Functions of Kidneys in Chinese Medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine, kidneys are not only related to urine production, but also are important internal organs that influence growth and fertility of a human. Moreover, in Chinese medicine, kidneys are involved in maintaining the depth of breathing.

Kidneys are called the basis of internal organs

“Kidneys are the basis of internal organs, the root of twelve meridians, the basis of breathing, the source of triple Jiao, and a human depends on them as they are the origin of a life.” The words are from Mai Jue Hui Bian, which is a book about pulse diagnosis and was written in the 17th century.

In modern schoolbooks of Chinese medicine, the Yin and Yang of an internal organ are said to be two parts of the Qi of the organ. The explanation is an attempt to connect the theory of Yin and Yang with dialectical materialism. In traditional Chinese philosophy, Qi is abstractly the source of everything; but Qi in Chinese medicine is a very narrow concept. Therefore, you may read a different explanation here.

The Yin and Yang of an internal organ are two physical attributes of the organ. The Yin of an internal organ acts the role of calming, moistening, and nourishing the organ, while the Yang of an internal organ acts the role of activating, warming, and exciting the organ.

The Qi of an internal organ is the energy that performs the functions of the organ. How it works depends on the state of the organ. When the Yin and Yang of the organ are sufficient and balanced, the Qi of the organ properly performs the functions of the organ.

In some ancient books of Chinese medicine, the Yin of an internal organ may be called the Yin-Qi of the internal organ, and the Yang of an internal organ may be called the Yang-Qi of the internal organ. The concept of Qi in “Yin-Qi” and “Yang-Qi” is used in a broad sense.

Kidney Yin is called original Yin, while kidney Yang is called original Yang. Kidney Yin nourishes the Yin of other internal organs, while kidney Yang reinforces the Yang of other internal organs. For example, if kidney Yin is deficient, it can’t nourish heart Yin, so heart Yang loses restriction and becomes hyperactive, leading to vexation and insomnia.

Jing in a broad sense exists in each internal organ, but Jing in a narrow sense means kidney Jing. The Jing of an internal organ is not the Yin of the organ, but it also has the attribute of Yin in a broad sense, as blood and body fluid have the attribute of Yin. The Qi of an internal organ is not the Yang of the organ, but it also has the attribute of Yang in a broad sense. The sydrome of the deficiency of Qi and the syndrome of the deficiency of Yang have some similar symptoms, and the progression of the deficiency of Qi of an internal organ may lead to the deficiency of Yang of the organ.

As the basis of internal organs, kidneys are often influenced by a long illness caused by the disorders of other internal organs, leading to the syndrome of the deficiency of kidneys.

Jing Yue Quan Shu, a book of Chinese medicine published in the 17th century, describes the importance of Ming Men as the picture shows. Ming Meng means literally the gate of a life. Eyes are called MIng Men in Ling Shu, a theoretical classical book of Chinese medicine, but Nan Jing, another theoretical classical book of Chinese medicine, says, “There are two kidneys, but not all of them are kidneys. The left kidney is kidney, and the right kidney is Ming Meng.” The later development of the theory of Ming Men is enlightened by Nan Jing, and the dominant view is that two kidneys can be called Ming Men. Zhang Jiebin, the author of Jing Yue Quan Shu, described the importance of Ming Men in his book, “Ming Men is the sea of Jing and blood, while the spleen and the stomach are the sea of water and grains. They are all the basis of internal organs. However, Ming Men is the root of primordial Qi, the house of water and fire. Without Ming Men, the Yin-Qi of five internal organs can’t be nourished. Without Ming Men, the Yang-Qi of five internal organs can’t be activated.”

Influence of kidneys on the growth and fertility of a human

In traditional Chinese medicine, kidney Jing is a special concept. The Yin and Yang of an internal organ are two physical attributes of an internal organ; the Qi of an internal organ is the energy that performs the functions of the internal organ. In a broad sense, each internal organ has Jing. But in a narrow sense, Jing is a kind of special substance that is stored in kidneys and supports the growth and fertility of a human. Kidney Jing contains inborn Jing and acquired Jing.

Inborn basis and acquired basis of a human

In Chinese medicine, the spleen and the stomach are called the acquired basis, because the forming of Qi and blood and the sustaining of a life depend on the water and nutrients, which are called the essence of water and grain and are digested and absorbed from food by the spleen and the stomach. Acquired Jing is from the essence of water and grain.

