Kidney patterns -Acupuncture Empty patterns Kidney-Yang deficiency Kidney-Yin deficiency Kidney-Qi not Firm Kidney failing to receive Qi Kidney-Essence deficiency Empty/Full patterns Kidney-Yang deficiency, Water overflowing Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat blazing Combined patterns Kidney- and Liver-Yin deficiency Kidneys and Heart not harmonized Kidney- and Lung-Yin deficiency Kidney- and Spleen-Yang deficiency Kidney Patterns - Kidney Yang Deficiency Aetiology : - Chronic illness A chronic illness, and especially one manifesting with Spleen-Yang deficiency, can cause Kidney-Yang defi- ciency after a protracted period of time. - Excessive sexual activity Excessive sexual activity can also cause Kidney-Yang deficiency. This happens in particular if one is exposed to cold immediately after intercourse. In women, too early sexual activity during puberty may weaken Kidney-Yang. - Excessive physical work Excessive physical work or exercise may weaken Kidney-Yang. - Diet Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods may weaken Spleen and Kidney-Yang. Pathology This is the classic pattern of Yang deficiency and it is therefore characterized by interior Cold symptoms. When Kidney-Yang is deficient, the Fire of the Gate of Life (Ming Men) fails to warm the body, causing the feeling of cold in the back and knees and the general cold feeling. When Kidney-Yang is deficient, the Kidneys do not have enough Qi to give strength to bones and the back, hence the soreness of the back and weakness of the legs and knees. Deficient Kidney-Yang fails to warm the Essence, hence the sexual energy is deprived of the nourishment of the Essence and warmth of Kidney-Yang. This results in impotence, premature ejaculation, low sperm count, cold and thin sperm in men, infertility in women or lack of libido in both men and women. Kidney-Yang deficiency • Bright-white complexion • Abundant clear urination • Cold and weak knees • Oedema of legs • Weak legs • Backache Diagnostic tip Backache, a feeling of cold and a Weak Kidney pulse are enough to diagnose a Kidney-Yang deficiency EMPTY PATTERNS 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, urination 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: Deep-Weak. Key symptoms: backache, feeling of cold, abundant clear urination, Pale tongue, Deep Pulse. A deficiency of Kidney-Yang causes lack of libido. Conversely, Empty-Heat within the Kidneys causes an excessive sexual desire When Kidney-Yang is deficient it fails to transform the fluids, which therefore accumulate, resulting in abundant and clear urination. In special cases when long-standing deficiency of Kidney-Yang will always affect one or more of the above organs. Treatment Principle of treatment: tonify and warm the Kidneys, strengthen the Fire of the Gate of Life. Acupuncture Points Points: BL-23 Shenshu, Du-4 Mingmen, Ren-4 Guanyuan, Ren-6 Qihai, KI-3 Taixi, KI-7 Fuliu, BL-52 Zhishi, Jinggong extra point (0.5 cun lateral to BL-52 Zhishi). Method: reinforcing, moxa should be used. Explanation – BL-23 tonifies Kidney-Yang. – Du-4 strengthens the Fire of the Gate of Life. Moxa is applicable. – Ren-4 (with moxa) tonifies Kidney-Yang and the Original Qi. – Ren-6 (with moxa) tonifies Kidney-Yang. – KI-3 tonifies the Kidneys. – KI-7 is specific to tonify Kidney-Yang. – BL-52 tonifies the Kidneys and in particular their mental aspect, i.e. the Will-power. – Jinggong tonifies Kidney-Yang and warms the Essence.