Kidney (Zang)
Encyclopedia
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...

, the Kidney (Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...

: 肾: shen) refers to either of the two viscera located on the small of the back, one either side of the spine. As distinct from the Western medical definition of kidneys, the TCM concept is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ. In TCM there is only one Kidney which includes both left and right kidneys and the space between them - known as the San Jiao
San Jiao
San Jiao is a term found in traditional Chinese medicine , as part of modelling the workings of the human body attempted by early Chinese medical writers...

 or triple warmer (triple burner). The peak time for the Kidneys is from 5-7pm. (See Zang Fu theory
Zang Fu theory
The zàng-fǔ organs are functional entities stipulated by Traditional Chinese medicine . They constitute the centre piece of TCM's general concept of how the human body works...

)

TCM Overview

The Kidney (Shen) is a Zang organ meaning it is a Yin
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...

 organ. The other Yin, or Zang, Organs are the Lungs (Fei), Liver (Gan), Spleen
Spleen (Zang)
The Spleen is one of the zàng organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine . It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name.-In the context of the zang-fu concept:...

 (Pi), and Heart (Xin). Sometimes the Pericardium (Xin Bao) is included. Yin organs store, secrete, make, and transform Essence, Blood, Spirit, Qi
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...

, and Fluids.

Kidney Main Functions

The main functions of the Kidney are:
  • storing essence (jing
    Jing (TCM)
    Jīng is the Chinese word for "essence", specifically kidney essence. Along with qì and shén, it is considered one of the Three Treasures Sanbao 三寶 of Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. Jīng is stored in the kidneys and is the most dense physical matter within the body...

    ) and dominating human reproduction and development
  • dominating water metabolism and the reception of qi from the air (Kong Qi)
  • producing marrow to fill up the brain
  • dominating bone
  • manufacturing blood
  • manifesting in the hair (on the head)
  • opening into the ear and dominating the two lower yin (the anus and urethra
    Urethra
    In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...

    )
  • dominating anterior and posterior orifices.
  • housing the Zhi (will-power)
  • fluid secretions are urine
    Urine
    Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...

    , semen
    Semen
    Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...

    , and vaginal fluids.


Storing essence and dominating development and reproduction

The Kidney’s primary function is storing and controlling ‘essence’, or jing. Jing is the essence of qi and the basis for body matter and functional activities. There are two types of jing, congenital jing and acquired jing, which are stored in the Kidney and known as Kidney jing. Unlike qi, jing circulates in long cycles (seven years for females and eight years for males) governing developmental stages. The function of jing is to promote growth, development and reproduction, provide the basis for Kidney qi, produce marrow, and provide the basis for jing, qi and shen (mind).

Congenital jing comes from the parents and determines basic constitution; it cannot be altered, but it can be positively influenced by acquired jing. Acquired jing is produced from food by the Spleen and Stomach, stored in the Kidney and circulated in the body. Congenital and acquired jing have a promoting/ controlling relationship with each other and their interaction produces Kidney jing; all three play a part in determining growth and development, sexual maturation, reproduction, and aging.

Every new jing cycle prompts a new cycle of development. For example, congenital jing exists from conception, carrying on from the jing of the parents. Once a child is born, acquired jing is responsible for replenishing congenital jing and starting the first independent jing cycle which, for the next seven years in girls and eight years in boys, will control growth and development. When the child loses its baby teeth, its body begins the pre-adolescence cycle. The next jing cycle is adolescence, when Kidney jing matures and causes the ren meridian to open and flow. At this time, part of the Kidney jing transforms into tian gui, which develops and maintains reproductive function. In the next stage physical growth finishes, and eventually declining jing leads to exhaustion of tian gui, thus extinguishing reproductive ability. Inevitably, decline of jing leads to death.

Energy aspects

All of the four Kidney energy aspects are essential in growth and development. These four aspects include Kidney jing (essence), Kidney yin (water), Kidney yang
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...

 (fire) and Kidney qi. All of the body’s functions rely on the heat provided by Kidney qi and the gate of life (the space between the left and right Kidneys). Kidney jing is the foundation of the yin and yang of all the body’s organs. Kidney yin and yang are the primordial yin and yang, and the root of yin and yang to the zang organs. Kidney yin moistens and nourishes, while Kidney yang provides warmth and promotes organs and tissue. Kidney yang is the dynamic force necessary to start the system of balancing water metabolism, which also employs the Spleen, Lung, Liver and San Jiao.

Dominating water metabolism

The Kidney is considered a water element. As the body’s water gate, it regulates water metabolism and reception of qi. The foundation of yin fluid that nourishes and moistens the body is Kidney yin. When the Kidney receives fluid the qi of Kidney yang divides it into to two types, clear and turbid. Clear fluid is sent upward through San Jiao to moisten the Lung and for the Lung to distribute to the body, while turbid fluid is sent downward for expulsion by the bladder
Urinary Bladder (Fu)
As distinct from the Western medical concept of Urinary bladder, this concept from Traditional Chinese Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated functions than an anatomical organ....

. The water gate is also responsible for regulating the opening and closing of drainage ducts, namely the bladder and anus
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...

, which rely on the activity of Kidney qi. Also, while Lung qi controls respiration, Kidney qi coordinates inhalation.

Additional Functions

The Kidney is responsible for hair luster, production of bone and brain matter, correct functioning of the ears, and regulating the opening and closing of the bladder and anus. Mentally, its responsible for supporting memory, while emotionally its linked to determination, or will power (zhi).
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