Kidney Yang Qi
Chinese Herbal Kidney Yang Tonics
A person who is truly Kidney Yang Deficient is likely going to feel cold, look pale or gray, and will crave warmth through fire, clothing, and warm drinks. This is a person who is intolerant of cold conditions and has cold feet and hands, even in the summer.
Benefits of Yang energy in the body:
- Yang warms the body.
- Yang energy allows for growth and development.
- Yang Qi allows for successful reproduction including
sexual functions and fertility.- Yang energy regulates the adrenal cortex.
- Yang energy allows for transformation in the body.
- Yang energy reinforces the Defensive Qi or Wei Qi of
the body, thus reinforcing the immune system.- Yang Qi moves blood and body fluids in the body and prevents stagnation.
- Yang holds blood and organs in their proper places
- Qi is a Yang substance and provides vital energy and vitality generally.
Tonic herbs are used to restore deficiencies in the body. There are times when you want to clear energy or toxins in the body, but with true deficiencies you want to rebuild energy using tonic herbs. In this case, the tonic herbs used are warming. Warming herbs should not be used with signs of Deficient Heat such as night sweats, or other Kidney Yin Deficiency signs. In these cases, you may very well be Yang Deficient, but it is necessary to build Yin either before (for severe Yin Deficiency) or while taking the Yang tonic herbs.
Yang deficient patterns will present with slowed metabolic processes such as hypo thryroidism, and even shallow breath. It is common to experience a dull ache lower back, soreness of the knees, and weak lower limbs. Social withdrawal, a tendency to catch colds easily, impotence, infertility, and loose morning stools are also indications of Yang Deficiency. Frequent urination and edema are also common signs of Kidney Yang Deficiency.
Common Yang Tonic herbs include cordyceps, cistanche, epimidium, cuscuta, cynomorium, fenugreek, drynaria, morinda, alpinia, psoralia, cardamon, eucommia, dispacus, and astragalus seed. There are a few Western and Native American herbs that would serve as Yang tonics; Examples of herbs that are commonly used in Western herbalism (although from throughout the world) that have Yang characteristics would include damiana, cinnamon, saw palmetto, calamus root, fennel seed, rosemary, bayberry, sassafras, juniper berry, sarsparilla, horseradish and garlic.
The Kidney Organ System is the fundamental root of all Yin and Yang of the body in Chinese medicine. The Kidney System also stores the Essence; a substance that must be maintained in order to age well and live long with mental clarity. Maintaining a healthy Kidney Energy is necessary for healthy aging. If you feel that you are Kidney Deficient, but are not showing definitive signs of Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidney Yang Deficiency, we have several formulas that are neutral and address Kidney Deficiency: Sage Mountain Formula, Return to Spring Formula, and Resilient Warrior Formula.
In Chinese medicine, there are effective treatments for all types of hormonal imbalances and disorders, but there is not an endocrine system per say. Instead, hormones are part of a complex interrelated functional systems throughout the body, and anyone who has studied the body knows that this is where hormones operate; everywhere. The greatest influence on hormonal health is through a functional interrelated relationship of the Liver and Kidney Systems.
Note: Kidney Yang Tonics are contraindicated for anyone with heat signs in the body.
The most common Kidney imbalances include:
- Kidney Yin Deficiency.
- Kidney Yang Deficiency.
- Kidney Qi Deficiency.
- Kidney Jing Deficiency.
- Kidneys failing to grasp the Qi.
What is Kidney Yang Deficiency?
Kidney Yang deficiency affects many aspects of health including core energy, sexual energy, lower back strength, knee strength, hair and reproduction. 'Yang' refers to the heat and energetic Qi of our bodies in Chinese medicine. Many who are Kidney deficient have a drop in energy in the afternoon around 3 PM. Anxiety, panic attacks and fear, that are also signs of Kidney deficiency. Kidney Yang deficiency could also be marked by cold feet and hands, and general coldness of the body. This herb formula addresses back pain, not as a 'pain reliever', rather by treating the underlying causes of back weakness.
Kidney Yang Tonics are best used with signs of depletion, and coldness in the body. Kidney deficiency and adrenal exhaustion with heat signs, such as hot flashes, constant thirst, or night sweats are better addressed with Kidney Yin Tonic herbs such as Yin Valley Formula. The two formulas can be used together at half strength each when there are signs of both Kidney Yin Deficiency and Kidney Yang Deficiency. It is helpful to understand the Chinese medical concept of Yin and Yang.
If you feel that you are Kidney Deficient, but are not showing definitive signs of Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidney Yang Deficiency, we have several formulas that are neutral and address Kidney Deficiency: Sage Mountain Formula, Return to Spring Formula, and Resilient Warrior Formula.
Kidney Yang is the basis of all Yang in the body, and while you can have Yang Deficiency in any organ system of the body, it is generally related to a root Kidney Deficiency. Qi (Chi) is a Yang substance, and you can often raise your Yang Energy in the body utilizing Qi Tonics when appropriate such as Sea of Qi Formula.
It is often said that the Kidney Organ System 'never suffers from excesses, only deficiencies; therefore, Kidney heat signs are typically deficient type heat and not true excesses.
