.

Sit with a licensed TCM practitioner from wherever you are.

HansMed Modern TCM

Sources

• World Health Organization, WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine, Geneva 2022 (ISBN 978-92-4-004232-2), entries 59, 162, 163, 225, 228, 505, 985, 1967, 1968–1970, 2928, 2929 — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240042322
• NHS (UK), Pelvic inflammatory disease, page last reviewed 17 December 2025 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid/
• NHS (UK), Cervical cancer — Symptoms, page last reviewed 4 September 2024 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer/symptoms/

本文是「备孕期间可以看中医吗」系列的第 5 篇，共 6 篇。第 4 篇讲对双方都适用的建议与看诊的选项，这一篇讲理论的角度。

中医理论认为，备孕这段生活的重点在调经、养血、安神三件事。

这三个词常被引用，却很少被解释。要看懂它们为什么放在一起，先要认识两个底层概念——天癸与冲任。

先说清楚这一篇不是什么。 它说明的是一套理论怎么描述这个阶段，不是对任何人的判断，也不是「怎样比较容易怀孕」的指南——它没有这个承诺，任何人给的这种承诺都要小心。

一分钟看完

• 天癸：世界卫生组织的中医术语标准定义为由充盛的肾精化生、促进生殖器官成熟并维持生殖功能的一种物质。
• 冲任：冲脉与任脉，标准列在奇经八脉之中；标准在「月经病」的定义里写明这类病症多由冲任失调所致。
• 三件事因此连成一条线：天癸是根基，冲任管周期，血是物质基础，神是调度。
• 医师会看几个月的周期记录。那是供医师参考的观察资料，不是一个要被「调准」的目标。
• 这些是理论的方向，不是对您个人的处方。生育功能本身的评估，属于第 1 篇与第 6 篇所说的医生。
• 剧烈腹痛、大量出血、发烧伴随下腹痛：请立刻拨打 999，或前往最近的医院急诊部。

一、两个底层概念：天癸与冲任

天癸。 世界卫生组织的中医术语标准把「天癸」定义为：由充盛的肾精化生的一种物质，促进生殖器官成熟并维持生殖功能。

同一份标准把「肾主生殖」定义为肾精与肾气促进生殖器官成熟、维持生殖能力的作用。换句话说，理论把生殖功能的根基归在「肾」这个系统。

冲任。 标准把冲脉与任脉列在奇经八脉之中；八脉的功能是联系十二正经、协调阴阳与气血。任脉主要分布在颈、面与胸腹正中线，冲脉主要分布在胸、面、脊内与腹部第一侧线。

标准在「月经病」这一类的定义里写明：这类病症多由冲任失调所致。理论因此把月经的规律，直接挂在冲任两脉的状态上。

有了这两个概念，三件事就连成一条线：肾与天癸是根基，冲任管周期，血是周期的物质基础，神是整体的调度。

这是理论的框架，不是对任何人的判断。天癸与「肾主生殖」这两条，说明的是理论怎么描述生殖功能的来源；它们不是问诊要「补」或「调」的目标。生育功能本身的评估，属于第 1 篇与第 6 篇所说的医生。

二、三个词逐一说明

调经。 理论把月经的周期、量与伴随的感受，视为观察气血与冲任状态的一扇窗。医师会看几个月的周期记录——开始日、天数、量的变化——作为整体状态的参考。几个月的记录与一份用药清单，是问诊前值得先准备的（见线上问诊前该准备什么）。

周期记录是供医师参考的观察资料，不是一个要被「调准」的目标。

• 为什么是几个月，不是一次：标准里关于周期提前、推后或不定的几个条目，定义都以连续三个周期为观察单位，以「一周」为提前或推后的尺度。
• 医师从记录里读什么：两件事——规律（每次开始日之间相差多少天）和长度（每次持续几天）。这是观察，不是对生育能力的判断；生育方面的评估，属于第 1 篇与第 6 篇所说的医生。

