Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
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Diagnostic Signs
Pale, Swollen and wet with a white coating.
Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Diagnostic Considerations
Edema of the ankles, breathlessness, Deep-Weak-Slow pulse and Pale-Swollen tongue are enough in and of themselves to diagnose this pattern.
Palpitations and cold hands only appear if Water also overflows to the Heart. The thin watery frothy sputum, coughing and asthma only appear as symptoms if Water also overflows to the Lungs.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods may weaken Kidney Yang. Kidney depleting substances such as alcohol, coffee or sugar can also be factors.
Excessive physical work or exercise - especially lifting things - weakens Kidney Yang.
Excessive sexual activity in men, particularly masturbation, weakens Kidney Yang.
Because they're the source of Essence, the Kidneys are particularly affected by hereditary weakness
A chronic illness, especially if it leads to Spleen Yang Deficiency, can over a long period of time lead to Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pathological Mechanism
This pattern is a severe case of Kidney Yang Deficiency and necessarily a very chronic condition. This is both a Deficiency and Excess pattern, the Excess part being the accumulation of Fluids.
It occurs when Kidney Yang fails to transform Body Fluids (since the Kidneys "rule Water") which accumulate under the skin to form edema. It also often cause water retention in other Organs, particularly the Heart and Lungs.
If it affects the Heart the patient will also have symptoms of palpitations and cold hands. If it affects the Lungs, symptoms will include coughing with a thin watery frothy sputum, which is indicative of the presence of Phlegm-Fluids formation.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Tonify and warm the Kidneys, transform Water and warm and tonify Spleen-Yang. If Water overflows to the Heart or Lungs, warm and tonify Heart Yang or Lung Qi respectively.
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Eat a balanced diet composed only of cooked foods and those with a warm energy such as whole grains, vegetables (especially adzuki beans) and meat (especially lamb, beef and pork).
Avoid excessive sexual activity and exposure to cold.
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