The kidneys are called the inborn basis, because the primary Jing that is given by parents is stored in the kidneys. Ling Shu, the theoretical classic of Chinese medicine, vividly describes how the inborn Jing is formed: “Two souls stick each other, and combine into a shape, and the thing that is formed before the birth of a human is called Jing.”

After the birth of a human, inborn Jing is nourished by acquired Jing. Chinese medicine often speaks of kidney Jing and kidney Qi at the same time, because kidney Qi is transformed from kidney Jing. Kidney Jing is not kidney Yin but it also has the attribute of Yin, while kidney Qi is not kidney Yang but it also has the attribute of Yang. When kidney Jing is sufficient, kidney Qi is strengthened. When kidney Jing is deficient, kidney Qi is weakened. Su Wen, the theoretical classic of Chinese medicine, describes the connections between kidney Qi and the growth and fertility of a human, which actually describes the influence of kidney Jing.

Text from Su Wen about how kidney Jing influences the growth and fertility of a human

When a female is seven years old, kidney Qi is strong, teeth are changing, and hair is growing.

When she is fourteen years old, Tiangui comes, the meridian of Ren is unblocked, the meridian of Chong is strong, and menstruation comes regularly, so she is able to have babies.

When she is twenty-one years old, kidney Qi is in stable status, so the last teeth grow, and she is not able to grow taller.

When she is twenty-eight years old, tendons and bones are firm, hair reaches its maximum length, and the body is strong.

When she is thirty-five years old, the meridian of Yangming weakens, the face starts to become withered, and hair begins losing.

When she is forty-two years old, the three Yang meridians weaken in the head, the face is withered, and hair starts to be white.

When she is forty-nine years old, the meridian of Ren is deficient, the meridian of Chong is weak, Tiangui is exhausted, the channel of menstruation is blocked, so the appearance is completely changed, and is not able to have babies any more.

When a male is eight years old, kidney Qi is sufficient, hair are growing, and teeth are changing.

When he is sixteen years old, kidney Qi is strong, Tiangui comes, Jing and Qi overflow, and Yin and Yang are in harmony, so he is able to have babies.

When he is twenty-four years old, kidney Qi is in the stable status, so the last teeth grow, and he is not able to grow taller.

When he is thirty-two years old, tendons and bones are strong, and muscles grow fully.

When he is forty years old, kidney Qi is weakening, hair is getting loss, and teeth are being withered.

When he is forty-eight years old, Yang Qi becomes weak in the head, the face is withered, and hair become grey.

When he is fifty-six years old, liver Qi is weak, tendons are not able to move.

When he is sixty-four years old, Tiangui is exhausted, Jing is deficient, the kidneys are weak, the appearance and the body are in exhaustion, so teeth and hair are lost.

In the extant ancient editions of Su Wen, which are copies of an edition printed in the Song Dynasty, the last two sentences are: “When he is fifty-six years old, liver Qi is weak, tendons are not able to move, Tiangui is exhausted, Jing is deficient, the kidneys are weak, and the appearace and the body are in exhaustion. When he is sixty-four years old, teeth and hair are lost.”However, according to an annotation included in the editions, the two sentences should have a misprint, so now here they are corrected.

Problems of growth caused by the deficiency of kidney Jing and kidney Qi

From childhood to old age, the Jing and Qi of the kidneys have the changes from a small amount to a high amount, and then from strong status to weak status, shown by the changes of teeth, bones and hair.

The deficiency of kidney Jing and kidney Qi may cause a child to have the problems of growth. In Chinese medicine, the problems include five kinds of delays and five kinds of softness. Five kinds of delays are the delay of being able to stand, the delay of being able to speak, the delay of being able to walk, the delay of hair growth, and the delay of teeth growth. Five kinds of softness are the softness of the head, the softness of the neck, the softness of hands and feet, the softness of muscles, and the softness of mouth. The deficiency of kidney Jing and kidney Qi may also cause an adult to age early.

The growth of reproductive organs, the maturing and maintaining of sexual function, and the ability to have babies depend on the status of Jing and Qi of the kidneys. In the adolescence of a human, a special substance named Tiangui starts to appear in the body, which make the human have the ability to have babies. After Tiangui is exhausted, a woman doesn’t have menstruation and fertility any longer, and the fertility of a man also severely weakens.

