Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Kidneys in Chinese Medicine The concept of Yin The concept of Deficiency / Empty The concept of Heat The concept of Empty-Heat
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肾阴虚 虚热 Pinyin name: Shèn Yīn Xū Xū Rè
Pattern nature: Full/Empty combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Kidney Yin Deficiency Empty Heat
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yin Deficiency
Common causes: 1. Chronic anxiety and worry, 2. Overwork, 3. Excessive sexual activity, 4. Depletion of Body Fluids, 5. Blood loss, 6. Chronic illness, 7. Overdose of Kidney-Yang tonic herbs
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Insomnia Tinnitus Dizziness Dry throat Dry stools and fourteen other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Red, cracked with a red tip, without coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney Yin, clear Empty Heat, calm the Mind
Common formulas: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan
Pathology
This pattern is when Kidney Yin Deficiency, because of the depletion of Fluids and Essence (both Yin in nature), has given rise to pronounced Empty-Heat with symptoms such as night sweats, thirst, five palm heat, dry throat at night, scanty urine and dry stools.
The afternoon fever is typical of Empty-Heat; it can also simply be a feeling of heat in the afternoon, rather than an actual fever.
Heat rises in nature and may ascend to disturb the Mind housed in the Heart, creating symptoms of insomnia and mental restlessness. In this type of insomnia, patients fall asleep easily but wake up in the middle of the night several times, or early in the morning.
In severe cases, the Heat reaches the Blood which causes it to escape the vessels, resulting in blood in the urine.
The Deficiency of Essence (a Yin substance housed in the Kidneys) is what creates the nocturnal emissions. It is accompanied by strong sexual dreams because of the agitating effect of the Empty Heat on the Mind and creates a strong sexual desire.
There may also be an insufficiency of Marrow to fill the brain, causing memory weakness and forgetfulness.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing can derive from Kidney Yin Deficiency
Chronic anxiety and worry:
Overwork: Working excessively long hours for many years weakens Kidney Yin and may lead to this pattern
Excessive sexual activity: Excessive sexual activity, especially masturbation, depletes Kidney Essence and Kidney Yin.
Depletion of Body Fluids: Depletion of Body Fluids, for instance if they are dried up by Heat after a febrile disease, may lead to Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Blood loss: Loss of blood over a long period of time (such as from chronic excessive menstrual bleeding) can cause Liver Blood Deficiency, which, in turn, can lead deplete Kidney Yin.
Chronic illness: A long chronic illness may lead to Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Overdose of Kidney-Yang tonic herbs: If Kidney Yang is overstimulated by the administration of hot herbal medicine, Kidney-Yin will be injured
Diagnosing Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Red, cracked with a red tip, without coating
Main symptoms: Insomnia Tinnitus Dizziness Dry throat Dry stools Malar flush Night sweats Bloody urine Restlnessness Five palm heat Lower back pain Diminished hearing Nocturnal emissions Scanty and dark urine Excessive sexual desire Feeling of heat in the evening Low-grade fever in the afternoon Feeling of heat in the afternoon Thirst with desire to drink in small sips
Diagnosis commentary: Only tinnitus and a Red tongue without coating are enough in and of themselves to diagnose Kidney Yin deficiency with Empty-Heat. Other key characteristics include the malar flush, dizziness, and feeling of heat in the afternoon.
Treating Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
Treatment principle
Nourish Kidney Yin, clear Empty Heat, calm the Mind
Herbal formulas used to treat Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys.
Formula summary
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1119 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is also used to treat Blood Deficiency or Yin Deficiency.
Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan
Formula summary
Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1584 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing, Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan is also used to treat Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency.
Diet recommendations
Eat plenty of whole grains with meat and cooked vegetables. Pork, duck, milk and congee are especially beneficial. Avoid coffee and other caffeinated foods and drinks, alcohol, sugar and tobacco smoking.
Lifestyle habits are very important in preserving Kidney health. Prolonged stress, staying up late, excessive sexual activity, excessive mental work, eating late at night, overwork and lack of rest all damage Kidney Yin.
Rest is one of the best ways to replenish Yin. Exercise should be mild and gentle, such as swimming, walking, Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong.