Do you suffer from fatigue, back pain, or forgetfulness? These symptoms may be warning signals from your kidneys. You can nourish the kidneys through simple acupoint massage and diet therapy and enhance the body’s self-repair capability.
The “kidney” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an energy system centered around the two kidney organs. The kidney contains the “essence“ related to the origin of life—including the innate essence brought by heredity, and the acquired essence obtained through eating and breathing. In the TCM perspective, the kidney’s energy shows signs of depletion before disease occurs, with the appearance of symptoms such as premature graying of hair, back pain, forgetfulness, and fatigue.
Kidney Protection Starts From the Soles
The energy of the human body runs through the internal organs and the body surface along the meridians. Among them, the Kidney meridian goes from the feet along the inner sides of the legs and connects with the kidneys. To keep our kidneys in good shape, we can start by massaging the appropriate acupoints.Yongquan (Bubbling Spring, KI1), located in the depression in the first third of the foot, is an important acupoint on the Kidney meridian.
Location of the Yongquan acupoint. The Epoch Times
Massage method: Rub the soles of your feet with your hands until they become warm. You can also rub your palms to warm them up and press them onto the Yongquan acupoints. Repeat this process for three to five minutes every morning and evening.
Location of the Laogong acupoint. The Epoch Times
The Laogong (Labor Palace, PC8), located in the palm of the hand, is an acupoint of the Pericardium meridian. Placing the Laogong on the Yongquan can achieve the connection between the heart and the kidney. In TCM theory, the heart represents fire, and the kidneys represent water. When the two energies blend, it achieves a balance, allowing one to sleep well and the body to repair itself.
Place the Laogong acupoint on the palm onto the Yongquan point on the sole of the foot to achieve the connection between the heart and the kidney.
Sleep is crucial in protecting the kidneys. According to TCM theory, resting between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. is more effective than taking any supplements.
Warm the Lower Back With Warm Palms
Another massage that helps nourish the kidneys is to the lower back with warm palms. Rub your palms together until they are warm, then place them on the kidney area on your lower back and gently massage for three to five minutes. This produces a warming and nourishing effect on the kidneys, radiating your health from the inside out.Ancient Recipe for Kidney-Tonifying Diet Therapy
“Tang Zheng Xiangguo Fang” is a TCM recipe for kidney tonification that has been prescribed for centuries. It came from Zheng Yu, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. It is said that Zheng, when serving as an official in the south, fell sick and none of the medicines he took worked until he tried a recipe recommended to him by a local prince. His symptoms of kidney deficiency, low back pain, and coughing vanished upon trying this recipe, which was later brought back by him to the capital and widely adopted.This recipe consists of only two main ingredients—Psoralea corylifolia and walnuts—which are ground into powder and mixed with honey. Psoralea corylifolia is a seed of the leguminous plant that nourishes the kidneys and strengthens the waist. Walnuts can also nourish the kidneys.
Ingredients
- 250 grams Psoralea corylifolia
- 500 grams walnut kernels
- Honey
- Grind Psoralea corylifolia and walnuts into a fine powder
- Mix with enough honey and stir evenly to make a paste.
- Store in a glass bottle
Other foods that protect the kidneys according to TCM include foods that are black, such as black beans, black sesame seeds, and yams.
Acanthopanax Tea: A Tonic for Office Workers
During your daily tea break, a cup of kidney-tonifying Acanthopanax tea will work wonders. Acanthopanax, also known as “Siberian ginseng,” is a member of the Araliaceae family, which is the same family as ginseng. It nourishes the liver, kidneys, and the heart and pacifies the mind. It is particularly suitable for office workers who engage in prolonged mental work.Acanthopanax tea has a sweet taste and has no herbal flavor. Like ginseng, Acanthopanax also has the effect of replenishing qi, which means it can supply more oxygen to our body cells. Just taking one cup of it when you feel tired will refresh you.
Ingredient
- 3-4 grams Acanthopanax senticosus
- Place Acanthopanax senticosus into a filter bag.
- Place the bag in a cup of hot water and brew for 5 minutes before drinking.
2 Things to Avoid That Will Cause Damage to Your Kidneys
In addition, to keep your kidneys healthy, you need to be cautious about two things that can harm your kidneys.1. Never hold your urine. Holding urine for too long damages the bladder and may also cause urine reflux, which is urine flowing back from the bladder to the ureters and even the kidneys, increasing the risk of kidney disease.
2. Eat moderately and avoid high-sodium and high-purine foods. High-purine foods include organ meats, seafood, yeast extracts, alcoholic beverages, and certain vegetables, such as asparagus, cauliflower, and mushrooms. These foods can increase the load on the kidneys.
Note: Some of the herbs mentioned in this article may be unfamiliar, but are generally available in health food stores and Asian markets. Treatment methods may vary from person to person. Consult a health care professional for a personalized plan.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
