Kidney-essence

To tonify either the Kidney-Yin or the Kidney-Yang, a large amount of herbs that tonify the Kidney-essence should be applied as Kidney-essence is the fuel for the Yang and a substantial source of the Yin. When Kidney-essence is sufficient, the Yang acts on the Yin and generates the Kidney-Qi. 

When Kidney-Yin is weak, the Kidney-Yang should be tonified. In the formula, herbs which tonify Kidney-essence are used to tonify the Yin, the material part of the body. In addition, a very small amount of hot and pungent herbs is used to activate the Kidney-Yang and thereby stimulate the growth of the Yin. 

Kidney-essence is sufficient, the Yang acts on the Yin, and then generates the Kidney-Qi. 

These therapies are mainly used for cancer treatment and are considered as heat-toxin in TCM. When the cancer cells are killed, the body is severely injured too. The Yin and the Qi in particular are seriously depleted and weakened by the extreme heat. Moreover, these therapies can cause further disturbances in the body such as deficiency of Kidney-essence and blood, blood stagnation, bleeding,... 

Yi Zhi Ren and Tu Si Zi can tonify the Kidney-Yang as well as the Kidney-essence, and can be used for frequent urination, infertility and impotence due to Kidney-Yang deficiency. 

The Kidney-Qi is developed from Kidney-essence, and is directly generated by the interaction of Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang. The approaches of tonifying Kidney-Qi are via tonifying Kidney-Yin, Kidney-essence and Kidney-Yang. One should consult the formulas in Sections 10 and 11, Syndrome of Kidney-Yin deficiency and Syndrome of Kidney-Yang deficiency respectively, to create an appropriate formula. 

Essence-Qi -Qi in Chinese), which could be named the Qi generated by the Kidney-essence or by the food-essence... 

Hu Tao Ren is sweet and warm, and enters the Kidney and Lung meridians. E Jiao is sweet and neutral, and enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. Both are moist in nature and are able to moisten the Lung and tonify the Kidney-essence and blood. They are mainly selected in formulas to treat chronic conditions of Lung-Qi deficiency where Kidney deficiency is obviously involved. The difference between these two substances is that Hu Tao Ren is more suitable for treating Kidney-Yin and Kidney-essence deficiency E Jiao is better suited for use in cases of blood deficiency. 

Shu Di Huang, as deputy, treats the coexisting syndromes. This herb is sweet and warm, and enters the Kidney meridian. It can tonify the blood and Kidney-essence, which are weakened in chronic conditions or in constitutional conditions of Lung-Qi deficiency. 

Second, herbs that enter the Kidney meridian and tonify the Kidney-essence in order to tonify the Liver-blood indirectly are often selected. 

Shu Di Huang is sweet and slightly warm, and enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. As it is able to tonify the Kidney-essence and the Liver-blood directly, the function of tonifying the blood is quite strong. It is often used as chief in the formula for serious conditions of blood and essence deficiency, such as in those with a poor constitution, retardation of children and degeneration in elderly people. In the formula, this herb should be used with some herbs that regulate the Qi in the Middle- and Lower-Jiao to reduce its rich and heavy nature. 

These two herbs enter the Kidney and Liver meridians. They are able to tonify the Kidney-essence and Liver-blood. Unlike Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix praeparata) they are not heavy and cloying in nature, thus they may not bring about the problem of digestion. For this reason, they are often used in formulas to enhance the ability of the chief herb to tonify the fiver-blood. 

Shu Di Huang enters the Kidney meridian. As it is able to tonify the Kidney-essence, it can therefore tonify the Liver-blood. It demonstrates a way to indirectly tonify and is considered to be a deputy herb. 

Shu Di Huang and Gou Qi Zi tonify the Liver-blood and Kidney-essence, thereby broadening the source of the blood. They are considered the chief herbs in the formula. 

The neutral and astringent Shan Yao, which enters the Spleen and Kidney meridians, is an assistant in the formula. As it is able to tonify the Spleen-Qi and stabilize the Kidney-essence, it assists the herbs that tonify the blood from the Liver and Kidney aspects. 

First, herbs that enter the Liver and Kidney meridians and are able to nourish the Liver-Yin and tonify the Liver-blood or Kidney-essence are selected. 

E Jiao is sweet and neutral, and enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It is able to tonify the Liver-blood and the Kidney-essence. This substance is moistening in nature and can nourish the Yin as well as moisten the dryness. It is particularly suitable for use where the Yin, blood and essence are all deficient, which manifests as dry skin, cracked nails, lusterless hair, scanty menstruation and constipation. 

Dan Gui, Bai Shao Yao, Chuan Xiong and Shu Di Huang are used as chief. These herbs comprise the principal formula of tonifying the blood, Si Wu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction). They enter the Liver and Kidney meridians, tonify the blood and Kidney-essence, and form the main part of the formula. 

When the Kidney-Yin is not able to support and nourish the brain, which is considered as the sea of the marrow generated by the Kidney-essence, one may suffer from dizziness, tinnitus, poor concentration and forgetfulness. 

Since the Kidney and the Liver are both located in the Lower-Jiao, and the Kidney-essence and Liver-blood can change into each other, Yin deficiency of the Kidney is often accompanied by Liver-Yin deficiency, and causes corresponding symptoms. 

First, herbs that are sweet and neutral, sweet and slightly warm, or sweet and cold, enter the Kidney and Liver meridians, and are able to tonify the Kidney-essence, the Liver-blood and the body fluids are selected. 

Kidney-essence and nourish the blood. They treat weakness and stiffness of the back and knees, blurred vision, poor memory, disorders of menstruation, infertility, menopause syndrome and sexual disorders caused by deficiency of Kidney-essence and blood. 

These two herbs are able to tonify the Kidney-essence and blood. Normally they are used in the... 

Assistant Strengthen the bones, stabilize the Kidney-essence, expel wind, cold and dampness, stimulate and accelerate water metabolism and eliminate dampness, regulate the Qi... 

First, no matter whether tonifying the Yin or tonifying the Yang, the most commonly used herbs in the formula are herbs that tonify the Kidney-essence. Because essence has the material form of Yin and has the warm and burning nature of Yang, it is the root of both Yin and Yang. 

These are the substances that particularly stabilize the Kidney-essence. They are used in the treatment of frequent night urination, enuresis, spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation in conditions of Kidney-Yang or Kidney-Qi deficiency. 

Ci Shi is a heavy and solid mineral. It is pungent, salty and cold, and is the strongest of the three in sedating the Heart-shen. Since it enters the Liver and Kidney meridians, it is more suitable for treating Heart-shen disturbance caused by Liver and Kidney disturbance. This manifests as palpitations, restlessness with fear, dream-disturbed sleep and easily waking up in the night. There may be a wiry and restless pulse, particularly in the second position on the left side. Ci Shi is also able to stabilize the Kidney-Qi and Kidney-essence, and descend the Liver-Yang. 

Hei Zhi Ma is sweet and neutral, and enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. It can tonify the Kidney essence and Liver-blood. It can be selected as deputy in the formula to treat chronic or severe Lung-Yin and Kidney-Yin deficiency. Pear and its peel can moisten the Lung in a gentle but effective way. They are often used in the syndrome of Yin and fluid deficiency of the Lung. Since they are food products, they are often recommended in the diet. 

Rou Cong Rong [Cistanchis herba] Tonifies the Kidney-Yang and Kidney-essence and moistens the intestines. 

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