Zang Fu Patterns: Kidney Flashcards
What are the 5 main functions of the Kidney?
- Foundation of Yin and Yang, warming and nourishing of all Zang-Fu organs
- Stores Jing and therefore rules birth, growth, developent, reproduction
- Produces Marrow to fill up the brain and rule the bones
- Rules Water and water metabolism, lower source of water
- Controls inspiration and grasping of qi
Kidney:
Opens into…
Manifests in…
Controls the…
Residence of…
Opens into the ears
Manifests in the head hair
Controls the two lower orifices
Residence of Zhi, will power
How are Kidney Yin and Yang interrelated? How are they related to the rest of the body?
Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang are the foundation of the Yin and Yang of the whole body.
Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang rely on each other for their existence. Kidney Yin provides material basis for Kidney Yang. Kidney Yang provides necessary Heat for all Kidney functions.
Discuss the similarities/differences of:
Shen Yang
Shen Fire
Shen Jing (Yang aspect)
Ming Men Fire
Yuan Qi
Some authorities consider Ming Men, the Gate of Life, to be insubstantial, to be located between the Kidneys and to be associated with the Fire of the body. Others associate Ming Men with the right Kidney. In any case Ming Men Fire or Gate of Life Fire is considered to be responsible for warming and activating the processes of the body. In clinical practice, the manifestation of Kidney Fire, Kidney Yang, Ming Men Fire and Yuan Qi are often regarded as more or less identiacal. The Yang aspect of Shen Jing may also be used synonymously with these or may refer specifically to the reproductive functions.
What is Jing? What processes does it relate to?
Jing is the (material and immaterial) substance most intimately connected to life itself. It is the creator of life and is the foundation for differentiation into Yin and Yang.
The Kidneys are sometimes referred to as the “Root of Life” because Jing is the basis for reproduction, growth, and development. It flourishes as we grow and develop, and wanes as we grow old. The Kidneys are said to govern these processes at it stores the Jing.
What are the two types of Jing?
Jing (Essence) the precious substance has two types:
Prenatal Jing: Inherited from parents
Postnatal Jing: Partly replenished from food and fluids
What aspects of life does Prenatal Jing determine? What problems can arise if it is insufficient? Can it be replaced?
Prenatal Jing determines our basic constitution, vitality, and strength. It is the basis of sexual life and the formation of sperm and egg. It is the foundation for differentiation into Yin and Yang. Insufficient Jing can cause infertility, impotence, problems relating to growth, reproduction, premature senility, etc.
Prenatal Jing is considered irreplaceable; it can be conserved but not replaced.
Where does Postnatal Jing come from? Can it be replenished?
Postnatal Jing is the refined essence extracted from the food by the internal Organs, particularly the Spleen.
Yes it can be partly replenished from the energies of food and drink.
Compare Kidney Qi and Kidney Jing. Deficient Kidney Qi vs Deficient Kidney Jing.
Shen (Kidney) Qi can be used in the inclusive sense, to include Shen Jing along with all other activities of the Kidney, or it can be used in a more limited sense of Shen Qi as opposed to Shen Jing. Unfortunately it is not always clear which sense predominates in teh use of the phrase “Shen Qi”.
In clinical practice there is considerable overlap between the two concepts, Deficient Kidney Jing and Deficient Kidney Qi and in some cases they are used synonymously. However Deficient Kidney Jing relates more to problems of reproduction and development, whereas Deficient Kidney Qi relates more to the Failure to Receive Qi and to Deficient Kidney Yang.
Talk about Kidney Qi, Yin and Yang in clinical diagnosis. Pattern of Deficient Kidney Qi would tend to progress to…
Again Kidney Qi may be used in the inclusive sense, to include both Shen Yang and Shen Yin. However, especially in clinic, it may be used in the more restricted sense, for example the pattern of Deficient Kidney Qi, which tends to progress to the more sever pattern of Deficient Kidney Yang and not to the pattern of Deficien Kidney Yin.
Kidney Jing (Yin) vs Kidney Yin
Kidney Jing (Yang) vs Kidney Yang
Kidney Jing has its Yin and Yang functions which overlap with the functions of Kidney Yin and Yang. However, the latter ar more general categories wheras Kidney Jing (Yin) and Kidney Jing (Yang) refer to the more specialized field of incluence of Jing which includes birth, growth, development, reproduction as well as the formation and function of Marrow, Bones, Brains and Blood.
The Yin aspect of Jing provides the material basis for the formation of Jing-related tissues, for example Marrow, Bones, Brain, Blood, eggs, sperm and also moistens and nourishes them.
