Knowledge base

Kidneys

The Kidneys are essential in the distribution and management of water and fluids in our bodies and are the organ connected to the Water element. The main functions of the kidneys are receiving and storing of life force, essence or Qi and for this reason are known as “life batteries.” The essence stored in the kidneys influences our ability to reproduce, grow, and develop. Kidney essence is yin while Qi is yang and they depend on each other to maintain a dynamic physical balance.

Weak Kidneys result in aching and weakness of the lower back, knees, blurred vision and poor memory. A yin deficiency may cause imbalance and produce fevers, night sweating, dizziness, ringing in the ears and sexual dreams. Kidney yang deficiency decreases the warming function of the kidney bringing symptoms of exhaustion, cold extremities and frequent urination which leads to inadequate reproductive ability, impotence, premature ejaculation and coldness of the uterus.

Normal menstruation, reproduction and prenatal development follow sufficient Qi but if it’s weak, then irregular menstruation, loss of periods and infertility will occur.

Strong bones require marrow, a product of kidney essence. Lack of which leads to aching, weak lumbar region and knees and according to traditional Chinese medicine, “teeth are the remainder of bone”, so poor nourishment by the kidney essence causes looseness and loss of teeth. Hair quality too, is affected by the quality of the kidney Qi, which is why men with weak kidneys go bald prematurely.

The ear is connected to the kidney, so hearing depends on kidney qi too. If it is sufficient, good hearing will result, if not deafness and a ringing in the ears, frequent urination, impotence, premature ejaculation, or infertility.