Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Kidneys in Chinese Medicine The concept of Yang The concept of Deficiency The concept of Body Fluids
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肾阳虚 水湿上泛 Pinyin name: Shèn Yáng Xū Shuǐ Shī Shàng Fàn
Pattern nature: Full/Empty combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Kidney Yang Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yang Deficiency Phlegm-Fluids above the diaphragm Heart Yang Deficiency and two other possible precursors
Common causes: 1. Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods, 2. Excessive physical work, 3. Excessive sexual activity, 4. Poor hereditary constitution, 5. Chronic illness
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Asthma Coughing Cold hands Palpitations Breathlessness and seven other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale, Swollen and wet with a white coating.
Treatment
Treatment principle: Tonify and warm the Kidneys, transform Water and warm and tonify Spleen-Yang. If Water overflows to the Heart or Lungs, warm and tonify Heart Yang or Lung Qi respectively.
Common formulas: Wu Ling San Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan
Pathology
This pattern is a severe case of Kidney Yang Deficiency and necessarily a very chronic condition. This is both a Deficiency and Excess pattern, the Excess part being the accumulation of Fluids.
It occurs when Kidney Yang fails to transform Body Fluids (since the Kidneys "rule Water") which accumulate under the skin to form edema. It also often cause water retention in other Organs, particularly the Heart and Lungs.
If it affects the Heart the patient will also have symptoms of palpitations and cold hands. If it affects the Lungs, symptoms will include coughing with a thin watery frothy sputum, which is indicative of the presence of Phlegm-Fluids formation.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing can derive from Kidney Yang Deficiency Phlegm-Fluids above the diaphragm Heart Yang Deficiency Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency Phlegm-Fluids in the Lungs
Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods: Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods may weaken Kidney Yang. Kidney depleting substances such as alcohol, coffee or sugar can also be factors.
Excessive physical work: Excessive physical work or exercise - especially lifting things - weakens Kidney Yang.
Excessive sexual activity: Excessive sexual activity in men, particularly masturbation, weakens Kidney Yang.
Poor hereditary constitution: Because they're the source of Essence, the Kidneys are particularly affected by hereditary weakness
Chronic illness: A chronic illness, especially if it leads to Spleen Yang Deficiency, can over a long period of time lead to Kidney Yang Deficiency
Diagnosing Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale, Swollen and wet with a white coating.
Main symptoms: Asthma Coughing Cold hands Palpitations Breathlessness Feeling of cold Scanty clear urination White and watery sputum Soreness of the lower back Abdominal distention and fullness Cold feeling in the legs and the back Oedema especially of the legs and ankles
Diagnosis commentary: Edema of the ankles, breathlessness, Deep-Weak-Slow pulse and Pale-Swollen tongue are enough in and of themselves to diagnose this pattern. Palpitations and cold hands only appear if Water also overflows to the Heart. The thin watery frothy sputum, coughing and asthma only appear as symptoms if Water also overflows to the Lungs.
Treating Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Treatment principle
Tonify and warm the Kidneys, transform Water and warm and tonify Spleen-Yang. If Water overflows to the Heart or Lungs, warm and tonify Heart Yang or Lung Qi respectively.
Herbal formulas used to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Formula summary
Wu Ling San is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote urination and leach out Dampness.
Besides Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing, Wu Ling San is also used to treat Yin Excess or Greater Yang Accumulation of Water.
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan
Formula summary
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1695 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm Yang and tonify.
Besides Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing, Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is also used to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency.
Diet recommendations
Eat a balanced diet composed only of cooked foods and those with a warm energy such as whole grains, vegetables (especially adzuki beans) and meat (especially lamb, beef and pork).
Avoid excessive sexual activity and exposure to cold.