Over several thousand years ago, Chinese medicine believed that all of the organs and 'channels' of the body held an ongoing balance with nature. In addition, these organs and channels held a balanced set of physiological activities in relationship with 'Qi' and 'Blood', 'Yin' and 'Yang'. Any pathogenic change affects this balance and functions become abnormal. This is the basis for the event called 'disease' resulting in 'pathological' changes.

Qi can be roughly divided into 'righteous qi' and 'evil qi'. Pertaining to the various causes and manifestation of AIDS, all signs and/or symptoms are directly related to either 'righteous qi' or 'evil qi'. When all the organs function normally it is considered that there is ample 'righteous qi', sufficient Blood, and a strong 'defensive qi'. Therefore, 'evil or pathogenic qi' can not invade the body and disease can not occur. Ancient writings stated in the 'SU WEN' that 'Evil cannot invade if righteous qi defends the body from within' and 'where evil qi invades the defensive qi must be weak'. It further stated that 'if the righteous and defensive qi is strong, cold or heat nor wind or rain can invade the body'. In regard to these 'viral evils' the deficiency of 'righteous qi' is the internal breeding arena of AIDS. While this is more often the case, it is likewise true that sometimes external pathogenic evils are the primary cause.

Keeping this in mind, the SU WEN recommends…."Live peacefully with no desire for fame or gain and the 'righteous qi' will continue to protect the body from disease'. A well-balanced mental/emotional nature will help maintain the level of 'righteous/defensive qi' while at the same time preventing a decline.

The two primary AIDS disease causing categories, as seen by Chinese medicine, are abnormal functions caused by infection by exogenous epidemic toxins and internal pathological changes caused by deficiencies. These are often seen in the organo-system called the Triple Burner or SanJiao. 

The 'upper burner' represents, in part, the Lung system and is where 'evil qi' can invade the body quickly especially when the 'righteous and/or defensive qi' is already weak. These symptoms may be seen as fever, aversion to drafts, and a cough.

The 'middle burner' may be directly attacked by 'epidemic evils'. These toxins or evils may block the flow of qi causing an accumulation of 'dampness' which then results in 'heat' and 'damp'. When this happens in the 'middle burner' there may be symptoms of oral thrush, sores or ulcers in the mouth, stomach pain and a dry tongue or mouth. If this heat goes deeper in the body and invades the Blood level, there may be signs of heat escaping from the skin thereby causing skin rashes or hemorrhaging.

The root organo-system in the body, according to Chinese medical theory, is the Kidney system. This governs many functions including the lower back, bones, teeth, hearing, brain, marrow, and other organ functions such as urinary, bowel and sexual. Since the Kidney system provides the Yin-fluids and Yang-energy for all of these other viscera and bowels, when it is weakened it will further contribute or cause the imbalance in any or all of the other organs. Therefore excessive sexual activity will exhaust this primary source of the body's Yin and Yang.