Kidney-Yang

When patients suffer from chronic liver or kidney disease, the selection of the herbs and their dosages should be determined carefully to avoid placing an unnecessary workload on these weakened organs. At the same time, herbs that protect these organs and promote their function should also be included. For instance, acute or chronic liver diseases are mainly differentiated into a syndrome consisting of Spleen-Qi deficiency, damp-heat and heat-toxin accumulation, and herbs that treat this syndrome can be used. Chronic kidney diseases are mainly differentiated as Kidney-Yang and Spleen-Yang deficiency, dampness accumulation and heat-toxin in the blood. Herbs that treat this syndrome should be used in appropriate doses to help restore kidney function. 

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. 

Tonify the Kidney-Yang and strengthen the Spleen-Qi to accelerate water metabolism and transform dampness. 

If patients are on prednisone or other adrenocortical hormones, herbal formulas that contain hot herbs which stimulate Kidney-Yang and Heart-Yang should be used with caution. 

The working of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is difficult to analyze according to TCM but they can either excite the Kidney-Yang or sedate the Heart-shen. 

Kidney-Yang deficiency is often seen in elderly people, people with a poor constitution and patients with chronic diseases. When the Kidney-Yang fails to accelerate water metabolism, edema or frequent urination may occur. When the Kidney-Yang and Qi are unable to warm the Lower-Jiao and maintain its function, impotence, infertility, dysmenorrhea and aqueous-grainy diarrhea may occur. 

Since Heart-Yang and Kidney-Yang are the principal Yang of the body, Yang collapse means Heart-Yang collapse and Kidney-Yang collapse. 

Like the collapse of Yang, floating-Yang syndrome is a dangerous situation. It appears when the Kidney-Yang is extremely weak and the internal cold in the Lower-Jiao is at its maximum. 

All of these herbs enter the Kidney meridian and are often used to treat internal cold syndrome by stimulating the Kidney-Yang. 

Hua Jiao and Ding Xiang also enter the Lower-Jiao, are able to warm the Kidney-Yang and treat coldness in the lower back and abdomen, cold extremities, diarrhea and impotence. 

These herbs are sweet and warm, and enter the Kidney meridian. They can tonify the Kidney-Yang and promote the functions of the Kidney. In formulas that warm the Lower-Jiao, these herbs can be used as deputies, particularly treating coldness due to deficiency of Yang in chronic conditions. They improve the condition of patients slowly but steadily. 

Du Zhong and Gou Ji strengthen the back and benefit the joints. They can be used in chronic Bi syndrome due to wind, cold and dampness with Kidney-Yang deficiency, especially in elderly people. 

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. 

Another deputy is Xi Xin. It is pungent and hot, and enters the Kidney meridian. It can stimulate the Kidney-Yang and Qi, expel the cold, warm the meridian and effectively reduce the cold and pain of the joints. 

Tong Cao is used as envoy in the formula. It is cold in nature and enters the Heart meridian. It guides the other herbs entering the Heart meridian and enables them to carry out their functions. It is also used as corrective assistant to prevent the hot herbs injuring the blood. Its action has a descending quality, which can control the side effect of Xi Xin that may ascend and stimulate the weakened Kidney-Yang too quickly. 

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. 

Rou Gui and Chuan Xiong can promote the blood circulation Chuan Xiong can also strengthen the Kidney-Yang so as to stabilize the Heart-Qi. They are used as assistants in the formula. 

Along with these, it is equally important to select sweet and slightly warm herbs that can strengthen the Kidney-Yang in a small amount in the formula in order to promote Yin generation, because the Yin and Yang of the Kidney are derived from one origin and they promote each other s development. 

Deputy Strengthen the Kidney-Yang in order to generate Yin, strengthen the back and benefit to the bones... 

Tu Si Zi is pungent, sweet and neutral, and enters the Kidney, Liver and Spleen meridians. It is able to tonify the Kidney-Yang and essence, strengthen the back and improve the vision. As it is an effective yet gentle herb, it can be used for a reasonably long period of time. 

Suo Yang is sweet and warm, and enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. It is able to tonify the Kidney-Yang, and nourish the essence and blood. It can moisten the intestines and treat constipation due to Yin and blood deficiency. It is suitable for treating constipation in elderly people or people with chronic diseases. 

Alcohol is considered as an assistant. It moves quickly, and is used to process Shu Di Huang and pig marrow in order to reduce their cloying nature. It is also used to process Zhi Mu so as to reduce its cold nature, which may injure the Kidney-Yang. 

The Kidney-Yang, derived from the pro-heaven Qi, is the root of the Yang in the body as it warms the body, stimulates the Qi movement and water metabolism, promotes the process of Qi and blood generation, promotes all the functions of the Zang and Fu organs and determines the vitality of each individual. Although the Kidney-Yang declines with age, it can be injured in conditions of chronic or severe disease, poor constitution and improper care. 

When the Kidney-Yang is weak and is not able to support the other organs, patients may have low vitality, feel sleepy, reluctant to move and tired, and suffer from poor concentration and forgetfulness. Dementia and degeneration may occur earlier than at the average age. 

If the Kidney-Yang is not able to spread the warmth in the body and support the bones, patients may have a cold feeling in the limbs, and even feel cold, weakness and aching of the body, particularly of the back. 

The Kidney-Yang is an important organ for promoting water metabolism. If the Kidney-Yang is too weak to steam the water, to separate the turbid from the clean, edema and retention of urine may appear. 

If the Kidney-Yang fails to warm the Spleen-Yang, diarrhea and cramping of the abdomen may occur. 

Irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea may appear if the Kidney-Yang is too weak to warm the Lower-Jiao, to stimulate the blood and to maintain the proper function of the Chong and Ren meridians. 

The Kidney-Yang directly influences sexual activity and fertility. If the Yang is deficient, infertility, impotence, spermatorrhea and low sexual drive may present. 

Kidney-Yang deficiency is often shown in a pale and dull color of the tongue with a white, moist coating and a slow, deep and weak pulse, particularly in the third position. 

Treatment principle Tonify the Kidney-Yang and warm the interior... 

First, herbs that are sweet and warm, enter the Kidney meridian, are able to tonify the Kidney-essence and Kidney-Yang are selected. 

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