Pattern: Kidney Essence Deficiency

This is a pattern affiliated with chronic disease (in TCM chronic diseases can be cured or relieved) and osteoporosis. The kidneys store your essence (jing), the substance that nourishes, fuels and cools the body, and is also responsible for human growth, reproduction and bones. In health, jing is abundant and is transformed into bone marrow to nourish the bones and strengthen the skeleton by promoting growth and repair. If jing becomes deficient it leads to poor bone development, softening of the bones and weakness in knees and legs (osteoporosis). Teeth are an extension of bone tissue and they become loose (premature ageing). Not enough marrow weakens brain function (dementia). Kidney essence can’t generate hair growth leading to hair loss or greying (premature ageing). Kidney essence is the material basis for health sexual function, if deficient it results in weak sexual activity. Basically, kidney essence deficiency is ‘old age’. A fast-paced lifestyle, high stress levels and overwork, deplete and exhaust jing. Drug addiction especially methamphetamines, hard living, and burning the candle at both ends, will also do this.
Symptoms:
Softening of bones, bone loss, weakness of knees and legs, poor memory, loose teeth, impotence, hair loss, premature greying of hair, weakness of sexual activity, sore back.