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 Kidney in Chinese Medicine The concept of Yang The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肾阳虚 Pinyin name: Shèn Yáng Xū
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Yang Deficiency
Common combinations: Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fatigue Tinnitus Dizziness Weak legs Lassitude and fifteen other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue description: Pale tongue
Treatment
Treatment principle: Tonify and warm the Kidneys, strengthen the Gate of Life Fire.
Common formulas: Ba Wei Di Huang Wan You Gui Wan Er Xian Tang and two other formulas
Pathology
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness. It indicates that the Fire of the Gate of Life, which is located between the two Kidneys and supplies fundamental warmth for the body, is also impaired. Therefore, the Organs lack warmth and cannot fully perform their functions.
Additionally, Essence cannot warm the sexual function and the Uterus, which can lead to infertility and lowered libido. It also causes insufficient Qi to strengthen the bones, making them brittle.
In severe cases, Yang's function of transforming Body Fluids is impaired. Thus Oedema accumulates and it cause water retention in other Organs, especially the Heart and the Lungs. As a result, symptoms such as breathlessness on exertion, cough, asthma with thin, watery and frothy sputum, palpitations as well as cold hands may appear.
Kidney Yang Deficiency is often paired with patterns such as Deficient Heart, Deficient Spleen Yang or Deficient Lung Qi.
Diagnosing Kidney Yang 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): Deep (Chen) or slow (Chi)
Tongue description: Pale tongue
Main symptoms: Fatigue Tinnitus Dizziness Weak legs Lassitude Impotence Depression Loose stools Oedema of legs Lower back pain Feeling of cold Low sperm count Sore lower back Decreased libido Cold and weak knees Infertility in women Premature ejaculation Bright-white complexion Pale and abudant urination Sensation of cold in the lower back
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the back pain, feeling of cold, profuse clear urination, pale tongue and deep pulse.
Treating Kidney Yang Deficiency
Treatment principle
Tonify and warm the Kidneys, strengthen the Gate of Life Fire.
Herbal formulas used to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Formula summary
You Gui Wan is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1624 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm Yang and tonify.
Besides Kidney Yang Deficiency, You Gui Wan is also used to treat Kidney Qi not Firm or Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang.
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Formula summary
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Kidney Yang Deficiency, Ba Wei Di Huang Wan is also used to treat Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang or Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Shen Qi Wan
Formula summary
Shen Qi Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm Yang and tonify.
Besides Kidney Yang Deficiency, Shen Qi Wan is also used to treat Damp-Phlegm or Oedema.
Diet 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.
Avoid excessive sexual activity, exposure to cold (especially over the lower abdomen and back), and excessive use of hot tubs and saunas, being sure to dunk or thoroughly rinse in cool water after they are used.
Wear a harimaki to protect the abdomen from the external Coldness. Apply moxibustion or ginger fomentations over the lower abdomen and Kidney regions. Try also breathing exercises.
Related conditions
Please keep in mind that a Western Medicine condition can be caused by several Chinese Medicine patterns of disharmony and vice versa. As such a patient suffering from one of the conditions below will not necessarily be suffering from Kidney Yang Deficiency, it is just one pattern that's commonly associated with the condition. Click on a condition to learn what other patterns it's associated with.
Abnormal vaginal discharge Irregular menstruation Menopausal syndrome Late menstruation Anemia Hypertension Chronic bronchitis Chronic rhinitis Rectal prolapse Infertility Cystitis Urticaria Eczema Pyelonephritis Emphysema Asthma Edema Nephrotic syndrome Kidney stones Keratities Hyperaldosteronism Hypothyroidism Chronic nephritis Renal tuberculosis Diabetes mellitus Diabetes insipidus Cataract Glaucoma Addisons disease Arteriosclerosis Albuminuria Chronic gonorrhea Arthritis Neurasthenia Osteoporosis Leukopenia Bronchial asthma Nephritis Benign prostatic hypertrophy Chronic glomerular Renal stones Chronic urethritis Paralysis of the detrusor muscle Urinary retention Vitreous opacity Chronic tonsillitis Neurogenic tinnitus Periodontal disease Premature ejaculation
Special highlight: the link between late menstruation and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) is the key herb for Shen Qi Wan, a formula used for late menstruation caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency
Typical symptoms for late menstruation caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency: Sore back Dizziness Late period Scanty periods Pale color periods Nocturnal emissions
Recommended herbal formula: Shen Qi Wan
Kidney Yang is considered the 'primary Yang'. It is the root of Yang for all other Organs and all the Yang energies of the entire body. In the case of Kidney Yang Deficiency, this results in a situation where there is not be enough Kidney Essence to create Blood, nor sufficient Qi to move Blood to the Lower Burner. Then the Directing (Ren Mai 任脉) and Penetrating (Chong Mai 冲脉) Vessels are not nourished and the Sea of Blood fails to fill the Uterus, hence the delayed periods. Long-term Kidney...Read more about late menstruation
Special highlight: the link between menopausal syndrome and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) is the key herb for You Gui Wan, a formula used for menopausal syndrome caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency
Typical symptoms for menopausal syndrome caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency: Chills Pale face Back pain Dizziness Depression Hot flushes Night sweats Poor appetite Sore lower back Premature aging Oedema of ankles Abdominal fullness Cold hands and feet Premature menopause Absence of menstruation Thin body lacking strength
Recommended herbal formula: You Gui Wan
According to Chinese Medicine, both Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency are interlinked reasons behind menopausal syndrome. It is because the Spleen Yang originates from the Kidney Yang so a deficiency in one will cause a deficiency in the other. In turn the Spleen supplies the Kidneys with postnatal Grain Qi and the Blood it transforms from food and drinks.
When the Spleen Yang is deficient due to Kidney Yang Deficiency, its ability to generate sufficient grain Qi, Blood and Post-Heaven Essence...Read more about menopausal syndrome