Acupuncturists understand the body as a complex system of energy systems, meridians and organs. However, when an acupuncturist talks about an organ, like the spleen, heart or kidneys, they are not referring to the physical organ that sits inside your body, but rather the energetic side of these organs. The energetic system is much bigger than just the physical organ, and governs certain functions in the body on many levels.
The kidney system is one of the most important of these energetic organ systems.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys represent the deepest, most fundamental levels of energy in the human body. They are said to be the root of yin and yang in the body – two fundamental forces at play in our physiology. The kidneys also store a substance called “essence” that is our genetic code, our life force and our reproductive ability.
The kidneys in Chinese Medicine are related to the water element, which is the elemental energy of winter. Whereas many energy systems are all about movement, the kidneys are about rest, relaxation, rejuvenation – they are the energy of holding, of turning inward, of protecting that which is most important. Think of still reflecting pools, or a quiet winter night. These are kidney energy. The kidneys are often referred to in Chinese Medicine as our “root” – they are tasked with caring for the most precious parts of us that make us who we are.
On a physical level, the kidneys govern the water passageways within the body (appropriate being the water element!) as well as controlling growth and reproduction. In a five element understanding of Chinese Medicine, the kidneys are at the end of the life cycle, before rebirth occurs again (such as winter making way for spring.) This means the kidneys in particular have a vital role to play in end of life transitions.
The spirit aspect of the kidneys is called Zhi, or willpower. Again, the kidneys are our root, our fundamental and core energy. When that system is weakened, a person may not feel drive, motivation or have the ability to push themselves. Their understanding of who they are and what they can do has been diminished.
The emotion associated with the kidneys is fear. When the kidneys are weak, a person may be startled or frightened easily, or may experience fear in disproportionate ways. Likewise, shock, trauma and fearful situations weaken the kidney energy, which is why many of the common symptoms of PTSD have a kidney imbalance at their root. The person’s core has been shaken.
The kidney energy, being the deepest level of energy in the body, takes time to replenish and strengthen, which means patience is key. Also, the kidney energy naturally declines over the life cycle, which is the normal aging process. So as we age, protecting the kidneys becomes all the more important!
Nourish the Kidneys through Food
Being associated with the water element, the kidneys are nourished by foods that come from the water – fish, seaweeds and shellfish are nourishing to this system. The kidneys are associated with the salty taste, so naturally salty foods such as miso or millet also are good choices. Avoid foods that are damaging to your root energy, such as sugar, caffeine, alcohol, greasy foods and highly-processed foods.
Nourish the Kidneys through your habits
The kidneys are damaged by overwork, too much responsibility, lack of sleep and a frenetic schedule. In other words, most of us living in modern society are taxing our kidneys! This means it is all the more important to carve out time and space to take part in kidney-nourishing habits.
As we mentioned, the kidneys are nourished through rest and rejuvenation. Pay attention to your sleep, and be sure you are getting the hours that you need! Take a nap in the day if you need it. Engage in gentle, relaxing forms of exercise, like yoga or tai chi. Try meditation or guided visualizations to calm and center yourself. Find a schedule that works – one that really works – for you.
Bring the water element into your life and your home by getting a small decorative fountain, using essential oils, taking baths or spending time near rivers or oceans or other bodies of water.
The kidneys, being the source of our reproductive strength, are also weakened by excessive sexual activity. So go for quality over quantity.
The kidneys represent what makes you, you. So take the time to give them the support they need!