The Yang aspect of Jing is responsible for the warming, movement and activation of Jing-related processes.
Where does Jing circulate? What special link does Jing have to the Curious Organs?
Jing circulates in the Jing Luo system, and in particular in the network of the Eight Extra Channels, to the Zang Fu and the Body, especially to the Curious Organs.
Jing Has a special link to the Curious Organs, since not only are all of them nourished and maintained by Jing, but for some of them, like Marrow and Blood, Jing is involved in their formation.
How does circulating Jing become part of the harmony of the Substances of the Body?
The Yang aspect of Jing may be involved with the Wei Qi in protecting the Body from external invasion and may be involved with Yuan Qi and Kidney Yang in activating the formation, transformation and transportation of Qi, Blood and Jin Ye within the Body.
Similarly you could think of the Yin aspect of Jing as being involved with the Ying Qi and directly helping to form Qi, Blood and Jin Ye.
The Kidney produces Marrow to fill up the Brain and rule the Bones. What exactly is Marrow formed from? What does Marrow give rise to?
Marrow is formed from the Yin aspect of Shen Jing, and itself gives rise to the Brain (the Sea of Marrow) and to the Bone Marrow, which then gives rise to part of Blood.
The proper formation and functioning of Bones and Brain are dependent on the proper functioning of Shen and sufficient supply of Jing. What happens in these two realms if Shen Jing is deficient?
If Shen Jing is deficient there may be problems with the development and funcitoning of bones and joints and therefore with movement. Kidney also governs teeth, which are said to be the outgrowth of bones.
Although consciousness, mind and spirit are predominantly connected with the Heart in TCM, the Brain is still involved in consciousness as well.
The Brain is linked with the Orifices of the Senses, especially eyes and ears. If the Qi in the head is disorderly, the Orifices of the Senses are disrupted so that the ears do not hear properly, the eyes do not see properly and the person becomes dizzy and may even lose consciousness.
If strong Jing nourishes the brain then memory and concentration, etc. will be good. If Jing is inadequate to nourish the brain there will be poor memory and concentration and dull thinking
In its prenatal aspect, Jing is responsible for the transmission of _______, or in Western terms the transmission of the ______ make-up of the parents
inheritance; genetic
Shen links with the Uterus via ____ Mai, ____ Mai and ______ Mai and is vital to teh processes of __________, pregnancy, and _______.
Bao, Ren, Chong
conception, childbirth
Compare the terms Water and Yin
Yin is a more inclusive concept than Water, which is but one aspect of Yin. Besides moistening and cooling, Yin aslo has the functions of nourishment and of providing a material base for the formation of Structures.
Deficient Yang is associated with the Yin condition of ______. Deficient Yin is associated with the Yang conditions of excess ______ and _____, Deficient ____ ___ and ____________
Edema
Dryness; Heat; Jin Ye and inflammation
The Kidney governs water and water passages. Talk about what happens with urination if there is an imbalance in Kidney Yin or Yang.
The Kidneys control flow of Body Fluids in Lower Burner. The correct balance of Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang produces normal regulation of the opening and closing of the “gate” of urination.
Where Kidney Yang is deficient, the “gate” stays open: profuse and pale urination. There may also be urinary incontinence with Kidney Yang deficiency.
Where Yin is deficient, “gate” stays closed: scanty and dark urination.
Kidneys control inspiration and grasping of qi. Kidneys are called the _____ of __ while the Lungs are called the _______ of __. When the Kidneys fail to grasp Qi what may occur?
While the Lungs govern respiration, the Kidneys play an important role in normal breathing. The Kidneys assist the Lungs during inhalation by “Grasping the Qi”. In this relationship, the Lungs are called the “Foundation of Qi”, and the Kidneys are called the “Root of Qi”. When the Kidneys fail to Grasp the Qi, respiratory illnesses can occur, such as chronic asthma.
Kidneys open into the ear. With weak Kidney Jing what may happen?
Kidney Jing nourishes ears and enables proper functioning. Weak Jing, weak hearing or tinnitus.
Kidney manifests in the head hair. What will you see with weak Kidney Jing? How does Liver Blood affect head hair?
Abundant Kidney Jing nourishes hair: hair then grows well and is healthy and shiny. Weak Kidney Jing: thin brittle, dull, or falling hair, premature graying.
NOTE: Liver Blood also has to do with hair color and shine, but Kidney Jing is instrumental in production of Liver Blood.
