Kidney Patterns Flashcards
Functions of the Kidneys
Store the Essense (Jing)
Govern birth, growth, reproduction and development
Produce Marrow - fill up the brain and control bones
Govern Water
Control the reception of Qi
Open into the ears
Manifests in the hair
Controls spittle
Controls the two lower orifices
Houses the Will power (Zhi)
Controls the Gate of Life (Minister Fire, Ming Men)
Kidney patterns - general
All chronic Kidney patterns are either deficient or mixed excess/deficient with the exception of acute Damp-Heat affecting the Bladder and Kidneys.
Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang have the same root. A deficiency in one implies a deficiency to some extent in the other. However, the deficiency will always be primarily either Yin or Yang
The Kidneys are nearly always affected in Chronic diseases.
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Clinical manifestations
Lower backache
Dizziness
Tinnitus
Cold and weak knees
Sensation of cold in the lower back
feeling cold
weak legs
bright-white complexion
tiredness, lassitude
abundant clear urination
urinates at night
Apathy
Oedema of the legs
Infertility in women
loose stools
Depression
Impotence
Premature ejaculation
Low sperm count
Decreased libido
Tongue: Pale and Wet
Pulse: Proximal positions: Deeper or Deep (possibly more on the right) Feeble/Absent, Reduced Substance
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Aetiology
Chronic illness - especially one manifesting with Spleen-Yang deficiency can cause Kidney-Yang deficiency.
Excessive sexual activity - in particular, if exposed to cold immediately after intercourse. In women too early sexual activity during puberty may weaken Kidney-Yang
Excessive physical work or exercise
Diet - Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods may weaken Spleen and Kidney-Yang
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Pulse
Pulse: Proximal positions: Deeper or Deep (possibly more on the right) Feeble/Absent, Reduced Substance
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Tongue
Pale and Wet
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Pathology
Interior cold symptoms - classic Yang deficiency, the Fire of the Gate of Life (Ming-Men) fails to warm the body.
Soreness of the back and weakness of the legs and knees - not enough Kidney-Qi to give strength to the bones and back.
Impotence, premature ejaculation, low sperm count, cold and thin sperm, infertility, lack of libido
Abundant and clear urination - failure to transform fluids.
Oedema of the legs - fluids accumulating under the skin.
Wet tongue - fluids accumulating on the tongue
Tiredness, lassitude, pale tongue - Kidney-Yang failing to nourish Spleen, the muscles lack nourishment.
Tinnitus and dizziness - KIdney-Yang not brightening the ears and brain.
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Precursors
Spleen-Yang deficiency - most common precursor.
Dampness - over a long period of time will affect the Kidneys by obstructing the movement of fluids leading to deficiency of Kidney-Yang
Kidney-Yin deficiency - both Yin and Yang will be deficient.
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Developments
Spleen-Yang deficiency
Stomach-Yang deficiency
Lung-Yang deficiency
Heart-Yang deficiency
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Treatment principle
Tonify and warm the Kidneys
Strengthen the Fire of the Gate of Life.
Kidney-Yang deficiency - Acupuncture
BL23 - Tonifies KIdney-Yang
DU4 - Strengthens the FIre at the Gate of Life
REN4 (with moxa) tonifies Kidney-Yang and the original Qi.
REN6 (with moxa) tonifies Kidney-Yang
KID3 - Tonifies the KIdneys
KID7 - is specific to tonify Kidney-Yang
BL52 - Tonifies the Kidneys and in particular their mental aspect, the willpower
Jinggong - tonifies Kidney-Yang and warms the essence
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Clinical Manifestations
Dizziness
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Poor Memory
Hardness of hearing
*Night sweating
Dry mouth and throat in the night
*lower backache
Ache in bones
Nocturnal emissions
Constipation
Dark scanty urine
Infertility
Premature ejaculation
Tiredness
Lassitude
Depression
Slight anxiety
Tongue: Normal coloured without coating
Pulse - Proximal positions: Tight (more so on Left) possibly Thin, Reduced Substance or Separating at Organ Depth (moving towards Empty)
Empty-Heat: - Five-palm Heat, Malar Flush, Heat in the evening, Menopausal hot flushes, thirst with desire to drink in small sips, pronounced anxiety in the evening, nocturnal emissions with dreams.
Tongue: Red without coating: in severe cases also cracked.
