I. Physiological Functions and Pathological Core of the Kidney

1. Physiological Characteristics of the Kidney

• Foundation of Innate Essence: Stores essence, governs bones, and produces marrow, connects to the brain, and opens into the ears and the two yin organs (as stated in “Su Wen: Discussion on the Heavenly Truths of Ancient Times”).
  Kidney: Governs bones and produces marrow, the brain produces marrow, opens into the teeth, its bloom is in the hair, manages the two excretions, governs the reproductive system, is related to fluid metabolism, and is related to the respiratory system.
• Balance of Water and Fire: Kidney yin (primordial yin) is the material foundation, kidney yang (primordial yang) is the functional driving force, and the balance of the two maintains life activities.
  Marrow, essence, and blood are different forms of the same substance; yang transforms into qi, yin forms the body. The liver stores blood, and when adjusting the kidney, it is the liver yin that is adjusted; at the same time, when adjusting liver fire, it is done by nourishing kidney yin, achieving the harmony of liver and kidney. The liver uses yang to subdue yin.

2. Core Pathogenesis of Kidney Diseases

• Imbalance of Yin and Yang: Yin deficiency leads to internal disturbance by虚火 (tidal fever and night sweats), yang deficiency leads to failure in warming and nourishing (fear of cold and cold limbs).
• Failure to Consolidate Essence and Qi: Kidney qi deficiency leads to failure in storage (spermatorrhea, frequent urination), and kidney’s failure to receive qi results in shortness of breath and panting.
• General Prescription for Kidney System: Moxibustion + Manual Techniques + Acupressure
  Moxibustion: Guanyuan, Shenque, Mingmen, Baliao
  Manual Techniques: Three major tendons under the armpit, major tendons of the Dai meridian, major tendons of Taixi, guiding fire back to its origin
  Acupressure: Chize, pinching the spine, rubbing Baliao, Weizhong

II. Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Plans for Kidney System

Symptoms of Kidney Deficiency:

Soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, loose teeth and hair loss, tinnitus and deafness.
Men: Spermatorrhea, impotence, insufficiency;
Women: Scanty menstruation, amenorrhea, infertility, edema, abnormal urination and defecation.
Kidney Yin Deficiency—Kidney yin is depleted

Internal generation of虚热, chronic illness damaging the kidney, the kidney loses nourishment, insufficient kidney yin fluid cannot nourish the bone marrow, brain marrow, cannot restrain阳亢, disharmony of heart and kidney water and fire.
Main symptoms: Soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees (easily accompanied by soreness, disharmony of heart and kidney water and fire), dizziness and tinnitus (阳亢 cannot be restrained); inability to subdue yang, hyperactivity of相火, men with strong erections leading to spermatorrhea, women with scanty menstruation, amenorrhea, yin deficiency generating internal heat, breaking blood, metrorrhagia,瘦人多火, emaciation, tidal fever and night sweats, five-center heat, dry mouth and tongue, yellow urine. Kidney yin is the root of the body’s yin fluids. For men, look at the kidney; for women, look at the liver.
Treatment: Nourishing yin and reducing fire
Manual Techniques: Moxibustion (Guanyuan, Shenque, Mingmen, Baliao), major tendons of the Dai meridian, major tendons of Taixi
Dietary Therapy: Chinese yam (for weakness and emaciation, can be used as a long-term nutritional supplement)

Kidney Yang Deficiency: Weak yang qi, failure in warming and nourishing, lack of power in qi transformation

Symptoms: Soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, feeling cold, cold limbs, pale or black complexion, dizziness and vertigo, lack of energy; impotence in men, cold uterus in women, infertility.
Kidney yang deficiency, fire not generating earth, leading to spleen not transporting, undigested food in the stool, persistent diarrhea.
(A青 complexion often indicates liver disease, a black complexion often indicates kidney disease)
Spleen yang deficiency often manifests as cold hands, cold upper limbs; kidney yang deficiency often manifests as cold feet, cold lower limbs.
Treatment: Nourishing kidney yin, warming and supplementing kidney yang
Manual Techniques: Moxibustion (warming and supplementing kidney yang), pinching the spine, Chize, golden line
Dietary Therapy: Cinnamon

Kidney Qi Deficiency (Weak and Unstable Kidney Qi and Blood): Kidney qi is depleted, insufficient kidney qi and blood, unstable (due to old age, congenital insufficiency, excessive sexual activity)

Symptoms: Frequent urination, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, women with clear and thin leukorrhea, miscarriage, men with premature ejaculation
Manual Techniques: Moxibustion, pinching the spine, rubbing Baliao
Dietary Therapy: Lotus seeds, Gorgon fruit (for spermatorrhea), Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan (proprietary Chinese medicine)

III. Special Therapies and Practical Guidelines

1. Manual Techniques and Acupoint Adjustment

• Kidney Yin Deficiency:
  • Taixi Major Tendon Relaxation: Push and knead along the Taixi point upward to the Achilles tendon, nourishing kidney yin and reducing虚火.
  • Guiding Fire Back to Its Origin Method: Moxibustion on the Yongquan point, guiding虚火 from the upper jiao downward.
• Kidney Yang Deficiency:
  • Golden Line Lifting: Lift the Ren meridian from Tiantu to Jiuwei, stimulating the Mingmen fire.
  • Moxibustion on Mingmen: 15 minutes daily, warming and supplementing kidney yang.

2. Analysis of Classic Formulas

• Liu Wei Di Huang Wan: Shu Di Huang nourishes yin, Shan Zhu Yu astringes, three draining herbs (Ze Xie, Dan Pi, Fu Ling) balance the richness.
• Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan: Shu Di Huang combined with Gui Zhi and Fu Zi, seeking yang within yin, improving cold back and edema.

IV. Dietary Therapy and Daily Care

1. Food and Medicine Homology Plan

• Yin Deficiency Type:
  • Mulberry and Black Bean Porridge: Mulberry nourishes yin, black beans supplement the kidney, suitable for those with dizziness and tinnitus.
  • Silver Ear and Lily Soup: Moistens the lungs and generates fluids, alleviates虚火 burning the lungs.
• Yang Deficiency Type:
  • Lamb and Angelica Soup: Warms and supplements qi and blood, improves cold pain in the lower back and knees.
  • Walnut and Gorgon Fruit Porridge: Supplements the kidney and secures essence, alleviates frequent nocturnal urination.

2. Taboos and Health Preservation

• Dietary Taboos: Yin deficiency should avoid spicy foods (chili, alcohol), yang deficiency should avoid cold foods (cold drinks, seafood).
• Sleep Schedule Recommendations: Go to bed during the Hai hour (21-23 PM) to nourish kidney qi, practice the method of knocking teeth and swallowing saliva in the morning to secure the kidney.

V. Modern Research and Classical Origins

• “Huang Di Nei Jing”: “The kidney governs water, receives the essence of the five zang and six fu organs and stores it”—emphasizing the importance of kidney essence.
• Modern Research: Moxibustion on the Mingmen point can enhance ATP synthesis in mitochondria of patients with kidney yang deficiency (Journal of Chinese Acupuncture, 2023).
• Tongue Manifestations: Differentiating between a red tongue with little coating (yin deficiency) and a pale and swollen tongue with white coating (yang deficiency).

Note: The therapies described in this article require guidance from a Chinese medicine practitioner, and chronic kidney disease, hypertension, etc., require combined treatment with Western medicine. The dosages of the formulas are for adult regular use, and clinical application needs to be adjusted individually.