Kidney Functions
- Kidneys store jing
- Kidneys rule vital gate fire
- Kidneys rule water
- Kidneys grasp qi
- Kidneys rule bone, produce marrow, fill up the brain, and their brilliance is manifested in the head hair
- Kidneys open into the ears, dominate anterior and posterior orifices
In western physiology, the kidneys are a vital excretory organ whose main function is to create urine to help the body get rid of toxins and unwanted water. TCM practitioners view the kidneys as a very important organ that not only regulates the urinary system but also exercises control over the reproductive, endocrine and nervous systems.Kidneys store jing
The kidneys store essence (jing), which is the fundamental substance closely associated with life. It is the substance needed for reproduction, growth, development, and maturation of the body. The kidneys are said to govern these processes as they store and seal essence and also control its consumption by the body. That is why TCM regards the kidneys as the “root of life.” The stored essence is originated from congenital and acquired sources. Acquired essence is derived from nutrient essence by the organs and is responsible for nourishment purpose. Beside supply for physiological need, the remaining essence is stored in the kidneys as reserve, as the material basis for life activities of body. If this essence reserve is sufficient, individuals will present a great vitality and harmonious organ functioning. If this essence reserve is insufficient, then individuals will present lack of energy, skinny and even a serious depleted state.
Congenital essence is inherited from our parents. After birth, congenital essence is stored in the kidneys and is constantly nourished and enriched by the acquired essence. The degree of essence reserve has a direct impact on the development and aging processes of the body. For example, conception is made possible by the power of essence, growth to maturity is the blossoming of essence, and aging reflects the weakening of essence. As time passes, reserve of essence declines, causing both vitality and physiological functions to weaken. This decline in kidney essence is the normal aging process. When kidney essence is insufficient, there will be reproductive, growth, development, and degeneration problems of the body, such as infertility, menstrual irregularity, retarded growth, and early aging. The treatment methods usually aim to invigorate kidney and replenish essence.
Kidneys rule vital gate fire
Vital gate fire is also known as inborn qi, which is essential for the warming and transformation of the body, and is also regarded as the original force of organ functioning. Decline in vital gate fire means the overall yang qi is depleted, and the organs are under functioning. An outstanding sign is related to the spleen and stomach that make individuals occur indigested food in the stools and morning diarrhea. In addition, vital gate is also associated with sexuality and reproduction, and this part is sometimes known as the “ministerial fire”. Insufficiency of ministerial fire can lead to impotence, premature ejaculation, seminal emission, and sexual dysfunction. When there is kidney yin deficiency, and the ministerial fire (belongs to kidney yang) is in a relative hyperactive state, individuals are likely to develop emission during sleep and overactive sex drive, a disharmony known “frenetic stirring of ministerial fire.”
Kidneys rule water
The kidneys control and regulate the metabolism of body fluids; traditionally they are described as the “water organs.” Body fluid metabolism usually involves many organs such as the lungs, spleen, bladder and kidneys. Among these organs, the kidneys play a dominant role by running through from the beginning to the end process. This part of job is accomplished by the vaporizing power of the kidneys, a yang aspect of kidneys. Through vaporization process, the kidneys turn water into a gaseous state, and they can also gather and combine it into water again. This is important for internal fluid balance, which facilitates the body fluids to flow freely inside the body, distribute in specific regions, and excrete after used. For example, the kidneys separate pure water, which is recycled and used by the body, from impure water that is turned into urine. When there is kidney yang deficient, the vaporizing power is weakened, disturbance in fluid metabolism will occur, leading to scanty urine, general swelling, profuse and clear urine or excessive urination.
Kidneys grasp qi
Although respiratory functions mainly depend on the lungs, deep and normal breathing is controlled by the "grasping" function of the kidneys. By grasping qi, the kidneys enable the inhaled "natural air" of the lungs to penetrate deeply. If there is kidney disharmony, and the grasping function is weakened, respiratory problems such as shallow breathing, inspiration difficulty or wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound in the chest) on exertion can occur. Some types of chronic asthma are related to disorder in grasping function of the kidneys, and the treatment methods usually aim to invigorate kidney and promote qi grasping.Kidneys rule bone, produce marrow, fill up the brain, and their brilliance is manifested in the head hair
These are actually an important role of kidney essence, for promoting body growth and development. Kidneys store essence, essence produces marrow, and marrow nourishes bones. In this way, the kidneys, essence, marrow and bones join together to form a functional unit, interrelationships are thus established. When kidney essence is abundant, marrow production can be assured, which in turn support bone development and repair normally, the body can grow into strong and healthy. On the other hand, when kidney essence is insufficient, there is inadequate source for marrow production, the bones will be less nourished. In some children due to insufficiency of congenital essence, an inherent kidney problem, their body developments are retarded, their bones are weak or show incomplete closure of the skull bones. In adults, this will show soreness of knee and lumbar, difficulty in walking, and even wasting of legs. In elder people, this will show loss in bone mass or density and easily fracture.
TCM claims that teeth are the remnants of bones, and are also nourished by kidney essence. In case if kidney essence is insufficient, the teeth will become loose and even falling off the gum. Dental problem may sometimes indicate kidney deficiency.
Marrow can be divided into bone marrow, brain marrow and spinal marrow. TCM regards the brain as the "sea of marrow"; spinal marrow fills up the skull and forms the brain. When kidney essence is abundant, brain marrow is nourished and enriched constantly, then individuals will feel energetic, and also with rapid response, sharp senses of vision and hearing, and a strong memory. On the contrary, insufficiency of kidney essence that fails to nourish brain marrow, incomplete brain development and a low brainpower will occur in children; memory decline, mental fatigue, slow response, dizziness, blurred vision, ear ringing, insomnia, and even forgetfulness will occur in adults.
Head hair depends on blood for its nourishment. However, the kidneys play a role in transforming stored essence into blood, so TCM claims that the degree of essence reserve in the kidneys manifests on the hair. If kidney essence is abundant, the hair will appear bright, shiny and healthy. On the other hand, hair loss, gray hair or other hair problems can indicate kidney deficiency or blood deficiency.
Kidneys open into the ears, dominate anterior and posterior orifices
The ears are regarded as the window of the kidneys on the head. Good hearing comes with abundant kidney essence, while a deficiency causes hearing problems like deafness or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Hearing problem in elderly people is related to a natural decline of kidney essence. Anterior orifice refers the external genitalia, and posterior orifice refers to the anus. Urination is mainly ruled by bladder; however, it also relies on the vaporizing power of the kidneys. For urinary problems such as excessive urine, frequency, incontinence, bed-wetting, scanty urine, urinary difficulty and dripping after urination, physicians usually look into kidney functions. Some sexual dysfunctions such as impotence, seminal emission, and premature ejaculation usually indicate kidney deficiency too. Kidney diseases also affect defecation, for example, kidney yin deficiency will have hard stools; kidney yang deficiency will have loose stools or diarrhea; deficiency of kidney qi will have persistent diarrhea or anal prolapse.
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