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Hom e > Bas ic Principle s > Unde rs tanding Kidne y Yin and Kidne y Yang

Unde rstanding Kidne y Yin and Kidne y Yang

The the ory of yin-yang is a conceptual f ramew ork used

f or observing and analyzing the material w orld in ancient
China. The theory permeates all aspects of traditional
Chinese medicine. It serves to explain the organic
structure, physiological f unctions and pathological changes
of the human body, and in addition guides clinical diagnosis
and treatment and prevention. The yin-yang
Symbol
When The theory of yin and yang is used to explain the
organic structure of the human body; the physical f orm pertains to yin, w hile
activities or f unctions pertain to yang. The physical f orms are the material basis f or
f unctions, w hile f unctions are the motivating pow er f or physical f orms. They are
mutually complementary. TCM view s the k idne ys as the center of the body's yin
and yang, the "congenital f oundation," or the origin of lif e. In other w ords, the
kidneys store the primordial yin and primordial yang (also called kidney yin and
yang), w hich is the place w here nutrients are stored and physiological f unctions
take place.

Kidney yin, also called primordial yin, true yin or true w ater, is the f oundation of the
yin fluid of the w hole body; it moistens and nourishes the organs and tissues.

Kidney yang, also called primordial yang, true yang or true f ire, is
the f oundation of the yang qi of the w hole body; it w arms and
promotes the f unctions of the organs and tissues.

Kidney yin provides energy f or physiological f unctions w hile

kidney yang promotes storage of kidney yin. Kidney yin and yang
are mutually dependent, promoting and restraining each other,
leading to an internal harmony of yin and yang, and healthy
f unctioning of the body's organs. It is the dynamic interaction
betw een the tw o that maintains the normal lif e activities. The TCM kidneys
third chapter of Suwen (The Book of Pl a i n Questi ons)
conf irms this by saying, "When yin is stabilized and yang w ell-conserved, the
spirit w ill be in harmony; separation of yin and yang w ill cause exhaustion of
e s s e nce and qi." This statement implies the mutual relationship of yin and yang.

When imbalance Occurs

When the balance of kidney yin and kidney yang is disrupted, pathological
changes take place and illness occurs.

Presentations of kidney yin deficiency include: soreness and w eakness of the

lumbar regions and knees, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing problems, a dry
mouth and throat, a hot sensation in the palms, soles and chest, spontaneous
sw eating, constipation, and seminal emission. The pulse is w eak or f ine and rapid;
the tongue is red and covered w ith a light coating of f ur. Kidney yin def iciency
syndrome alw ays produces signs of yin vacuity inte rnal he at.

Presentations of kidney yang deficiency include: soreness or cold sensation in the

knees and lumbar regions, aversion to cold, cold limbs, spiritual f atigue, diff iculty in
urination, enuresis, incontinence, declining libido, or impotence in severe cases;
f emale sterility, and general edema may also appear. The pulse is f ine or f ine and
deep; the tongue is bulky, moist, and covered w ith w hite f ur. Kidney yang

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Understanding Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/kidneyyinyang.html

def iciency syndrome alw ays produces signs of yang vacuity inte rnal cold.

Kidney yin and kidney yang alw ays inf luence each other, since
they are mutually dependent. Theref ore if kidney yin suff ers
long-term damage, kidney yang w ill be aff ected and result in
depletion of both yin and yang. This is called "impairment of yin
aff ecting yang" and vice versa.

This is w hy in routine TCM therapies, tonif ying yin w ill also

support yang and tonif ying yang w ill also support yin, or tonif y
both yin and yang at the same time, by this means the state of Kidney
equilibrium are restored. According to the clinical diagnosis, yang deficiency
and yin are invigorated to diff erent degrees. In the M ing usually
dynas ty (1368-1644), a notable physician, Zhang Jie bin presents as
(1563-1640) had the celebrated idea that "The body is prone to
lumbar
def iciency rather than excess. It is necessary to w arm and
soreness
tonif y kidney yin and kidney yang f rom time to time, and to use
cold-cool and potent drugs w ith caution. Theref ore the kidney, w hich is the root of
all the organs , can be consolidated." He also claimed that "w hen tonif ying the yin,
yang should be protected, not suppressed, and vice versa." This concept is
generally accepted today, and many of his f ormulas relating to kidney tonification
are still popular.

In respect to deficiency in kidney qi and kidney yang

Kidney yang def iciency and kidney qi def iciency

have similar presentations; how ever they can still
be diff erentiated clinically. Manif estation of kidney
yang def iciency f ollow s the rules of yang vacuity
inte rnal cold; theref ore it usually presents cold
symptoms, e.g. cold and pain in the lumbar area
and cold limbs. Kidney qi def iciency is a common
clinical diagnosis and does not usually present w ith
cold symptoms. When the kidney's astringent or
storage f unctions are poor w ith a kidney qi
def iciency, associated symptoms appear, e.g. Kidney yang deficiency and
f requent urination, copious amounts of clear urine, kidney qi deficiency
incontinence, enuresis, seminal emission, abortion, represent different stages
or miscarriage. of a process.

Kidney yang def iciency and kidney qi def iciency represent diff erent stages of a
process; improper management of kidney qi def iciency leads to kidney yang
def iciency; in contrast, proper management of kidney yang def iciency leads to
less severe symptoms of a kidney qi def iciency and then gradual recovery to the
normal state.

In respect to kidney qi and kidney essence

In ancient times, qi belonged to yang and w as

called yang-qi. Theref ore, kidney qi belongs to
yang, and represents all the f unctions of the
kidney. On the other hand, the body's e s s e nce ,
blood, and fluid are generally called yin essence
in TCM. Yin essence is material basis f or the body's
physiological f unctions as w ell as the kidneys as a
w hole. Manif estation of kidney yin def iciency
f ollow s the rules of yin vacuity inte rnal he at;
theref ore it usually presents heat symptoms, e.g. a
dry mouth and throat, a hot sensation in the palms, Essence and qi come
soles and chest. How ever def iciency in kidney under different categories.

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Understanding Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/kidneyyinyang.html

essence does not usually present w ith the heat symptoms.

Simply speaking, citing the analogy of yin and yang, kidney essence is the material
basis, kidney qi is the f unctional f orce. Kidney essence and kidney qi are
complementary and closely associated.

Conclusion

Imbalance of kidney yin and kidney yang leads to many

diseases, and aff ects all organs of the body. For
accurate diagnosis of a condition, it must be f irst
ascertained w hether there is a def iciency of yin or yang,
bef ore identif ying the organs involved. For example in
chronic nephritis, chronic renal f ailure, or senile kidney
def iciency diseases, the usual TCM syndromes are During TCM
kidney qi def iciency, kidney yang def iciency, qi def iciency consultation, the yin-
in the kidney and spleen, yang def iciency in the kidney yang theory is
and s ple e n, kidney yin def iciency, yin def iciency in superordinated to
kidney and lung, yin def iciency in kidney and live r.
other theories.
Caref ul diagnosis can increase the eff ectives of
treatment.

Written By:
Prof. Zou Yanquan ()
Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing T CM University
National Medical Center of T CM Kidney Disease

Editors:
Angela Collingwood MSN, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.
Jennifer Eagleton, BA & MA (Asian Studies), Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings
Ltd.
Rose Tse, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.

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