In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinical practice, many patients often hear terms like Kidney Yang Deficiency (Shen Yang Xu) and Kidney Yin Deficiency (Shen Yin Xu), leaving them confused. Many people are aware that they have kidney deficiency and start to tonify the kidneys, but they may find that their condition worsens. This is often due to a lack of understanding of the differences between Kidney Yang Deficiency and Kidney Yin Deficiency, leading to inappropriate treatments. The human body is like boiling water, where the right amount of heat is crucial; Yang deficiency is like insufficient fire, causing the water to take a long time to boil, while Yin deficiency is like having too little water, which boils quickly. This article focuses on Kidney Yang Deficiency, discussing its causes and symptoms.
What is Kidney Yang Deficiency?
In real life, many people feel cold even in summer, with cold hands and feet, which is often a sign of Kidney Yang Deficiency. Kidney Yang Deficiency is a term in TCM that generally refers to a condition where the body’s Yang energy is weak, leading to a failure in warming and transforming, resulting in various cold symptoms. TCM identifies approximately four main causes of Kidney Yang Deficiency:
1. Congenital Yang Deficiency
This refers to a condition where an individual’s innate constitution affects the kidneys, leading to weakened Yang energy and resulting in Kidney Yang Deficiency.
2. Excessive Sexual Activity
TCM believes that excessive sexual activity can deplete Kidney Yang and damage Kidney Qi. This can lead to symptoms such as lower back and knee soreness, fatigue, and even reduced organ function, premature aging, and infertility.
3. Aging and Kidney Depletion
The Su Wen (Plain Questions) states: “At seven years old, a girl’s kidney energy is abundant, and her teeth and hair grow. At fourteen, she experiences her first menstruation, and her Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) is open, allowing for fertility. At twenty-one, kidney energy is balanced, and permanent teeth grow. At twenty-eight, bones are strong, and the body is robust. At thirty-five, Yangming Meridian weakens, and the face begins to show signs of aging. At forty-two, the three Yang Meridians weaken, and the face becomes pale, with hair beginning to turn white. At forty-nine, the Ren Mai is deficient, and the Conception Vessel weakens, leading to infertility. For men, at eight years old, kidney energy is strong, and hair grows. At sixteen, kidney energy is abundant, leading to fertility. At twenty-four, kidney energy is balanced, and bones are strong. At thirty-two, bones are robust, and muscles are full. At forty, kidney energy declines, leading to hair loss and tooth decay. At forty-eight, Yang energy is depleted, leading to a pale face and graying hair. At fifty-six, liver energy declines, leading to weakness. At sixty-four, kidney energy is depleted, leading to a decline in vitality and infertility.” This indicates that the vitality of the kidneys determines the overall vitality of the body; conversely, as the body ages, the kidneys also weaken.
4. Chronic Illness Damaging the Kidneys
The kidneys are the foundation of life and the root of vitality. Ming Dynasty physician Sun Yikui noted in Yi Zhi Xu Yu that “the Ming Men (Gate of Life) is the dynamic energy between the two kidneys”; the Nanjing (Classic of Difficulties) states: “The two kidneys are not both kidneys; the left is the kidney, and the right is the Ming Men”; and Ming Dynasty physician Zhang Jingyue in Lei Jing Fu Yi stated: “The Ming Men governs both kidneys, and both kidneys belong to the Ming Men.” Although interpretations of the Ming Men vary, it is closely related to the kidneys. The Ming Men contains the innate water and fire, which are essential for vitality, and chronic illness can damage the body’s original Qi, hence the saying in TCM, “Chronic illness damages the kidneys.”
5. Excessive Fear Damaging the Kidneys
The Su Wen: Regulation of Menstruation states: “The kidneys store willpower.” The Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) states: “The kidney is the pathway of the Shaoyin Meridian… If Qi is insufficient, it leads to fear.” The kidneys store willpower, and fear is associated with the kidneys, so patients with kidney deficiency often experience emotional instability, anxiety, and fear. Conversely, excessive fear can also damage the kidneys, leading to depletion of Kidney Qi and imbalance in the body’s functions. The Ling Shu: Essence of Spirit states: “Fear that is unresolved damages essence; when essence is damaged, bones become weak and soft.” Thus, excessive fear can also harm the kidneys.
Symptoms of Kidney Yang Deficiency
1. Sensitivity to Cold and Cold Extremities
The Su Wen: Regulation of Menstruation states: “Yang deficiency leads to external cold.” Patients with Kidney Yang Deficiency often experience sensitivity to cold and cold extremities. In severe cases, they may feel cold even in summer, especially in air-conditioned environments.
2. Fatigue and Low Vitality
The Huangdi Neijing: Ling Shu states: “The kidneys are the officials of strength and endurance.” This means that the kidneys are responsible for endurance and strength. When Kidney Yang is deficient, the essence and will cannot be stored, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, low vitality, lack of energy, and easy exhaustion. This is closely related to the kidneys’ function of storing essence and nourishing the bones and marrow.
3. Heaviness in the Body and Weak Extremities
The Huangdi Neijing: Ling Shu states: “The kidneys are the officials of strength and endurance.” Ming Dynasty physician Ma Shi interpreted this as: “Only the kidneys can produce strength, and they are responsible for the creation of essence and life.” This means that when kidney energy is abundant, the essence is full, and the person is energetic and agile. Conversely, when the kidneys are deficient, there is insufficient kidney energy, leading to a heavy body and weak extremities.
4. Lower Back and Knee Pain, Weakness in Muscles and Bones
The Su Wen: Essentials of Pulse Diagnosis states: “The lower back is the residence of the kidneys”; the Zhuzhen Yuanhou Lun: Lower Back Pain states: “The kidneys govern the lower back and legs.” The kidneys store essence, which nourishes the lower back and knees, so insufficient kidney energy can lead to lower back and knee soreness, cold pain in the lower back, and weakness in the muscles and bones.
5. Sexual Dysfunction
The Du Yi Sui Bi: Qi, Blood, and Spirit states: “The great Qi is the master of essence. Essence is the residence of spirit. Spirit is the essence of Qi and essence.” Each organ has its own function… Therefore, Qi governs the Ming Men; essence governs the kidneys. The Shang Gu Tian Zhen states: “The kidneys govern water, receiving and storing the essence of the five organs and six bowels, thus allowing for discharge.” The Liujie Zang Xiang states: “The kidneys govern storage, being the foundation of essence.” The Guanzi: Water and Earth states: “Humans are water. When male and female essences unite, water flows and forms.” In summary, the kidneys store essence, which promotes growth, development, and reproduction. The reproductive function of the body is closely related to the fullness of kidney essence; if the kidneys are deficient, it can lead to various sexual dysfunctions, such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, low sperm count, and prostatitis in men; and scanty menstruation, amenorrhea, and infertility in women.
6. Other Symptoms
The kidneys are associated with the color black, the ears, the taste of salt, and the winter season, and they interact with the bladder. In terms of emotions, they are related to fear, and in terms of fluids, they are related to saliva. The kidneys are associated with bones and produce marrow, and their manifestation is in hair. Therefore, kidney deficiency can also lead to hair loss, premature graying, hearing loss, memory decline, frequent dreaming, susceptibility to osteoporosis, joint pain, and a dull complexion.
Conclusion: The kidneys are the foundation of life, the root of Yin and Yang, and the residence of the Ming Men. The health of the kidneys directly determines the health, reproduction, and beauty of the body. Therefore, health and youth begin with nourishing the kidneys. In daily life, when facing kidney deficiency and considering kidney tonification, it is essential to determine whether one has Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidney Yang Deficiency to treat the condition effectively.