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Pulse
Pulse - Proximal positions: Tight (more so on Left) possibly Thin, Reduced Substance or Separating at Organ Depth (moving towards Empty)
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Tongue
Normal coloured without coating
Empty Heat: Red without coating: in severe cases also cracked.
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Aetiology
Overwork - over a period of several years
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Pathology
Excessive sexual activity - depletes Kidney-Essence and Kidney-Yin
Loss of body fluids - Consumed by Heat after a febrile disease, may lead to Kidney-Yin deficiency.
Loss of blood - Menorrhagia can cause deficiency of Liver-Blood which can turn to deficiency of Kidney-Yin (the Liver and the Kidney share the same root).
Chronic illness - A long chronic illness usually transmitted from the Liver, Heart or Lungs may lead to Kidney-Yin deficiency.
Overdosage of Chinese herbs - overdose of herbs to strengthen Kidney-Yang, or herbs to Strengthen Kidney-Yang administered when Kidney-Yin needs strengthening leads to Kidney-Yin deficiency.
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Pathology
Deficiency of Yin and also Kidney-Essence as Essence is part of Kidney-Yin
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Vertigo, Poor memory - Failure to produce a marrow to fill the brain.
Dry mouth at night, constipation, scanty dark urine - A lack of Body-Fluids.
Night sweating - deficient Yin failing to hold defensive (wei) Qi in the body at night (defensive Qi retires to the body at night).
Nocturnal emissions - deficiency of Essence
Sore back, ache in the bones - failure of Kidney-Essence in nourishing bones.
Depression - deficiency in willpower
Anxiety - rising of Empty-Heat
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Precursors
Kidney-Yang deficiency (may evolve from Kidney-Yang deficiency, in which case both Yin and Yang will be deficient with a predominance of Yin deficiency).
Liver-Yin deficiency - Share a common root
Liver-Blood deficiency
Heart-Yin deficiency
Lung-Yin deficiency
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Developments
Liver-Yin deficiency - Share a common root
Heart-Yin deficiency
Lung-Yin deficiency
Stomach-Yin deficiency
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Treatment Principle
Nourish Kidney-Yin
Kidney-Yin deficiency - Acupuncture
REN4 - Tonifies Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Essence (with moxa it can tonify Kidney-Yang)
KID3 - Tonifies the Kidneys
KID6 - is specific to tonify Kidney-Yin and it benefits the throat (dry mouth or throat at night)
KID10 - specific to tonify Kidney-Yin
KID9 - Tonifies Kidney-Yin, particularly useful in case of anxiety and emotional tension of Kidney origin
SP6 - Tonifies Liver and Kidney-Yin and calms the Mind
REN7 - Nourishes Yin
LU7 and KID6 - in combination open the Directing vessel (Ren Mai) and nourish Kidney Yin
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Clinical manifestations
In children:
*Poor bone development
Late closure of fontanelle
Deafness
Mental dullness or retardation
In adults:
Softening of bones
*weakness of knees and legs
Poor memory
Loose teeth
*falling hair or premature greying of hair
*weakness of sexual activity
lower backache
infertility
sterility
Primary amenorrhea
Dizziness
Tinnitus
Deafness
Blurred vision
Absentmindedness
Decreased mental sharpness
Tongue:
Kidney-Yin deficiency: without coating
Kidney-Yang deficiency: Pale
Pulse:
Both Proximal positions possibly Feeble/Absent (esp. in younger person).
Kidney-Yin deficiency: Tight (more so on Left) possibly thin, reduced Substance or Separating at Organ Depth (moving towards empty) LPP: Tight-Wiry
Kidney-Yang deficiency: Deeper or Deep (more so on Right) Feeble/Absent, Reduced substance.
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Pulse
Both Proximal positions possibly Feeble/Absent (esp. in younger person).
Kidney-Yin deficiency: Tight (more so on Left) possibly thin, reduced Substance or Separating at Organ Depth (moving towards empty) LPP: Tight-Wiry
Kidney-Yang deficiency: Deeper or Deep (more so on Right) Feeble/Absent, Reduced substance.
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Tongue
Kidney-Yin deficiency: without coating
Kidney-Yang deficiency: Pale
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Aetiology
Hereditary weakness - Parents being too old or in poor health at the time of conception
Excessive sexual activity
Loss of Blood - heavy periods over many years
Childbirth - Too many children close together
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Pathology
More commonly occurs against a background of Kidney-Yin deficiency (Essence is a Yin substance). However, can occur with a background of Kidney-Yang deficiency.
