The organs in Chinese medicine are more than
just a physical representation. The organs include not only their physiological
function, but also mental, emotional, spiritual and elemental qualities that
align with nature and the seasons. Let’s explore the kidneys.
The kidney element in Chinese medicine governs
water and is associated with the season of winter, where the energies are
turning from the hotter yang months to the more yin of winter.
Each organ has an element associated with it: liver and wood, stomach and
earth, kidney and water, for example. There is also an emotion, a color and
flavor associated with the organ system. For the kidneys, the emotion is fear,
the color is dark or black and the flavor is salty. It also opens to the ear,
has the direction of north and is paired with the bladder. The kidney element
houses willpower and manifests in the teeth and luster of the hair.
The kidneys are the body’s root and contain both
yin and yang energies. Yin is associated with what is
dark, still, cold, feminine and is inward. Yang is more outward, hot, bright,
moving and masculine. The kidneys control reproduction, growth and development
and are associated with bones and marrow. The kidneys are said to store jing,
which is likened to essence, what you’re born with and what’s inherited
from your parents.
There are two types of essence:
1.Pre-natal is from your parents and can be
likened to one’s basic constitution and DNA.
2. Post-natal is what is transformed from the
food you eat and lifestyle.
The second you have more control over
health-wise. Ideally, there is a nice balance of kidney yin and yang
energies, but if there is yin deficiency, there will be symptoms such as heat,
sweating, dryness, irritability, insomnia and low back pain. If there is yang
deficiency there are more cold signs such as cold extremities, cold and painful
lower back, increased urinary frequency, fatigue, premature greying, water
retention and low libido. There can also be an emotional component manifesting
as increased phobias and anxieties. Many of the above mentioned symptoms can be
tied to the thyroid and adrenal fatigue in Western medicine.
How to care for your kidney this winter:
Keep warm: The
kidneys are affected by exposure to cold. Try a nice scarf to protect your neck
from the elements, and keep your feet and low back warm in those frosty winter
months. Moxibustion, which is heated mugwort, is a wonderful supplement to
acupuncture that warms particular acupuncture points on the body.
Eat warm: Foods
that are beneficial to the kidneys (in moderation) tend to be dark in color
such as black beans, sesame seeds, seaweed, kelp, lamb and beef. Other
beneficial warming foods include ginger, cinnamon, miso soup, soybeans,
walnuts, chives and Goji berries. It’s best to see your acupuncturist or other
health care professional to get an idea of foods that are good for your
particular constitution, as some of these foods can be harmful if taken in
large amounts (kelp and seaweed, in particular). It’s also best to not eat too
many cold, raw vegetables or cold smoothies. Also try to ingest food and drink
at room temperature. There are wonderful herbal formulas to assist the kidneys
that your acupuncturist can include in your treatment plan.
Light exercise: Light
exercise such as tai qi, qi gong or walking has wonderful health and anti-aging
benefits and won’t cause exhaustion.
Avoid overwork, overexertion, high stress: Overdoing it depletes your kidney energy, and you might
experience ill effects of burnout that are usually associated with adrenal
fatigue. Ancient Chinese medical texts also recommend curbing excessive sexual
activity to keep kidney energy strong and vibrant and to increase longevity.
New York Sports Acupuncture
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