Kidney Deficiency: Patterns of Kidney Energies
<--Yin---------------Essence-------------Qi-----------------Yang-->
Lack of Cool - Lack of substance - Lack of energy - Lack of warmth
Kidney Essence Deficiency
Includes symptoms of Kidney Yin deficiency, but will also start to include signs of energetic deficit as well as lack of warmth. The individual may lack sexual energy, and although might have night sweats, could also feel cold during the day.
Lack of cervical fluid at ovulation, scant menses, thin endometrium.
Kidney tonics augment the essence.
Aduki bean, black bean, bee pollen, blue-green algae, chlorella, clams, corn, gelatin, kelp, legumes (beans, peas, lentils), lycium, millet, mulberry, organ meats, oysters, parsley, pumpkin seed, raspberry, royal jelly, spirulina, string bean, tofu, walnuts, wheat germ, wheat grass, wild rice, yam.
Kidney Qi Deficiency
Includes Essence Deficiency, but will have less symptoms of dryness and heat. Primarily will be fatigued. The low back and knees might be sore, achey, and weak.
Urination might be frequent. Always tired. Absolutely no libido. Might be short of breath. Uterine prolapse, chronic vaginal discharge, premature ejaculation, nocturnal emission.
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Back ache, sore bones, night sweats, poor memory, dry eyes, mouth, vaginal dryness, constipation, dark urine. May be accompanied by heat signs because of the lack of nourishing fluids. Short menstrual cycles in women. May have low estrogen. Agitation.
Yin tonics enhance deep reserves to soothe and calm the system.
Apple, asparagus, bananas, barley, beansprouts, beets, blackberry, bulgur, cheese, chlorella, chickpeas, clam, crab, cuttlefish, duck, eggplant, eggs, honey, grapes, kidney bean, jellyfish, lemon, malt, mango, melon, milk, mulberry, organ meats, oyster, pea, pear, pineapples, pomegranate, pork, rabbit, raspberries, rice, seaweed, shellfish, spirulina, string bean, tofu, tomato, watermelon, wheat germ, yam.
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Sore, cold back and knees. Always feels cold and weak. Urinates a lot; urine is pale. Wakes up at night to go to the bathroom. Low libido. May have low progesterone production and luteal phase defect. Loose stools in the morning, poor appetite. Swollen ankles. Apathy.
To summarize, in traditional Chinese medicine, the Kidneys encompass the urinary and reproductive functions, the internal secretions and the central nervous system of modern medicine, with all their attendant pathology. We can't separate the Kidney system from its relationship with other organ systems, with the mind, with the emotions, with the spirit, and with our essential nature. Strengthening the Essence of the Kidneys nourishes our very source.
Yang tonics generate warmth, stimulate the system to heat up cold conditions.
Anchovy, Aduki beans, anise, basil, beets, black beans, black pepper, caraway, cayenne, cherries, chestnut, chicken, chives, cinnamon bark, cloves, coriander, cumin, dates, dill, fennel, fenugreek seed, garlic, dried ginger, kidney, lamb, leeks, lentils, lobster, mussels, mustard leaf, mutton, nutmeg, oats, onions, peach, pine nuts, pistachio, quinoa, raspberry, rosemary, sage, scallions, shrimp, spelt, star anise, sweet brown rice, thyme, trout, turnip, walnuts.
Don't eat cold foods, iced drinks, or frozen foods. You need warmth.