In Chinese medicine, strengthening kidney Jing and kidney Qi is a common way for improving some kinds of inborn diseases, the delay of growth, the weakness of sexual function, and some kinds of primary infertility, and for the purposes of having a healthy baby, having a strong body, and preventing aging early.

Influence of kidneys on bones, teeth and hair

In Chinese medicine, bone marrow, spinal marrow, and brain tissue are called Sui. As Su Wen and Ling Shu, which are the books about the basic theory of Chinese medicine, says, all kinds of Sui are connected to brain, and brain is the sea of Sui. Sui originates from kidney Jing, and bones and teeth are nourished by Sui, so the health of bones and teeth depend on the state of kidneys.

Influence on the health of bones and teeth

Su Wen says, “Bones and Sui originate from kidneys.” The bone development depends on the nourishing of kidney Jing and the activating of kidney Qi. In Chinese medicine, teeth are the extensions of bones. When kidney Jing is sufficient, bones are strong, and teeth are firm. The deficiency of kidney Jing may cause delayed closure of fontanelle, the softening and weakness of bones, osteoporosis, delated tooth eruption, loose teeth, and tooth loss. In Chinese medicine, a common method to improve osteoporosis is to nourish kidneys for reinforcing kidney Jing, and to nourish Sui for strengthening bones.

Source of blood and health of hair

In Chinese medicine, the forming of blood has two sources. Spleen transports essential substances absorbed from water and food to heart and lungs, and the substances become a source of blood. Sui in bones originates from kidney Jing and forms blood, so kidney Jing is the other source of blood. The deficiency of kidney Jing may cause the deficiency of blood. This is why in Chinese medicine a common method to improve blood deficiency is to nourish kidneys and reinforce kidney Jing.

According to the theory of Chinese medicine, hair is the extension of blood and is nourished by blood. When kidney Jing is sufficient, hair is strong, thick, smooth, and shiny. So, Su Wen says, “Hair shows the state of kidneys.” From middle age to old age, kidney Jing gradually weakens, so hair gradually becomes grey. If a young person has the deficiency of kidney Jing, he may have grey and withered hair, or suffers from hair loss.

Keeping kidney Jing by swallowing thick saliva

Su Wen says, “Five internal organs form liquid. Sweat is from heart, nasal mucus is lungs, tears are from liver, Xian is from spleen, and Tuo is from kidneys.” Xian and Tuo are two kinds of saliva. The thin saliva is called Xian, and the thick saliva is called Tuo. The thick saliva is transformed from kidney Jing. Therefore, in the practice of Qi Gong which is used for keeping health, swallowing the thick saliva is a method to keep kidney Jing.

Kidneys govern water

Su Wen, a theoretical book on the theory of Chinese medicine, says, “The kidneys are the internal organs of water and govern body fluid.\" It is simply called kidneys govern water, which means that kidneys regulate the metabolism of water in the body.

Absorption of water from food

In Chinese medicine, food is digested in the stomach to form chyme, which is transported to the small intestine. The small intestine divides the chyme into clear and turbid parts.

The clear substances include food essence and essential water, which are absorbed by the small intestine.

The turbid substances consist of food residues and unwanted water. The food residues are transported to the large intestine to form faeces; the unwanted water, through the triple-Jiao channel, seeps into the bladder to form urine.

Transport of water

Water absorbed in the small intestine is transported by spleen Qi to the internal organs and limbs. Excess water from internal organs after functioning is transported through the triple-Jiao channel to the bladder to form urine.

A part of the water transported to the lungs is spread to the head and skin by the raising and dispersing functions of lung Qi, and becomes the source of sweat. The other part of the water is transported downwards to the kidneys by the purifying and descending functions of lung Qi and becomes a source of urine.

Transformation of water to urine

The energy that supports the kidneys in performing their functions is called kidney Qi, while kidney Yin and kidney Yang are the two physical natures of the kidneys. Kidney Yang has the functions of warming and propelling, also known as kidney fire, while kidney Yin has the functions of moistening and calming, also known as kidney water.

The process of water forming urine is called the transformation of Qi, and kidney Qi and kidney Yang play a key role. This transformation process can be likened to boiling water with fire. The clear part of the water transpires upwards and is transported to the lungs, where it re-participates in water metabolism; the turbid part becomes urine, which is stored and excreted by the bladder. Kidney Qi has the function of controlling the bladder and regulating the excretion of urine.

