Functions of the Kidneys Flashcards
T/F: The Kidneys are the foundation for all the Yin and Yang energies of the body.
True
- Primary(Kidney) Yin - Liver Yin - Heart Yin - Lung Yin
- Primary Yang - Spleen Yang - Lung Yang - Heart Yang
What is another term for Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang?
Primary Yin; Primary Yang
What is the motive force of all physiological processes?
Kidney-Yang
What is the fundamental substance for birth, growth, and reproduction?
Kidney-Yin
Explain the interdependence of Kidney Yin and Yang?
- Kidney-Yin provides material basis for Kidney-Yang
- Kidney-Yang provides heat necessary for to all Kidney fxs
- like an oil lamp: oil = yin; flame = yang
What are the functions of the Kidneys? (10)
- store Essence(Jing) and govern birth, growth, reproduction, development
- produce Marrow, fill up Brain, control bones
- govern water
- control reception of Qi
- open into ears
- manifest in the hair
- control the two lower orifices
- house Will-power
- control the Gate of Life (Ming Men, Minister Fire)
- control spittle
Where is Kidney-Essence stored? Where does it circulate?
- stored in Kidneys, circulates all over body, particularly in 8 Extraordinary Vessels
T/F: Kidney-Essence is essentially in charge of what we would call hormonal changes in Western Medicine.
True
What provides the material basis for Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang?
Kidney-Essence
What are the Yin and Yang aspects of Kidney-Essence?
Yang = Ming Men (Minister Fire, Fire of the Gate of Life)
active from conception
Yin = water aspect of essence (ie, sperm, menstrual blood, ova)
What are the concentration points of the Yin and Yang aspects of the Kidney-Essence?
yin = CV-4 / Ren-4 guanyuan yang = GV-4 / Du-4 mingmen (fire of gate of life)
List the functions of Kidney-Essence (9)
- governs growth, development, sexual maturation, reproduction
- determines 7- and 8-year cycles
- influences conception and pregnancy
- decline induces menopause
- determines ageing
- material basis for Kindey-Yin and Kidney-Yang
- has yin (essence) and yang (ming men) aspect
- basis for transformation of Kidney-Yin into Kidney-Qi under influence of Kidney-Yang
- produces Marrow
T/F: ‘Marrow’ in Chinese Medicine is a substance which is the common matrix of bones, bone marrow, brain, and spinal cord.
True
poor memory and concentration, dizziness, poor eyesight, dull thinking indicates:
brain not adequately nourished by Kidney-Essence
T/F: The Kidneys are like a gate that opens and closes in order to control the flow of Body Fluids in the Lower Burner.
True
profuse and pale urination indicates:
- deficiency of Kidney-Yang
‘gate of drainage ditch’ too open
scanty and dark urination indicates:
- deficiency of Kidney-Yin
‘gate of drainage ditch’ too closed
T/F: The organs of the Lower Burner are particularly concerned with the excretion of impure fluids.
True
(KD provide Qi for BL to store and transform urine; SI and LI play role in separating pure and impure fluids - also under control of Kidney-Yang)
How do the Kidneys govern Water?
- 5 elements, water
- provide Qi (Kidney-Yang) for all transformation and transportation of fluids
( to Bladder to store and transform, to SI and LI to transform and separate, to SP to transform and transport)
T/F: Kidneys control the reception of Qi
True
- receive Qi from air along with Lungs
- Lungs send Qi down to Kidneys, Kidneys hold it (if it cannot hold it down (grasp it), it rebels upwards causing SOB and asthma)
T/F: If the Kidneys are weak, hearing may be impaired and there may be tinnitus.
True (Kidneys open into ears, nourish ears)
What influences hair health?
Kidneys and Liver-Blood
What is the fluid that moistens the Kidneys and benefits Kidney-Essence?
spittle / ‘tuo’
- thick fluid in mouth deriving from root of tongue and back of throat
Up until the Ming Dynasty, how did the two Kidneys differ according to Chinese physicians?
Left = Kidney Proper, relates to Bladder
Right = Gate of Life, houses Ming Men, relates to Triple Burner
*during Ming Dynasty, concept of Gate of Life/Ming Men was greater developed, said to occupy place between the two kidneys
