Kidney Qi Deficiency
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 Qi The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肾气虚 Pinyin name: Shèn Qì Xū
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Qi Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Tinnitus Dizziness Back pain Heavy periods Diminished hearing and three other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Slightly Pale
Treatment
Common formulas: Qing E Wan
Pathology
Kidney Qi Deficiency is a pattern of disharmony in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine views the human body as a complex system that tends toward harmony. A pattern of disharmony is a disorder that prevents that harmony from occurring.
Patterns give rise to symptoms that may at first glance seem unrelated from a Western standpoint but that actually make a lot of sense when one understands Chinese Medicine theory. For instance here Kidney Qi Deficiency gives rise to such diverse symptoms as diminished hearing, dizziness, tinnitus and back pain (as well as four others).
To diagnose a pattern, analyzing a patient's pulse as well as their tongue is common practice. In the case of Kidney Qi Deficiency patients tend to exhibit weak (Ruo) pulses.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Qi Deficiency can derive from Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
Diagnosing Kidney Qi Deficiency
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): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Slightly Pale
Main symptoms: Tinnitus Dizziness Back pain Heavy periods Diminished hearing Frequent urination Urination at night Premature ejaculation
Treating Kidney Qi Deficiency
Herbal formulas used to treat Kidney Qi Deficiency
Qing E Wan
Formula summary
Qing E Wan is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm Yang and tonify.
Besides Kidney Qi Deficiency, Qing E Wan is also used to treat Kidney Qi not Firm.
Consequence patterns
If left untreated Kidney Qi Deficiency can lead to Heart Qi Deficiency
Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
A Kidney Deficiency may sometimes be the precursor of this combination of patterns because the Kidneys are the mother of the Liver and Kidney Essence nourishes Liver Blood.
Kidney Qi Deficiency can be a precursor pattern of Lung and Heart Qi Deficiency.