Traditional Chinese Medicine Overview
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a tradition of medicine that dates back over 5000 years. Much of the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine derived from the same philosophical bases that Taoist and Buddhist philosophies are based on, and reflects the classical Chinese belief that the life and activity of individual human beings have an intimate relationship with the environment at all scales. It has also been noted that early traditional Chinese medicine stemmed from Taoist masters who had an extraordinary sense of the body and its workings through their many hours of meditation. This may be why TCM also inherited many of the principles inherent to Daoism (Taoism).
Traditional Chinese Medicine Kidney Function
The Yin-Yang Symbol
The theory of yin-yang is a conceptual framework used for observing and analyzing the material world in ancient China. The theory permeates all aspects of traditional Chinese medicine. It serves to explain the organic structure, physiological functions and pathological changes of the human body, and in addition guides clinical diagnosis and treatment and prevention.
When the theory of yin and yang is used to explain the organic structure of the human body; the physical form pertains to yin, while activities or functions pertain to yang. The physical forms are the material basis for functions, while functions are the motivating power for physical forms. They are mutually complementary. Traditional Chinese Medicine views the kidneys as the center of the body's yin and yang, the "congenital foundation," or the origin of life. In other words, the kidneys store the primordial yin and primordial yang (also called kidney yin and yang), which is the place where nutrients are stored and physiological functions take place.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Kidneys
Kidney yang, also called primordial yang, true yang or true fire, is the foundation of the yang qi of the whole body; it warms and promotes the functions of the organs and tissues.
Kidney yin provides energy for physiological functions while kidney yang promotes the storage of kidney yin. Kidney yin and yang are mutually dependent, promoting and restraining each other, leading to an internal harmony of yin and yang, and healthy functioning of the body's organs. It is the dynamic interaction between the two that maintains normal life activities.
Food Recommendations for supporting the TCM Kidneys
Black sesame seeds, string beans, asparagus, eggs, duck, oyster, lobster, sardines, shrimp, dill, fennel, raspberries and walnuts