Growth, reproduction and bones - deficiency of essence.
Poor bone development, failure of closure of the fontanelle, softening of bones, weakness of legs and knees, looseness of teeth - failure to generate marrow and nourish the bones.
Poor memory, mental dullness or retardation - not enough marrow generated to fill the brain
Hair falling out, premature greying of hair - Kidney-essence dominates the growth of head hair.
Weakness of sexual activity - Kidney-Essence is the material basis for healthy sexual function.
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Precursors
Kidney-Yin deficiency
Kidney-Yang deficiency
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Developments
Kidney-Yin deficiency
Kidney-Yang deficiency
Liver-Blood deficiency - in women (Essence plays a role in making Blood)
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Treatment principle
Nourish the Essence
Tonify the Kidneys
Kidney-Essence deficiency - Acupuncture
KID3 - Tonify the Kidneys
KID6 - Tonify Kidney-Yin
REN4, KID13 - Tonify the Essence
BL23 - Tonify the Kidneys
DU4 - Tonifys the Yang aspect of the Essence (used if a background of Kidney-Yang deficiency)
GB39 - Tonifys the Bone Marrow
DU20 - Stimulates the Marrow to fill the brain
BL15 Tonifes the Heart to House the Shen, hence it tonifies the brain.
BL11 - tonifies the bones
DU17, DU16 are points of the sea of Marrow and therefore stimulate the nourishment of the Brain by Marrow.
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing
*Malar Flush
Mental restlessness
Insomnia
Night sweating
Low grade Fever
Afternoon Fever
Five-palm Heat
*Feeling of Heat in the afternoon/evening
Scanty dark urine
Blood in the urine
Dry throat especially at night
Thirst with desire to drink in small sips
*Dizziness
*Tinnitus
Hardness of hearing
Lower back aches
nocturnal emissions with dreams
Excessive sexual desire
Dry stools
Tongue: Red, cracked with a red tip, without coating
Pulse: EP: Hesitant Wave
Proximal positions - Tight-Wiry (more so on the Left) possibly Thin, Reduced Substance or Separating at Organ Depth (moving towards Empty).
LDP: Tight, possibly Thin
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing - Pulse
Pulse: EP: Hesitant Wave
Proximal positions - Tight-Wiry (more so on the Left) possibly Thin, Reduced Substance or Separating at Organ Depth (moving towards Empty).
LDP: Tight, possibly Thin
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing - Tongue
Tongue: Red, cracked with a red tip, without coating
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing - Aetiolgy
The same as for Kidney-Yin deficiency with the addition of emotional problems such as chronic anxiety and worry.
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing - Pathology
Advanced stage of Kidney-Yin deficiency which has given rise to Empty-Heat
Combined Deficiency/Excess pattern
Most symptoms are caused by the Flaring of Empty-Heat and the Dryness of Yin deficiency.
Insomnia and mental restlessness - Empty-Heat can ascend to disturb the Heart and therefore the Shen (Heart feels vexed)
Red tongue: Empty-Heat
Without coating/cracks - Yin deficiency
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing - Precursors
Always derives from Kidney-YIn deficiency
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing - Developments
None - is an end-result pattern
If Empty-Heat is pronounced it leads to bleeding
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing - Treatment principle
Nourish Kidney-Yin
Clear Empty-Heat
Calm the Shen
Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat Blazing - Acupuncture
KID3 - Tonifies the Kidney
KID6, KID10 - Nourish Kidney-Yin
KID9 - Tonifies Kidney-Yin and calms the Shen
REN4 - Nourishes Kidney-Yin and calms the Shen
KID2 - Clears Empty-Heat from the Kidneys
SP6 - Nourishes Kidney-Yin and calms the Shen
HE5, LU7 - conduct Heat downwards away from the head where it disturbs the Mind
LU10 - Clears Lung-Heat and is used if there are symptoms of Heat in the Lungs (dry cough, bloody sputum). Also conducts Heat down away from the Head.