Wataalamu wa tiba ya sindano huona mwili kuwa mfumo tata wa mifumo ya nishati, meridiani, na viungo. Hata hivyo, wakati acupuncturist anaongea juu ya chombo, kama vile utando, moyo au figo, wao si kutaja chombo kimwili kwamba anakaa ndani ya mwili wako, lakini badala upande wa nishati ya viungo hivi. Mfumo wa nishati ni mkubwa zaidi kuliko kiungo cha kimwili tu, na husimamia kazi fulani katika mwili katika ngazi nyingi. Mfumo wa figo ni mojawapo ya mifumo muhimu zaidi ya viungo hivyo vyenye nishati. Katika dawa ya jadi ya Kichina, figo huwakilisha ngazi za kina zaidi, za msingi zaidi za nishati katika mwili wa binadamu. Inasemekana kwamba hizo ndizo mizizi ya yin na yang katika mwili - nguvu mbili za msingi zinazotenda katika mwili wetu. Figo pia huhifadhi kitu kinachoitwa "kiini" ambacho ni kanuni yetu ya urithi, nguvu yetu ya uhai na uwezo wetu wa kuzaa. Katika dawa ya Kichina, figo ni sehemu ya maji, ambayo ni nguvu ya majira ya baridi kali. Wakati mifumo mingi ya nishati ni wote kuhusu harakati, figo ni kuhusu mapumziko, kupumzika, rejuvenation - wao ni nishati ya kushikilia, ya kugeuka ndani, ya kulinda kile ambacho ni muhimu zaidi. Fikiria vidimbwi vya maji vilivyo na mwangaza, au usiku mtulivu wa majira ya baridi kali. Hizi ni nishati ya figo. Figo ni sehemu ya msingi ya afya ya binadamu, na kwa hivyo ni jukumu lao kutunza sehemu zetu muhimu ambazo zinatufanya tuwe sisi. Katika kiwango cha kimwili, figo husimamia njia za maji ndani ya mwili (kwa kufaa kuwa kipengele cha maji!) Pia huongoza ukuaji na uzazi. Katika uelewa wa elementi tano wa dawa ya Kichina, figo ziko mwishoni mwa mzunguko wa maisha, kabla ya kuzaliwa upya kutokea tena (kama vile majira ya baridi kutengeneza njia kwa majira ya kuchipua). Hii inamaanisha figo hasa zina jukumu muhimu la kucheza katika mabadiliko ya mwisho wa maisha. Sehemu ya roho ya figo huitwa Zhi, au nguvu ya mapenzi. Figo ni mzizi wetu, nguvu zetu za msingi na za msingi. Wakati mfumo huo umedhoofika, mtu anaweza kuhisi gari, motisha au kuwa na uwezo wa kujisukuma. Uelewevu wao wa wao ni nani na wanaweza kufanya nini umepungua. Hisia inayohusiana na figo ni hofu. Wakati figo ni dhaifu, mtu anaweza kuogopa au kuogopa kwa urahisi, au anaweza kupata hofu kwa njia zisizo na usawa. Kwa sababu ya mshtuko, majeraha, na hali za hofu, nguvu za figo hupungua, na kwa sababu hiyo dalili nyingi za kawaida za PTSD zina usawa wa figo katika mizizi yao. Moyo wa mtu huyo umetetemeka. Fahamu kwamba figo ni sehemu ya ndani ya mwili, na inahitaji muda ili kuimarisha na kuimarisha, hivyo subira ni muhimu. Pia, nishati ya figo hupungua kwa kawaida katika mzunguko wa maisha, ambayo ni mchakato wa kawaida wa kuzeeka. Kwa hiyo kadiri tunavyozeeka, kulinda figo huwa muhimu zaidi! Kinywaji cha figo ni sehemu ya mwili ambayo hutegemea maji, na kwa sababu hiyo, chakula kinachotokana na maji, kama vile samaki, mwani na shellfish, ni muhimu kwa mfumo huu. Kwa sababu figo zinahusiana na ladha ya chumvi, vyakula vyenye chumvi kama vile miso au millet pia ni vyakula vyenye ladha nzuri. Kuepuka vyakula ambavyo vinaathiri afya yako, kama vile sukari, caffeine, pombe, vyakula vyenye mafuta na vyakula vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya hali ya juu. Ukiwa na tabia nzuri, figo zako zinaweza kuharibiwa na kazi nyingi, majukumu mengi, ukosefu wa usingizi na ratiba ya haraka. Kwa maneno mengine, wengi wetu wanaoishi katika jamii ya kisasa wanawatumia figo zetu vibaya sana! Hii inamaanisha ni muhimu zaidi kutengeneza wakati na nafasi ya kushiriki katika tabia za kulisha figo. Kama tulivyoona hapo juu, figo hutegemezwa na kupumzika na kurejeshwa. Jihadharini na usingizi wako, na hakikisha kwamba unapata saa unazohitaji! Chukua usingizi wakati wa mchana ikiwa unahitaji. Fanya mazoezi ya kupumzika kama vile yoga na tai chi. Jaribu kutafakari au kutafakari kwa njia inayoongozwa ili ujitulize na kujikita. Tafuta ratiba inayokufaa - moja ambayo inafaa kweli - kwako. Kuingiza maji katika maisha yako na nyumba yako kwa kupata chemchemi ndogo ya mapambo, kutumia mafuta muhimu, kuoga au kutumia muda karibu na mito au bahari au miili mingine ya maji. Figo, zikiwa chanzo cha nguvu zetu za uzazi, pia hupunguzwa na utendaji wa kupita kiasi wa kingono. Kwa hiyo, chagua ubora badala ya wingi. Figo huwakilisha kile kinachokufanya wewe. Kwa hiyo chukua wakati wa kuwapa utegemezo wanaohitaji!