Kidney Yang Deficiency (Shen Yang Xu) is a common type of “deficiency syndrome,” often caused by factors such as inherent Yang deficiency (long-standing deficiency), aging-related kidney depletion (due to old age), chronic illness damaging the kidneys, or excessive sexual activity.
1. Disease Characteristics
Kidney Yang Deficiency is a syndrome that often correlates with specific diseases. For example, male impotence and premature ejaculation are classified as Kidney Yang Deficiency, as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia in men and cold uterus infertility in women. These specific diseases share similar symptoms, such as spontaneous sweating, frequent night urination, and weakness in the lower back and knees, all of which can be summarized as Kidney Yang Deficiency.
2. Symptoms:
Main symptoms include cold intolerance, cold extremities, lack of thirst, cold hands and feet, weakness and cold pain in the lower back and knees, frequent night urination, clear and prolonged urination or oliguria with edema, pale complexion, fatigue, lack of energy, vivid dreams, spontaneous sweating, dizziness, memory loss, cold pain in the lower abdomen, constipation, loose stools, early morning diarrhea, shortness of breath, wheezing with phlegm, and hair loss or premature graying. The tongue shows a pale body, swollen shape, white slippery coating, and the pulse is deep and slow.
Men are also prone to chronic prostatitis, impotence, and decreased libido, while women may experience cold uterus infertility, and the elderly are at risk for osteoporosis.
Specific diseases that may arise include male impotence and premature ejaculation, female infertility, osteoporosis in the elderly, menopausal syndrome in women, osteoarthritis, chronic bronchitis, chronic bronchial asthma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic colitis, chronic nephritis (kidney failure), and diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, etc.
3. What are the treatment principles for Kidney Yang Deficiency?
For treating Kidney Yang Deficiency, the first choice is to use warming and tonifying Kidney Yang herbs, while also combining with other symptomatic treatments. For instance, for impotence and premature ejaculation caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency, one can choose appropriate herbs like Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan (Golden Lock Solid Essence Pill) and may also combine with symptomatic medications such as sildenafil citrate tablets.
Warming Kidney Yang Herbs + Symptomatic Medications
Example: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is classified as Kidney Yang Deficiency
Gui Fu Di Huang Wan (Cinnamon and Aconite Rehmannia Pill) + Finasteride Capsules + Tamsulosin Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules (for benign prostatic hyperplasia) + Lycopene Soft Capsules
4. What are the medication options for Kidney Yang Deficiency?
Warming and Tonifying Kidney Yang Herbs
① Gui Fu Di Huang Wan: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Used for weakness in the lower back and knees, cold extremities, and frequent urination. Gui Fu Di Huang Wan is based on Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) with the addition of cinnamon and aconite to enhance Yang.
② Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang, promotes Qi, and facilitates water metabolism. Used for kidney deficiency with edema, weakness in the lower back and knees, and cold extremities. Compared to Gui Fu Di Huang Wan, Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan replaces cinnamon with cinnamon twig and adds herbs like Niuxi (Achyranthes) and Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed) to enhance kidney tonification and promote urination, making it suitable for those with Kidney Yang Deficiency and edema, such as chronic nephritis and chronic prostatitis patients.
③ Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan: Warms the kidneys, promotes Qi, and reduces edema. Used for kidney Yang deficiency with water retention, weakness in the lower back and knees, and difficulty urinating. Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is similar to Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, but uses cinnamon instead of cinnamon twig, making it slightly stronger in warming Kidney Yang.
④ Qi Bian Hui Chun Le Capsules: Tonifies the kidneys and strengthens Yang. Used for kidney deficiency with impotence, premature ejaculation, and decreased sexual function. This medication is more focused on patients with sexual dysfunction due to Kidney Yang Deficiency.
⑤ Wu Jia Rong Xue Oral Liquid: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Used for symptoms like weakness in the lower back and legs, cold extremities, and cold sperm due to Kidney Yang deficiency. Especially suitable for those who experience cold hands and feet in winter.
⑥ You Gui Wan: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang, replenishes essence, and stops leakage. Used for insufficient Kidney Yang, declining Mingmen fire, weakness in the lower back and knees, fatigue, cold intolerance, impotence, and clear frequent urination. (You Gui Wan is for those with true Yang deficiency.)
⑦ Suo Yang Gu Jing Wan: Warms the kidneys and secures essence. Used for weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and premature ejaculation.
⑧ Ba Zi Bu Shen Capsules: Tonifies the kidneys and warms Yang. Suitable for symptoms like weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, fatigue, forgetfulness, and cold extremities. (Modern studies have found Ba Zi Bu Shen Capsules to have anti-aging effects and are suitable for both men and women.)
*Note: Warming and tonifying Kidney Yang through medication is a continuous process. Generally, it is difficult to see effects within 3-5 days of medication, so a treatment course of 1-3 months is recommended, depending on the patient’s condition.
5. What should individuals with Kidney Yang Deficiency pay attention to in daily life?
1. Individuals with Kidney Yang Deficiency should avoid taking warming Kidney Yang herbal medications containing Aconite together with those containing Ban Xia (Pinellia), Gua Lou (Trichosanthes), Bei Mu (Fritillaria), Bai Lian (Nymphaea), or Bai Ji (Bletilla) due to potential interactions.
2. It is important to avoid excessive sexual activity.
3. Maintain a relaxed mood and engage in aerobic exercises such as Tai Chi, jogging, or walking, and keep a regular schedule.
4. It is advisable to consume warming and tonifying Kidney Yang foods such as lamb, fox nuts, black beans, yam, black sesame, and walnuts.
OK, the above content is today’s sharing, representing personal opinions and not as a basis for medication. If there are any discomforts, it is recommended to seek medical advice. The images in the text are taken by me, not for promotion, only for illustration purposes; please delete if infringed.