Deficiency of kidney Qi may develop into deficiency of kidney Yang in severe cases. In the case of kidney Yang deficiency, water cannot be converted into urine, which can lead to scanty urination and oedema. In the case of kidney Yin deficiency, kidney fire is excessively active, and if the heat caused by Yin deficiency is combined with pathogenic water-dampness, frequent urination can be seen. In addition, if kidney Qi is severely deficient, it may be incapable of controlling the bladder, leading to urinary incontinence.

Syndromes caused by dysfunction of the kidneys in regulating water metabolism

Oedema due to deficiency of kidney Yang

In Chinese medicine, oedema is classified as Yin oedema and Yang oedema. Yang oedema is caused by pathogenic factors and has four types: combination of pathogenic wind and water; combination of sore toxin and dampness; water-dampness; combination of dampness and heat. Yang oedema is mainly related to the lungs and spleen. Yin oedema is mainly caused by fatigue and physical weakness, and Yin oedema is mainly related to the spleen and kidneys.

Oedema caused by deficiency of kidney Yang belongs to Yin oedema, and its symptoms are: oedema is recurrent, face and body are swollen, and worse below the waist, and the skin is sunken without rebounding when pressed; urine volume generally decreases, but it also may increase; lower back is painful and feels cold, and the limbs feel cold; the person fears coldness, feels fatigue, and the face is pale; the person suffers from palpitations, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath, so that it is difficult to lie down, while abdomen looks large, and feels distended and fullness; tongue is pale in colour, and fat in shape, and tongue fur is white; pulse is sunken and thin, or it is sunken, sluggish, and weak.

The treatment of the syndrome is warming the kidneys for promoting Yang, and activating the transformation of Qi for moving water. The representative recipe for the treatment is Zhen Wu Tang.

Frequent and incomplete urination with dripping down due to tiredness

In the syndrome, the urine is not much yellow or red in colour and there is no much pain during urination, however, the urine is discharged intermittently and often takes a long time, which is especially likely to occur when the person is tired; with sallow face and short breathing, the person is unwilling to speak, and looks tired and weak; the lower abdomen has the feeling of falling and swelling, and there is a sense of tenesmus, or the urine drips down little by little when defecating; the lower back and the knees are aching and weak; the tongue is pale, and the pulse is thin and weak.

The syndrome needs to be differentiated between deficiency of kidney Yang and deficiency of kidney Yin. In the case of kidney Yang deficiency, the person fears coldness and the limbs feel cold; in the case of kidney Yin deficiency, the face is flushed, the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet and the region of the heart feel hot, and the person feels restless.

The principle of treatment is to invigorate the spleen and kidneys, and the representative recipe is Wu Bi Shan Yao Wan.

Turbid urine due to deficiency of kidneys

In the syndrome, the condition of turbid urine lasts for a long time, and the color of urine is white like milk or lard; with mental depression, the person is emaciated and lacking in strength; with dizziness and tinnitus, the person feels aching and weak in the lower back and knees. In the case of deficiency of kidney Yin, the person feels restless and hot, and the mouth is dry; the tongue is red, and the pulse is thin and rapid. In the case of deficiency of kidney Yang, the face is pale, the body feels cold, and the limbs are cold; the tongue is pale red, and the pulse is sunken and thin.

In case of deficiency of kidney Yin, the treatment is strengthening Yin and nourishing the kidneys with a recipe named Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan. In case of deficiency of kidney Yang, the treatment is warming the kidneys and strengthening the controlling function of kidneys with a recipe named Lu Rong Bu Se Wan.

Difficulty of urination due to deficiency of kidney Yang

In the syndrome, the urine cannot be discharged, or drips down little by little, and there is feeling of weakness when urinating; the person has a pale face, and feels depressed, and the voice is timid and weak; the person fears coldness, the limbs are cold, and the lower back and knees are cold, aching and lacking in strength; the tongue is pale in colour, and fat in shape, and the tongue fur is thin and white, and the pulse is sunken and thin or weak.

The treatment principle is to warm and strengthen kidney Yang, and to activate the transformation of Qi and promote the discharge of water. The representative recipe is Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan.

Kidneys maintain the depth of breathing

In Chinese medicine, although breathing is dominated by the lungs, other internal organs are also involved. Nan Jing, a theoretical book of Chinese medicine, says, ” Breathe out by the heart and lungs, and breathe in by the kidneys and the liver.” The sentence links exhaling to the heart and lungs, and inhaling to the kidneys and liver. Breathing is primarily concerned with lungs and kidneys. Therefore, Lei Zheng Zhi Cai, a nineteenth-century book on Chinese medicine, states, “The lungs are the dominator of Qi, and the kidneys are the root of Qi.”

