Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
Red, cracked with a red tip, without coating
Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
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.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
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
Pathological Mechanism
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.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Nourish Kidney Yin, clear Empty Heat, calm the Mind
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle 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.
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