HE6 - Clears Empty-Heat and calms the Mind
DU24 - Calms the Mind
LI11 - Clears Heat
Kidney and Heart Yin deficiency (Kidney and Heart not harmonised - Clinical Manifestations
*Palpitations
Mental restlessness
Insomnia
Dream-disturbed sleep
Anxiety
Poor memory
*Dizziness
*Tinnitus
Hardness of hearing
Lower backache
Nocturnal emissions with dreams
A feeling of heat in the evening
Dry throat at night
Thirst with desire to drink in small sips
*Night sweating
Five-palm Heat
Scanty dark urine
Dry stools
*Tongue: Red with redder tip without coating, midline Heart crack
Pulse:
Kidney and Heart Yin deficiency (Kidney and Heart not harmonised - Tongue
Tongue: Red with redder tip without coating, midline Heart crack
Kidney and Heart Yin deficiency (Kidney and Heart not harmonised - Aetiology
The same as for Kidney-Yin deficiency with the added component of emotional problems such as anxiety, sadness and depression.
Emotional shocks and the sadness from break-up of relationships are a common cause of Heart-Yin deficiency.
Kidney and Heart Yin deficiency (Kidney and Heart not harmonised - Pathology
Basically characterised by Kidney-Yin deficiency failing to nourish Heart-Yin.
Mental restlessness, insomnia, palpitations and a red tip of tongue. Empty-Heat flares within the Heart - Kidney-Yin deficiency failing to nourish Heart-Yin.
Poor memory, Dizziness, tinnitus and deafness - Kidney-Yin deficiency failing to nourish the brain and open into the ear.
Kidney and Heart Yin deficiency (Kidney and Heart not harmonised - Precursors
Kidney-Yin deficiency - usually develops from this
Heart-Yin deficiency - if chronic
Kidney and Heart Yin deficiency (Kidney and Heart not harmonised - Developments
Bleeding - The flaring of Empty-Heat may heat the Blood.
Kidney and Heart Yin deficiency (Kidney and Heart not harmonised - Treatment Principles
Nourish Kidney and Heart-Yin
Clear Heart Empty-Heat
Calm the Mind
Kidney and Heart Yin deficiency (Kidney and Heart not harmonised - Acupuncture
HE7 - Calms the Shen
HE6 - Clears Empty-Heat and nourishes Heart-Yin (it is specific to night sweating combined with KID7)
HE5 - Clears Heart Empty-Heat and conducts Heat downwards away from the head.
Yintang - Calms the Mind
BL15 - Clears Heart-Heat
REN15 - Calms the Mind and nourishes Heart-Yin
DU24 - Calms the Mind
KID3, KID9, KID10 - Tonify Kidney-Yin. KID9 in particular, calms the Mind
KID6 - Nourishes Kidney-Yin
Stomach-Qi Deficiency - Clinical Manifestations
Uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrium
No appetite
Lack of taste sensation
Loose stools
*Tiredness (especially in the morning)
weak limbs
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: RMP: Qi-depth and/or Blood depth Diminished, Yeilding or Absent, Blood Spreading or Absent or Reduced Substance, and amplitude
Stomach-Qi Deficiency - Pulse
Pulse: RMP: Qi-depth and/or Blood depth Diminished, Yeilding or Absent, Blood Spreading or Absent or Reduced Substance, and amplitude
Stomach-Qi Deficiency - Tongue
Pale
Stomach-Qi Deficiency - Aetiology
Diet - A diet lacking Nourishment and Protein, undereating ‘dieting’, irregular eating habits.
Chronic illness
Stomach-Qi Deficiency - Pathology
The stomach is the Root of Post-Heaven-Qi and the beginning stage of the production of Qi from food. If the stomach is weak Qi will be deficient and all other organs will suffer.
Tiredness worse in mornings - Stomach most active between 7-9am
Uncomfortable feeling in the epigastrum - deficient Stomach-Qi failing to ascend (pain would be an excess)
Lack of appetite, loose stools, lack of taste, pale tongue—When stomach-Qi is deficient, spleen-Qi is often also deficient, as the Stomach and Spleen are so closely interrelated.
Weakness in the limbs - weak Stomach-Qi failing to transport food essences to the limbs.