Air is a kind of Qi. The kidneys have the function of holding Qi, which means that kidney Qi enables the lungs to inhale enough clear Qi from nature to maintain the depth of inhalation and maintain normal breathing. The lungs govern breathing, and breathing out relies on the raising and dispersing functions of lung Qi, while breathing in relies on the purifying and descending functions of lung Qi. However, for maintaining the depth of inhaling, in addition to the purifying and descending functions of lung Qi, it also relies on the holding function of kidney Qi.

When the kidney Qi is sufficient, kidneys can hold Qi effectively, so the breathing is even and harmonious with enough depth. If the kidney Qi is weakened, kidneys is unable to hold Qi, the person may have shortness of breath, or exhale more and inhale less, and pant while doing a physical activity.

Syndromes caused by kidneys not holding Qi

Coughing for a long time harms the kidneys

In the theory of the five elements, the lungs have the attribute of metal and the kidneys have the attribute of water, and metal generates water. Coughing for a long time leads to the deficiency of the lungs, metal does not generate water, lung disease impacts the kidneys, so coughing has symptoms of kidney deficiency.

Coughing caused by deficiency of lung Yin is characterised by short coughs without sputum or little white sticky sputum, dry mouth and throat, afternoon’s sudden feeling of heat, flush cheeks, night sweating, emaciation and fatigue. The treatment is to nourish Yin and clear heat, moisten the lungs and relieve cough, and the representative recipe is Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang. Coughing for a long time injures the kidney Yin, so Wu Wei Zi can be added to the recipe. Wu Wei Zi can not only hold lung Qi, but also nourish kidney Yin, so it is an important herb for the treatment of coughing for a long time and short breathing caused by deficiency. If the centre areas of palms and soles feel hot, and the lower back and knees are painful and lack strength, Huang Bo, Nyu Zhen Zi, and Han Lian Cao can be added to the recipe.

Coughing caused by deficiency of lung Qi lasting for a long time impacts the spleen and kidneys, leading to the deficiency of the spleen and kidneys. This kind of coughing has symptoms of coldness, characterised by white, thin sputum, fatigue, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, unwillingness to speak, or even panting. There is a saying that if the lungs are not injured, there is no coughing; if the spleen is not injured, there is no coughing for a long time; if the kidneys are not injured, there is no panting; and if the disease is prolonged, coughing and panting occur together. The treatment is invigorating the spleen and the kidneys, warming the lungs and dissolving phlegm, and the recipe can be Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang plus Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang, with herbs added or subtracted as appropriate.

Wheezing in remission stage – the syndrome with deficiency of the kidneys

Both wheezing and panting are characterised by shortness of breath. The syndrome of wheezing always has the symptoms of panting, but the syndrome panting may not have the symptoms of wheezing. Wheezing is related to the sound, which is characterised by the noise in the throat during an attack, while panting is related to the breath, which is characterised by shortness and difficulty in breathing.

The remission stage of wheezing with deficiency of the kidneys is characterised by shortness of breath, which becomes worse when doing a physical activity, long exhaling and short inhaling; coughing with sticky and frothy sputum, dizziness and tinnitus, aching and weakness of the lower back and legs, palpitations, and getting tired easily; or hot feeling in the centres of palms, soles and the heart region, flushed cheeks, and dry mouth; or the fear of coldness, coldness of the limbs, and a pale face; a pale and fat tongue with white covering, or a red tongue with few covering, and a sunken and thin pulse or a thin and rapid pulse.

The treatment is to invigorate the kidneys and hold Qi, and the representative recipe is Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan or Qi Wei Du Qi Wan. The former recipe focuses on warming the kidneys for supporting Yang, and it is especially suitable for the syndrome with deficiency of kidney Yang, while the latter recipe focuses on invigorating the kidneys for holding Qi.

Syndrome of panting caused by deficiency

Panting is characterised by difficult breathing, even with the opening of the mouth and the lifting of the shoulders, the flaring of nostrils and the inability to lie down.

