[1][2] In Traditional Chinese Medicine, shen (kidney) is the reservoir of vital essence in semen (ching) and k’uei signifies deficiency.

Symptoms within the Chinese diagnostic system include chills, dizziness, backache, tiredness, weakness, insomnia, frequent dreams, and complaints of sexual dysfunction (such as premature ejaculation or impotence).

From an ethnopsychiatric perspective, additional symptoms are preoccupation with sexual performance, potential semen loss, and bodily complaints.

In Chinese folk beliefs, loss of semen leads to imbalance in the body, causing aches, soreness and erectile dysfunction.

[5] Many people who believe they suffer from shenkui seek out traditional medicinal cures thought to restore balance to yin and yang.