Kidney essence is an inner energy that determines our resistance to illness and vitality, serving as the basis for life itself, much like that of seeds or eggs.
Jing can be replenished through meditation and reflection on one’s purpose in life, however when its levels decrease due to lifestyle choices it results in Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Causes
Chinese believe the kidneys to be a source of deep reserve energy and an integral component of maintaining good health in their bodies. Kidneys help regulate fluid metabolism and filter the blood, strengthening bones, protecting lower backs, and supporting spleens while supporting overall Yin-Yang balance within our bodies.
TCM associates kidneys with water elements, and Winter, the season associated with them in TCM, serves to symbolize this relationship – winter being when life’s natural cycle of events comes to an end and new beginnings emerge; similar to when Spring reemerges. Furthermore, kidneys serve as major sites for the transformation of jing (see below).
TCM views the Heart and Kidney as two closely-related organs that work in concert to maintain proper Yin-Yang balance in the body, also known as their harmonious relationship or pattern of coherence between fire heart and water kidney. If these relationships become disharmonious it may cause various symptoms which are difficult to identify from an analytical viewpoint but easily recognized through Chinese medicine’s lens.
Deficient kidney yin fluid prevents it from evaporating upward and restricting an overactive heart yang qi, leading to headaches, dizziness and tinnitus; tongue ulcers; sore and tender lumbar areas and knees may result. Furthermore, deficient kidney yin fluid fails to nourish brains and ears properly and could manifest as forgetfulness.
Foods that nourish the Kidneys include seaweed, shellfish, most beans (black, kidney and most varieties), dark green vegetables, avocados and sweet potatoes. Although salty-flavored foods are also beneficial to kidney health, too much regular table salt may contribute to excess Kidney yin. Because water element is linked with kidney health it is particularly important to drink plenty of clean, fresh water every day.
Symptoms
If your extremities feel cold and you experience back and knee pain when temperatures cool off, this could be a telltale sign that your Kidney Yin has become deficient – a condition commonly observed by TCM practitioners due to prolonged stress, poor diet or menopause.
Yin is all about moisture, so eating an array of moist foods is crucial to kidney yin’s wellbeing. Furthermore, kidney yin relates to your deep reserves of nutritional reserves in your body so be wary of overeating cooling foods which can extinguish fire and instead prioritize warming foods like miso, millet and brown rice.
Chinese medicine associates each organ system with its own specific taste; in this instance, kidneys are associated with salty foods. If you crave salty snacks often it could be an indicator that your Kidney energy requires extra support.
Ear troubles related to your Kidney meridians such as deafness or tinnitus may also indicate low Kidney energy. Fear, phobia and panic attacks could be telltale signs that something is amiss with the kidneys; since fertility and reproduction depend heavily on them. If this issue arises it would be wise to address its cause quickly.
Disharmony between the heart and kidney can manifest itself in two forms; first is excessive heart fire activity with deficiency of yin; this causes symptoms like vexation, insomnia, palpitations and dream-disturbed sleep; secondly occurs when kidney yin deficiency chokes off heart yang leading to dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness and soreness in lumbar region and knees as well as frequent seminal emission feverish palm sole chest feverish palm sole feverish sensation feverish sensation feverish sensation feverish sensation in palm soles soles chest night sweats constipation deep yellow urine dry mouth thirstyness red tongue with scanty or no coating and thready rapid pulse.
Foods rich in dark color such as berries, blackberries, mulberries, black beans and black sesame seeds are highly beneficial to kidney health and can alleviate symptoms such as ear problems, headaches and high blood pressure.
Treatment
Kidney energy is at the root of our spirits, so when its level drops we may struggle with expressing ourselves authentically and may experience feelings of emptiness, lack of passion or drive and motivation to move forward in life. Additionally, these individuals tend to react fearfully in certain situations and experience it uncontrollably; these symptoms could indicate that Kidney energy has been suppressed and needs to be released in some form.
Treatment for Kidney Yin Deficiency typically entails nourishing and replenishing its energy sources – this may involve acupuncture, herbal medicine or lifestyle adjustments such as diet or dietary modifications to restore their reserves. Acupuncture is often employed to stimulate blood flow to the kidneys as well as to tone up their energy reserves; in certain instances a person with Kidney Yin Deficiency might even receive Chinese herbs to alleviate symptoms associated with their condition.
Herbs like coptis rhizome (Coptis trifoliate) and donkey-hide gelatin can help to balance your Yin energy, reduce water retention, and help the body release waste products more efficiently. If you are experiencing extreme sweating, cornus officinalis How and oyster shell (Ostrea giggas) can also be used to warm the kidneys and stop sweating excessively.
To nourish their Yin energy, those with weak Kidneys are advised to avoid caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and processed sugars; drink lots of water – especially filtered or spring water; naturally salty foods can also benefit the kidneys as their taste resonates well with this organ; getting adequate sleep in a peaceful environment; as the kidneys govern bones it’s also vital that adequate protein and calcium intake be included in one’s diet – excellent sources include fish, poultry, legumes nuts and seeds for example.
Prevention
Kidneys contain some of the body’s deepest reserves, including nutritional stores. Therefore, eating foods which nourish and moisten can help support them, although excessively cooling foods should be avoided as this can deplete Yin, leading to heat imbalance.
As with other organs, Kidneys need regular nourishment from salty-flavored foods in order to stay healthy during wintertime. Eating foods shaped like kidneys (like beans) are particularly nourishing to their needs and sea salt should be used instead of commercial table salt for optimal results.
Kidneys store Jing (Essence), regulate water metabolism, and are vital in reproduction. Patterns like Bladder Damp-Heat (urinary urgency, dark urine) may be treated using points like Bladder 23 and formulas to drain Damp-Heat like Ba Zheng San.