Yi Zong Jin Jian, an 18th-century series of books on Chinese medicine, says, “Panting is a disease of the lungs. The lungs control the Qi and govern breathing, therefore, quick and shallow breathing is called panting. If both breathing out and breathing in are short, it is the disease of exhaling and inhaling, caused by obstruction of moving upwards and moving downwards of Qi, so panting is related to the middle Jiao; if breathing out is short and breathing in is long, it is the disease of exhaling, and as the saying ‘breathing out through the heart and the lungs’, panting is related to the upper-Jiao; if breathing out is long and breathing in is short, it is the disease of inhaling, and as the saying ‘breathing in through the kidneys and the liver’, panting is related to the lower-Jiao.” According to the theory of triple-Jiao, the heart and the lungs are in the upper-Jiao; the spleen and the stomach are in the middle-Jiao; the kidneys are in the lower-Jiao. Here the liver is in the lower-Jiao, showing the development of the theory of triple-Jiao.

Panting caused by deficiency is mainly related to the kidneys. Because of the deficiency of kidney Qi, the exhaling and inhaling that are controlled by the lungs and kidneys are in disorder.

Syndrome of panting due to deficiency of the lungs

This syndrome may have the symptoms: quick and shallow breathing, timid and low voice, snoring in the throat; coughing with low sound and thin sputum, easy sweating and fear of wind; or choking sometimes, with little sticky sputum, feeling restless and hot, dry mouth, uncomfortable throat, and flushed cheeks; tongue is light red, or the tongue is red with little covering; the pulse is soft and weak, or the pulse is thin and rapid.

The treatment is to nourish the lungs and strengthen the Qi, and the representative recipe is Sheng Mai San plus Bu Fei Tang. The former reciple enhances Qi and nourishes Yin, while the latter recipe focuses on strengthening the lungs and invigorating the kidneys. If the syndrome has the symptoms of the deficiency of the kidneys, and panting becomes more serious when doing a physical activity, Shan Zhu Yu, Hu Tao Rou and Ge Jie are added to the recipe.

Syndrome of panting due to deficiency of the kidneys

This syndrome may have the symptoms: panting lasts for a long time, becoming worse when doing a physical activity, with long exhaling and short inhaling, and even being hard to breathe; emaciation, fatigue, swelling of upper areas of the feet, easy sweating, coldness of the limbs, bluish face, and purplish lips; or coughing at the same time, with a flushed face, restlessness, dryness of the mouth and throat, coldness of the feet, and sticky sweat like oil; the tongue is pale, the covering of the tongue is white, or the covering of the tongue is blackish and moist, or the tongue is red with little fluid; the pulse is sunken and weak, or the pulse is thin and rapid.

The treatment is to strengthen the kidneys and hold Qi, and the representative recipe is Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan plus Shen Ge San. The former recipe focuses on warming the Yang, and is used for the syndrome with prolonged panting and mild symptoms; the latter recipe focuses on strengthening the Qi, and is used for the syndrome with heavy panting and severe symptoms. If there is a throbbing feeling below the umbilicus and a feeling of Qi rushing up from the lower abdomen to the chest and throat, it is due to the kidneys failing to hold Qi, Zi Shi Ying, Ci Shi and Chen Xiang may be added to the recipe. This syndrome is usually caused by the deficiency of kidney Yang and kidney Qi. If the syndrome has symptoms of deficiency of kidney Yin, the recipe is changed to Qi Wei Du Qi Wan plus Sheng Mai San with the adding or removing of herbs as appropriate.

The syndrome of collapse caused by severe panting

This syndrome may have the following symptoms: panting is very severe, with opening of the mouth, lifting of the shoulders, flaring of the nostrils, and inability to lie down, and when slightly doing a physical activity, coughing and panting are ceaseless, as if the life is going to be lost; there is the sound of sputum in the throat sometimes, and the person suffers from palpitations and restlessness, with coldness of the limbs, bluish face and purplish lips, and has sweats which look like beads; the pulse is floating, large and rootless, or the pulse is very weak as if it is going to be lost.

The treatment is to strengthen Yang for relieving collapse, and hold the kidney Qi. The representative recipe is Shen Fu Tang, while taking Hei Xi Dan. The former recipe strengthens Yang and Qi for relieving collapse, and the latter recipe holds kidney Qi. Powdered Ge Jie can be added to Shen Fu Tang to warm kidney Yang for removing coldness caused by the deficiency of Yang, and to lower Qi that moves upwards abnormally for calming panting caused by deficiency.

Yike Jiang

Article category: Chinese Medicine