Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
Normal-coloured without coating or with rootless coating
Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Dry eyes, dry throat, back pain and a tongue without coating are enough in and of themselves to diagnose Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency. Together with night sweats and scanty menstruation they're they main characteristic symptoms of this pattern.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
Anger, frustration and depression may over the long-term lead to this pattern.
Working excessively long hours for many years weakens Kidney Yin and may lead to this pattern
Excessive sexual activity, especially masturbation, depletes Kidney Essence and Kidney Yin.
Depletion of Body Fluids, for instance if they are dried up by Heat after a febrile disease, may lead to Kidney Yin Deficiency.
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.
A long chronic illness may lead to Kidney Yin Deficiency.
If Kidney Yang is overstimulated by the administration of hot herbal medicine, Kidney-Yin will be injured
A diet poor in nourishment or lacking in Blood-forming foods (such as meat and grains) can lead to Liver Blood Deficiency and subsequently this pattern
Pathological Mechanism
The Liver stores Blood while the Kidneys store Essence.
Liver Blood depends on Essence for nourishment, while Essence depends on Blood for replenishment. Both have a common source: Grain Qi derived from the Spleen. In terms of Five Elements, the Kidneys nourish the Liver.
A long term Liver Blood Deficiency (Blood is Yin in nature) can cause Kidney Yin Deficiency. Usually this appears as a Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Dry eyes are one of the most distinctive symptoms of Liver-Yin deficiency, due to the Yin of the Liver being unable to moisten the eyes.
Dream-disturbed sleep, insomnia, limbs numbness, blurred vision and scanty menstruation (or amenorrhea in the worse cases) are all symptoms of Liver Blood Deficiency, which is part of Liver Yin Deficiency.
The headache is also due to Liver Blood deficiency. It tends to be either occipital or vertical (on the vertex of the head).
The infertility, which is mostly seen in women, is because of deficient Liver Blood failing to nourish the Uterus and to deficient Kidney Essence unable to promote conception.
The absence of coating on the tongue is a key sign of Yin Deficiency.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Nourish Liver and Kidney Yin
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Eat plenty of grains, vegetables and a little meat (preferably white meat). Avoid spicy, greasy and fried foods, caffeinated foods and drinks including coffee, black tea, cocoa, alcohol, drugs, chips of all kinds, turkey and red meats.
Rest is extremely important in nourishing Yin, as is meditation, contemplation and prayer. Avoid excessive mental and sexual activity as well as overwork.
When it comes to exercise stretching and light movement are beneficial, such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, swimming and walking.
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