Kidneys are the Body's Furnace

The Kidney is a very special organ in Chinese medicine. It's not only in charge of water metabolism but controls human growth, development and the reproductive system by storing and controlling our life energy or essence/jing. If a persons' life energy is strong he or she will be robust and healthy and have lots of energy. Hence the metaphor that the kidney is the body's furnace.

The Kidney energy and it's system is related to a person's constitutional condition and controls the function of the endocrine system (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, sexual glands and hormones). A Western medicine diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, infertility, or sexual dysfunction would to a Chinese medicine doctor clearly indicate a deficiency of Kidney essence/jing. Medicines to tonify the Kidney's include herbs, foods, vitamins and minerals that assist in the body's growth and development and sexual maturity. Chinese Medicine also believes the Kidneys produce the "marrow" energy that is sent up through the spinal column and fills the brain. Deficiency of Kidney Jing is connected to senility and Alzheimer's disease. As we age and our Kidney essence declines our hearing can become weak, our hair becomes grey and thin and our teeth become weak and loose - all signs of a waning Kidney energy. The Kidney's grasp the breath and hold it down for the body to use. Very early on Chinese medicine made the distinction of the Kidney's role in constitutional or chronic, long-term or recurring respiratory problems like coughing and wheezing, allergies, asthma and acute cold and flu symptoms that come and go.

After 2000 years of clinical experience Chinese medicine now understands that kidney's related functions include the nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems, respiration and water metabolism. I treat many people in my practice for kidney-related problems. Some of these are related to diet and to an imbalance between work and relaxation.

Kidney Essence Do's & Don'ts

• Do not drink caffeine or take any stimulant, herbal or otherwise, including herbal weight-loss or "energy" formulas

• Avoid alcohol

• Take time each day for rest and relaxation

• Avoid too much external stimulation (parties, drugs, loud music, too much sex)

• Do not smoke

• Foods include: Black beans and legumes, Kelp (seaweed), Parsley, Spirulina, chlorella or blue green algae, Wheat germ, Wheatgrass, Mulberry, Millet, Oysters, clams lobster, Raspberries, Walnuts, Wild rice (similar to brown rice), Venison, Deep sea salty fish (wild), Chestnuts, Black sesame seeds, Lycium fruit, Adzuki beans, Yams and sweet potatoes.

General Direction for Kidney Yang Deficiency

Kidney yang deficiency refers to a lack of heat and movement energy. Yang deficiency may result from old age, chronic illness, excessive sex or partying, poor lifestyle, weak constitution and frequent childbirths. There are two groups. A person with yang deficiency often displays fatigue, lack of motivation, lower back pain, fluid retention and loose stools. The patient might have impotence, infertility or a lack of libido. Or there is a pattern of "cold": pale, shiny, puffy face and cold hands and feet. The furnace is not warm enough to promote good energy circulation. Western medicine conditions that we would label as Kidney yang deficiency include: chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, vitiligo, psoriasis, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, menopause, prostate and sexual dysfunction, hypothyroidism, depression nephritis and renal failure.

If you fall into this pattern, you might already be finding yourself craving more warm cooked foods. Engaging in regular moderate exercise activities such as walking, short jogs, stretching, yoga, qigong, swimming and using exercise machines are helpful in stimulating your blood flow and getting that yang to the rest of the body.

Specific Foods for Kidney Yang Deficiency:

• Adhere to the dietary suggestions for Kidney Essence deficiency.

• Eat warm, nourishing foods

• Consume one serving of hormone free meat or animal product per day. Vegan diets are not healthy for Kidney Yang deficiency. Lobster, lamb and shrimp are particularly warming for the Kidneys

• Include ginger-root, black beans, adzuki beans, lentils and sword beans

• Include soaked grains like oats, spelt, sweet brown rice and quinoa

• Eat walnuts and pistachio nuts

• Fruits should include citrus peel, dates and cherries, strawberries, raspberries and star anise

• Vegetables include: parsnips, parsley, mustard greens winter squash, cabbage, kale, onions, leeks, chives, garlic and scallions

• Spices include: anise, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, basil, rosemary, dill, caraway, fenugreek and cumin

General Direction for Kidney Yin Deficiency

Kidney Yin deficiency is a common condition in my practice. Generally there are two groups of symptoms. First group symptoms are related to the Kidney function such as fatigue, dizziness, forgetfulness, tinnitus, hair loss, loose teeth, chronic lower back paining weakness unrelated to an injury. The reproductive system may be affected with amenorrhea or scanty menstrual periods, infertility and sexual energy dysfunction such as low libido. The second group is called "empty heat": hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, dry skin, dry throat, constipation, minimal urination, blurred or poor vision, backache, premature ejaculation, frequent thirst, heat in the hands, feet or chest. A western medicine diagnosis might be menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetes, anemia, allergic purpura, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and consumptive diseases like cancer and AIDS.

Specific foods to tonify Kidney Yin

The foods of yin tonics are abalone, apples, sweet apricot seed, asparagus, tofu (fermented), balsam pear, brown sugar, cantaloupe, cheese, chicken eggs, saltwater clams, coconut milk, crab, cuttlefish, dates, duck and duck eggs, figs, freshwater clams, white mushroom/fungus, honey, kidney beans, kumquats, lemon, litchi nuts, pomegranates, pork and pork marrow, rabbit, red bayberries, polished white rice, royal jelly, shrimp, star fruit, string beans, sugar cane, tomatoes, walnuts, watermelon, whitebait and yams.