Herbal Kidney Tonics:
Rehmannia glutinosa - shu di huang
Rehmannia is one of the top Kidney tonics used in Chinese medicine and is said to affect the Heart, Kidney, and Liver organ systems. Because it tonifies blood, it is ideal for promoting longevity, and rejuvenation. As a Kidney tonic, it is often found in formulas that benefit sexual functions in men and women.
Gynostemma pentaphyllum - jiao gu lan
Gynostemma is used traditionally to slow down aging and to prevent senility. Viewed as a virtual "cure-all" in Asia, it has been found to increase superoxide dismutase (SOD), a powerful cellular antioxidant. Studies have also found that it increases the activities of macrophages, T lymphocytes and natural killer cells and that it acts as a tumor inhibitors. Ongoing use of Gynostemma has a protective quality strengthening the adaptive capacity of the person at every level of their life.
Morinda officinalis - ba ji tian - Morinda Root and Vine
Morinda is highly nutritious and is used in superior tonic formulas for strengthening the body's Yang function. It is widely used in impotence formulations as it increases sexual strength in men and women. It tonifies the Kidney energy and corrects soreness of the lower back and knees, and joint pain. It is used by women for infertility and frigidity. Morinda is used widely in China to increase mental power.
Cuscuta chinensis - tu si zi - Cuscuta
Cuscuta is gentle tonic for the Kidney Yin and Yang. It nourishes and consolidates Kidney Qi. It is widely used to improve vision, nourish the sperm and marrow, strengthen bones and sinews. It strengthens sexual functions, prevents miscarriages, relieves vaginal dryness and soothes anxiety associated with sex.
Psoraleae corylifolia - bu gu zhi
A popular Chinese herb to restore premature gray hair to it's natural color. Psoralia also prevents hair loss. As a Yang Tonic, it strengthens Kidney energy. Often, psoralia is used for incontinence and frequent urination. It is especially helpful with a cold and weak lower back with chronic achie pain.
Cornus officinalis - shan zhu yu
This sour fruit plays an important role in many Essence tonics locking energy in and preventing the energy from 'leaking" out. It is a powerful Yin tonic with a warm energy, but when combined with other tonic herbs, Cornus synergistically empowers all of the herbs in the formula. In Asia, it is considered to be an aphrodisiac. It is classified as an herb that "stabilizes and binds" and is used to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, copious sweating, excessive urine, and premature ejaculation
In China, it is said that long-term use of this famous "longevity herb" helps return an aging person to youthfulness. It strengthens the back. The literal translation of the name is "black-haired Mr. He" refers to its ability to restore hair color and nourish the skin, hair, teeth and nails. It is a classic essence tonic and major blood tonic that cleanses the blood. Polygonum is believed to be a powerful sexual tonic when consumed regularly and increases sperm production in men and fertility in women.
Cynomorium songaricum - suo yang
A Kidney Yang tonic that is warming and is an excellent tonic for impotance and sexual rejuvination. It is also an excellent Blood tonic and is used for vaginal dryness and constipation due to blood deficiency.
Trigonella foenum - hu lu ba - Fenugreek Seed
Kidney Yang Tonic. Warms the Kidney energy and enhances sexual function. Traditionally used for diabetes and high cholesterol. Fenugreek is especially helpul in Lung diseases with an underlying Kidney deficiency.
Cinnamomum cassia-rou gui-Cinnamon bark
Cinnamon bark is a strong essence tonic that promotes circulation and warms internal energy; it is said that it leads energy back to the source, or Kidney. Cinnamon bark increases the Yang energy and sexual vitality.
Ligustrum lucidum-nu zhen zi
A Yin Kidney and Liver tonic which is said by the Chinese to prolong life. It is a significant immune enhancing agent. It is also used as a blood tonic. It also improves vision. Modern research shows that the plant increases the white blood cell counts and is used to prevent bone marrow loss in cancer chemotherapy patients. Ligustrum is often used for respiratory tract infections and hypertension.
Thallus algae-kun bu-Seaweed
Seaweed has many micronutrients & minerals necessary for good health and beautiful hair, skin and nails. Moderates the thyroid function in cases of hypothyroidism.
Epimedium spp.-yin yang huo-Horny Goat Weed
Epimedium is a powerful sexual tonic and Asian people consider it one of the best aphrodisiacs. It is used in Chinese medicine to increase sperm production in men and to strengthens bones and joints Recent research indicates that Epimedium is a strong immune system regulator.
Ganoderma lucidum - ling zhi - Reishi Mushroom
The Reishi mushroom has an unparalleled reputation in the Orient as the ultimate herbal substance often used to cure immune disorders. Reishi was traditionally called "the mushroom of immortality."
Alisma plantago-aquatica-ze xie-Water Plantain Root
Alisma is helps strengthen water metabolism and rids the body of excess dampness through the urinary tract. It is safe with mild tonic qualities, especially affecting the Kidney/Bladder, and the Spleen/Stomach. It is often used for obesity, especially for people who carry a lot of water weight.
For information on Chinese Medicine, visit the National Library of Medicine, the The Chinese Medical Journal, or Chinese Medicine News. This is not an endorsement of these organization, just a resource guide.
Kidney Yang Qi
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