🌿 Folk Prescriptions

One, Key Points in Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment
Traditionally, the kidney was thought to have no exterior or real syndromes. Kidney heat is considered a manifestation of yin deficiency, and kidney cold stems from yang deficiency. However, clinical observations confirm that real syndromes do exist in the kidney, such as damp-heat accumulation, blood stasis obstructing collaterals, and stone obstruction—these are considered real syndromes or syndromes with deficiency and excess. Kidney deficiency syndromes are generally categorized into yin deficiency and yang deficiency. The overall treatment principle is "supplement what is deficient, avoid harming what is sufficient." For yin deficiency, avoid spicy foods and overly bitter-cold herbs; instead, use sweet-moistening herbs to tonify yin and balance yang, extinguishing false fire and returning yang to yin—known as "strengthening the master of water to control excessive yang." For yang deficiency, avoid cool-moistening and pungent-dispersing herbs; instead, use sweet-warm tonics to tonify yang and balance yin, dispersing stagnant yin and allowing yin to follow yang—known as "augmenting the source of fire to dispel yin shadows." Furthermore, based on the principle of mutual root between yin and yang, when tonifying yang, one must consider yin fluids; when tonifying yin, one must consider yang qi. As stated: "Those skilled in tonifying yang must seek yang within yin, so that yang gains assistance from yin and generates boundlessly; those skilled in tonifying yin must seek yin within yang, so that yin gains support from yang and its source never runs dry." For dual yin-yang deficiency, indicating depletion of essence and qi, both yin and yang should be supplemented simultaneously. For kidney yin deficiency, which often leads to hyperactive phase fire, treatment should primarily focus on nourishing yin, with additional clearing of phase fire. For kidney yang deficiency, besides warming and tonifying kidney yang, one must also add herbs to fill essence and marrow to replenish the source of generation.
Two, Classification of Syndromes and Treatment
(I) Kidney Yang Deficiency
1. Kidney Qi Not Consolidated
Pathogenesis Summary: Overwork or prolonged illness leads to kidney qi deficiency, impairing its function of containment and retention.
Main Symptoms: Pale complexion, soreness and weakness in waist and knees, hearing loss, frequent and clear urination, or residual dribbling after urination, severe cases may involve urinary incontinence or nocturnal enuresis. Male patients may suffer from spermatorrhea or premature ejaculation; female patients may have clear, copious leukorrhea. Tongue is pale, coating thin and white, pulse fine and weak.
Treatment Method: Tonify kidney and consolidate.
Prescription Examples: Shui Lu Er Xian Dan (Water and Land Two Immortals Pill), Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (Five-Seed Prosperity-Generation Pill).
2. Kidney Cannot Contain Qi
Pathogenesis Summary: Kidney qi damaged by overwork or chronic illness leads to qi failing to return to its origin, impairing the kidney’s ability to receive and retain qi.
Main Symptoms: Shortness of breath, dyspnea, worse with exertion, emaciated appearance, extreme cases involve exacerbated breathing, profuse cold sweat, cold extremities, pale blue face, floating pulse without strength.
Treatment Method: Tonify kidney and contain qi.
Prescription Examples: Ren Shen Hu Tao Tang (Ginseng and Walnut Decoction), Shen Jie San (Ginseng and Gecko Powder).
3. Kidney Yang Not Revived
Pathogenesis Summary: Congenital weakness, chronic illness, or overwork damaging the kidneys, leading to lower burner deficiency and diminished vital fire of the life gate.
Main Symptoms: Pale or ashen complexion, aversion to cold, cold limbs, soreness and cold pain in waist and knees, lethargy, male patients may suffer from erectile dysfunction or infertility; female patients may have cold uterus and infertility, or chronic diarrhea with undigested food, or early morning diarrhea.
Treatment Method: Warm and tonify kidney yang.
Prescription Examples: You Gui Wan (Right Return Pill), Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pill).
4. Kidney Deficiency Leading to Fluid Overflow
Pathogenesis Summary: Congenital deficiency, prolonged illness, kidney yang deficiency, inability to warm and transform fluids, leading to fluid retention and upward or outward overflow.
Main Symptoms: Generalized edema, worse in lower limbs, reduced urination, or coughing with upward rushing breath, abundant and thin phlegm, worse with exertion, pale tongue with white coating, deep fine or deep taut pulse.
Treatment Method: Warm yang and promote diuresis.
Prescription Examples: Zhen Wu Tang (True Warrior Decoction), Shi Pi Yin (Real Spleen Beverage).
(II) Kidney Yin Deficiency
1. Kidney Yin Deficiency
Pathogenesis Summary: Excessive sexual activity, overwork, or prolonged illness depleting true yin.
Main Symptoms: Weak physique, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, soreness and weakness in waist and legs, dry mouth and throat, red tongue with little coating, fine pulse.
Treatment Method: Nourish kidney yin.
Prescription Examples: Liu Wei Di Huang Tang (Six Flavor Rehmannia Decoction).
2. Yin Deficiency with Hyperactive Fire
Pathogenesis Summary: Overwork depleting kidney yin, or after febrile illness, yin fluids exhausted; yin deficiency leads to internal heat, water deficiency causes fire to rise.
Main Symptoms: Flushed cheeks, red lips, tidal fever, night sweats, lumbar-sacral pain, restlessness, insomnia, seminal emission, dry mouth and sore throat, short yellow urine, constipation, red tongue with little coating, fine rapid pulse.
Treatment Method: Nourish yin and reduce fire.
Prescription Examples: Zhi Bai Di Huang Tang (Cortex Phellodendri and Cortex Cinnamomi Rehmannia Decoction).