As a nephrologist, the topic that is frequently asked in daily life is not kidney disease, but "kidney deficiency"! A term that is not very elegant and playful, but has been thoroughly hyped up by business in recent years. I don't know if I have "kidney deficiency" myself, but sitting for a long time at work can cause some discomfort in my waist, but kidney ultrasound and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging are both good, and I feel relieved. But what kind of ghost is "kidney deficiency"? I have studied it well and am willing to share one or two:
What is kidney deficiency? ┠
Kidney deficiency "is a term in traditional Chinese medicine that refers to the deficiency of kidney essence, qi, yin, and yang.
In modern Chinese medicine textbooks, the differentiation of kidney disease is further divided into "kidney yang deficiency" and "kidney yin deficiency".
Kidney yang deficiency refers to the deficiency and decline of kidney yang qi, often caused by physical weakness or aging due to kidney deficiency.
Manifestations include soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, chills in the limbs, fatigue, dizziness and tinnitus, reduced urine and swelling, light and plump tongue, weak pulse, impotence and infertility, etc.
Kidney yin deficiency refers to kidney yin deficiency, internal disturbance of deficiency heat, often caused by prolonged illness that damages the kidneys or excessive sexual activity.
Manifestations include dizziness, tinnitus and deafness, insomnia and dreaminess, hot flashes and night sweats, weak waist and knees, red tongue and dry fur, male ejaculation, and irregular menstruation in women.
How to scientifically understand kidney deficiency? ┠
There is no concept of "kidney deficiency" in Western medicine. The main function of the kidney in Western medicine is to excrete the waste generated in our body's metabolism process in the form of urine, without any distinction between virtual and real.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the term 'kidney' is mainly viewed from a functional perspective. The kidney is the innate foundation, storing true yin and embodying yuan yang.
As a nephrologist, I personally believe that the "kidney" referred to in traditional Chinese medicine is not simply the anatomical kidney of Western medicine. "Kidney deficiency" also has no corresponding relationship with kidney diseases in Western medicine. "Kidney deficiency" is more like a sub health state currently referred to, not a true disease.
Professor Wang Chuanhang from the Andrology Department of Beijing Sino Japanese Friendship Hospital believes that kidney deficiency, especially kidney yang deficiency, represents the degradation of body function, which is more common in the elderly, but not limited to the elderly. Due to the high pressure and fast-paced lifestyle of modern young people, excessive mental and physical exertion, as well as unhealthy habits such as staying up late for a long time, kidney deficiency can occur.
I have to say the misconception of kidney deficiency
In recent years, many advertisements for tonifying the kidney have been overwhelming, and the influence of traditional Chinese culture has led to a high level of attention to kidney deficiency. However, not many people truly understand kidney deficiency. Currently, there are several misconceptions about kidney deficiency:
Myth 1
Kidney deficiency refers to kidney problems.
As mentioned earlier, kidney deficiency is different from kidney disease in Western medicine. Many patients diagnosed with "kidney deficiency" have not found any kidney problems after a series of examinations. Also, if it is a true kidney deficiency, it should be referred to the traditional Chinese medicine department of a regular hospital for the help of a traditional Chinese medicine doctor for adjustment.
Misunderstanding 2
Symptoms such as weak waist and knees, excessive sweating, and frequent urination are kidney deficiency.
The appearance of the above symptoms does not necessarily mean kidney deficiency. For example, the soreness and weakness of the waist and knees may be caused by fatigue, and there is no specificity; For example, excessive sweating may just be a stress response of the human body to the external environment; Frequent urination (increased frequency of urination) may also be caused by urinary tract infections.
Myth 3
Kidney deficiency is impotence, so it is necessary to tonify the kidneys and strengthen yang.
The common erectile dysfunction, commonly known as impotence, is only about 30% caused by simple kidney deficiency. A considerable portion of men with erectile dysfunction are caused by psychological factors, and there are no symptoms of kidney deficiency in their bodies. If there is no clear cause, simply taking aphrodisiacs will only worsen the condition and even delay treatment. The correct approach is to seek medical attention from a reputable hospital's urology or traditional Chinese medicine department, actively seeking the cause of the disease before treatment, and not blindly tonifying the kidney at the beginning.
Myth 4
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is a versatile kidney tonifying medicine.
The function of Liuwei Dihuang Wan is to nourish kidney yin.
The prerequisite for taking it is that the patient is a patient with kidney yin deficiency. For those with kidney yin deficiency and severe heat deficiency, Zhibai Dihuang Wan should be used for treatment; For patients with kidney yang deficiency, the classic formula is Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan or You Gui Wan.
So Liu Wei Di Huang Wan cannot be used indiscriminately.
In fact, kidney deficiency can occur at every stage of life, from adolescence to old age, and symptoms of kidney deficiency may occur, which is an inevitable phenomenon. Once you discover that you have symptoms of kidney deficiency, there is no need to panic. Mild kidney deficiency will not affect our daily lives. Many people with kidney deficiency symptoms are mostly caused by excessive stress, irregular lifestyle, and lack of physical exercise. Some people may have cognitive misconceptions and develop anxiety about certain physiological phenomena, resulting in kidney deficiency. This group of people should pay attention to relaxing their mindset, maintain a positive and optimistic attitude towards life, and actively adhere to appropriate physical exercise in daily life.