Etiology of Kidney Syndromes

  1. Heredity: Prenatal Jing/Ancestral (Yuan) Qi of each individual is formed at the moment of conception from a combination of the parents' Jing, both in general, and especially at conception. If parents had unhealthy or weak Jing (perhaps also inherited), or if conception occurred when they were too old or exhausted, the offspring could have a weak constitution.
  2. Emotions: The Kidneys in Five Element theory correspond to Water, which is associated with fear, anxiety, and shock. Fear descends Qi. Kidney rules the two lower orifices, control of which is often lost during bouts of extreme fear. Fear in children can cause enuresis. In adults, fear tends to deplete the Yin of the Kidneys and cause Kidney Yin Deficiency that may lead to Heart Yin Deficiency.
  3. Excessive Sexual Activity: Weakens Kidney energy, especially in men, since ejaculation depletes Kidney Jing. The Heart is directly related to Kidneys in that they mutually support an nourish each other. Therefore, weak Kidneys can weaken the Heart. Conversely, Deficient Heart Qi from sadness and/or anxiety can weaken Kidneys causing impotence, frigidity, inability to have orgasm.
  4. Chronic Disease: Most chronic disease eventually weakens the Kidneys, causing Deficiency of Kidney Yin or Yang.
  5. Aging: Kidney Jing declines with age
  6. Physical Overwork: Weakens Kidney Yang
  7. Mental Overwork: Weakens Kidney Yin (very common in Western culture).

As we use Kidney Yang energy in physical labor, the Postnatal Jing (derived from food and drink by the Spleen) replaces this quickly. However, if one has a lifestyle of stress, constant activity, long hours, irregular eating habits, excess mental activity, etc. with not enough time allowed for the body to rejuvenate, all this weakens the deeper Yin energy, which is less easily replaced. Worry and anxiety can lead to Empty Heat.

Kidney Jing Deficiency

Signs:

Developmental Problems

Kidney Areas

Depleted Sea of marrow

Reproductive

Tongue

Pulse

Notes

Overlapping Western medicine conditions:

Impotence, frigidity, infertility, arthritis, slow physical and mental development in children, tinnitus, premature senility.

It is assumed that Yin and Yang are equally Deficient, and there are no additional Signs of Heat or Cold, (never happens in clinical practice)

Signs include those of major life processes presided over by Jing, (birth, development, reproduction and aging) with specific reference to systems ruled by the Kidney.

Kidney Yang Deficiency

Signs:

Yang Deficiency

Kidney Areas

Kidney Yang fails to hold fluids

Kidney Yang fails to circulate fluids

Kidney Yang fails to warm the Spleen

Kidney Yang fails to grasp Lung Qi

Tongue

Pulse

Notes

Overlapping Western medicine conditions:

Lumbago, chronic nephritis, incontinence, impotence, infertility, asthma, emphysema, cardiac insufficiency, edema, chronic ear problems, adrenal hypo-function, neurasthenia.

Kidney Yin Deficiency

Signs:

Deficiency Yin causing empty heat

Kidney Areas

Kidney and Brain (Kidney Yin fails to cool Kidney Yang)

Tongue

Pulse

Notes

Overlapping Western medicine conditions:

Hypertension, lumbago, chronic ear problems, chronic urogenital problems, chronic nephritis.