Kidney Qi not Firm
Kidney Qi not Firm
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
Slightly Pale tongue
Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the back pain, chronic vaginal discharge and dribbling after urination.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
For men, this pattern is frequently caused by excessive sexual activity.
For women, too many children too close together can largely deplete Kidney Qi. It can also happen if childbirth is prolonged and difficult.
Both excessive physical work or over-exercising can largely consume Kidney Yang, which then leads to Kidney Qi not Firm.
Pathological Mechanism
This pattern is also called ‘Lower Original Qi (元气 Yuan Qi) not Firm’, to show that it is also caused by a shortage of the Original Qi. When Original Qi is weak in the Lower Burner, Qi cannot hold Body Fluids which leads to many 'leaking' symptoms of the sperm, vaginal discharge or urination.
When Kidney Qi and Original Qi are Deficient, the Kidneys cannot provide enough Qi to the Bladder, hence the urine cannot be held and this causes frequent urination, incontinence, enuresis, weak-stream urination and dribbling after urination. When Kidney Qi is weak, it cannot hold the sperm or vaginal secretions in women, which leads to spermatorrhoea, premature ejaculation, chronic vaginal discharge and nocturnal emissions without dreams.
The nocturnal emissions are without dreams because they are caused by a totally Qi Deficient situation, the sperm leaks out because Kidney Qi cannot hold it in. If nocturnal emissions happen at the same time as some vivid sexual dreams, this indicates some Empty Heat within the Kidneys arousing sexual desire.
'Leaking' is one of the two typical characteristics of this pattern. The other one is its 'Cold' symptoms like lower back pain sore and weakness, feeling of cold or cold limbs. It is because Qi is also a type of Yang element.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Reinforce and stabilize Kidney Qi, raise Qi, tonify Kidney Yang
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Eat a balanced diet of all cooked foods and those with a warm energy such as whole grains, legumes (especially aduki beans), meat (especially lamb, beef and pork), cooked vegetables and greens. Drink walnut tea or use walnuts in cooking. Asparagus, black cherry juice, raspberries and millet all aid Kidney Qi.
Avoid any intake of cold and raw foods and drinks, frozen yogurt, ice cream, popsicles, iced and refrigerated drinks, juices, sodas, coffee and other caffeinated foods and drinks, sugar, alcohol, soy milk and tofu.
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