养血。 标准把「血」定义为在脉中循行、濡养全身的红色液体，并把「后天之精」定义为出生后由脏腑气化所得的营养物质。

理论因此认为血的充足与否，与饮食规律、睡眠和长期消耗有关。对应的做法很日常：三餐定时、不长期熬夜、不长期节食。

安神。 标准把「神」定义为生命活动的主宰、生命活动的外在表现，以及精神、情绪与心理活动，并写明「心藏神」。

理论把持续的紧绷、低落与失眠归到「神」的层面，认为它与前两项互相影响。对应的做法是给一天留一段收工的时间。年节时长辈亲戚那几句问候形成的压力，也落在这一项——如实说出来就好。

三、理论把这些附着在几个具体习惯上

• 十一点前入睡：理论认为子时（晚上十一点至凌晨一点）是身体休养的时段，所以尽量在子时前入睡。
• 三餐定时：养血一项的日常做法。
• 少喝冰的：理论认为脾胃喜温，生冷会让运化（消化吸收）变慢。
• 每天温和的活动：散步即可。
• 两个人一起的收工例行：一起关掉工作、一起走一段路。

这些是理论的方向，不是对您个人的处方。

先说不能等的几件事

剧烈腹痛、大量出血、发烧伴随下腹痛——请立刻拨打 999，或前往最近的医院急诊部。NHS 的骨盆腔发炎页把剧烈或持续加剧的骨盆疼痛、骨盆疼痛伴随大量阴道出血，以及很高的体温，都列在立刻拨打 999 那一级；该页说明骨盆腔发炎是一种影响子宫、输卵管与卵巢的感染。

月经长时间没有来或周期出现明显改变，非经期出血或性行为后出血——请就医检查。对您来说不寻常的阴道出血，包括非经期与性行为期间或之后的出血，NHS 把它列在子宫颈癌的症状里。

完整清单，以及其中四项的理由，见第 6 篇。中医与西医是互相补位的关系，不是二选一。

小提醒：本段仅为一般知识说明。相关情况请以西医的诊断与治疗为主，并在需要时及时就医。

这篇出现的几个词

• 天癸（tian gui）——理论里的一个概念（定义见第一节），不是一项可以检验的指标。
• 冲任（the Chong and Ren meridians）——冲脉与任脉，标准列在奇经八脉之中（见第一节）。
• 后天之精（acquired essence）——出生后由脏腑气化所得的营养物质，标准的定义。理论用它说明饮食与血的关系。
• 神（shen）——标准的定义有三层（见第二节），并写明「心藏神」。
• 子时——晚上十一点至凌晨一点，理论认为的身体休养时段。
• 运化——消化吸收。理论认为脾胃喜温，生冷会让它变慢。

这个系列的另外五篇

• 第 1 篇：备孕期间可以看中医吗——这段时间是什么，多久没怀上该看医生
• 第 2 篇：孕前检查通常包括什么、该往哪里
• 第 3 篇：这三项检查在查什么——地中海贫血、风疹、叶酸
• 第 4 篇：对双方都适用的建议，以及看诊会提出哪些选项
• 第 6 篇：什么时候要先看医生

👉 如果您想从理论的角度了解自己这段时间的作息与整体状态，欢迎透过汉方中医的线上问诊，由依 2016 年 T&CM 法令注册的医师为您评估。生育方面的疑问，请先看妇产科或生殖医学专科医生。

无论身在何处，与持证中医师对坐。

汉方现代中医

资料来源

• 世界卫生组织，WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine，日内瓦 2022（ISBN 978-92-4-004232-2），条目 59、162、163、225、228、505、985、1967、1968–1970、2928、2929 — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240042322
• NHS（英国），Pelvic inflammatory disease，页面最后审阅 2025 年 12 月 17 日 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid/
• NHS（英国），Cervical cancer — Symptoms，页面最后审阅 2024 年 9 月 4 日 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer/symptoms/