Stomach-Qi Deficiency - Precursors
Spleen-Qi deficiency
Stomach-Qi Deficiency - Developments
Stomach-Qi deficiency is usually the beginning stage of a pathological process possibly leading to:
Stomach-Yin deficiency
Stomach-Qi stagnation (and later Blood stasis)
Phlegm - The impairment of the descending of Stomach-Qi
Stomach-Qi Deficiency
Tonify Stomach-Qi
Stomach-Qi Deficiency
ST36- Main point to tonify Stomach-Qi (using moxa on the needle is especially effective)
REN12 - Tonifies Stomach and Spleen-Qi
BL21 - Tonifies Stomach-Qi, it is an important point in extreme tiredness. Moxa is also applicable
REN6 - Tonifies Qi in general, and is indicated for chronic cases of Stomach-Qi deficiency, especially with loose stools.
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire - Clinical Manifestations
*Burning epigastric pain
*Intense thirst with desire to drink cold liquids
Mental restlessness
Dry stools
Dry mouth
Mouth ulcers
Sour regurgitation
Nausea
Vomiting soon after eating
Excessive hunger
Foul breath
A feeling of Heat
*Tongue: Red in the centre with a dry yellow or dark yellow coating
Pulse: EP: Robust pounding, Tense perhaps faster (with Phlegm slippery)
RMP: All depths - Robust pounding and Tense
With pain: possibly Tight, esp. at Qi Depth (with Phlegm Slippery)
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire - Aetiology
Diet - Hot foods (meat, spices, alcohol), tobacco, hot-greasy foods (deep fried foods)
Emotional strain - Anger, frustration, resentment lead to stagnation of Stomach-Qi which in turn may lead to Stomach-Heat
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire - Pathology
Interior-Full-Heat
Intense thirst, constipation, dry tongue - Heat burns the fluids
Bleeding and swelling of the gums - Heat rising in the Stomach channel
Sour regurgitation, nausea, vomiting - Full-Heat obstructs the Stomach and interferes with the descending of Stomach-Qi
Oppression in the epigastrium and chest - Pleghm-Heat is more obstructive
Manic depression - Phlegm and Heat in the Stomach affecting the Mind
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire - Precursors
Stomach-Qi Stagnation
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire - Developments
Stomach-Yin deficiency - Heat dries up the Fluids
Stomach-Blood stasis - Heat condenses the Blood
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire - Treatment Principle
Clear Stomach-Heat
Stimulate the descending of Stomach-Qi
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire - Acupuncture
ST44 - Clears Stomach-Heat
ST34 - Is the accumulation point of the Stomach and is used in Full conditions. It also stops bleeding (bleeding gums)
ST21 - Clears stomach-Heat and stimulates the descending of Stomach-Qi
REN13 - subdues rebellious Stomach-Qi
LI11 - Clears Heat in general
LI4 - Clears Stomach-Heat
REN11 - Clears StomachHeat
SP15 - Stimulates the bowel movement and is used if there is constipation.
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire - pulse
Pulse: EP: Robust pounding, Tense perhaps faster (with Phlegm slippery)
RMP: All depths - Robust pounding and Tense
With pain: possibly Tight, esp. at Qi Depth (with Phlegm Slippery)
Stomach-Fire/Stomach-Phlegm-Fire
Tongue: Red in the centre with a dry yellow or dark yellow coating
Stomach-Qi rebelling upwards - Clinical Manifestations
*Nausea
Difficulty in swallowing
*Belching
Vomiting
Hiccups
Tongue: no changes
Stomach-Qi rebelling upwards - Aetiology
Diet - Eating in a hurry, working whilst eating, eating in a state of tension or while upset, eating standing up
Emotional strain - Anger, frustration and resentment (the same emotions that affect the Liver. MOre likely to affect the stomach when the person has irregular eating habits.
Stomach-Qi rebelling upwards - Pathology
Often accompanies other patterns: Stomach-Fire, Stomach-Qi stagnation, or Cold invading the Stomach
All symptoms are caused by the failure of Qi Stomach-Qi to descend and rebelling upwards instead.
Stomach-Qi rebelling upwards - Precursors
Practically any stomach pattern could be a precursor to this pattern
Liver-Qi rebelling upwards
Stomach-Qi rebelling upwards - Developments
Rebellious Qi in the penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)
Stomach-Qi rebelling upwards - Treatment principle
Subdue Rebellious Qi
Stimulate the descending of Stomach-Qi
Stomach-Qi rebelling upwards - Acupuncture
REN13 - Subdues rebellious Stomach-Qi
REN10 - Stimulates the descending of Stomach-Qi
P6 and SP4 - stimulate the descending of Stomach -Qi
ST21 and ST19 - stimulate the descending of Stomach -Qi
