In Traditional Oriental Medicine, the understanding of the organs is different than that of Western medicine. The physical organs, along with their corresponding energetic meridian pathways are never regarded as independent systems but instead, are always viewed in relation to the rest of the body.

Probably the easiest way to get some insight into the influence of the Kidney system as seen by Eastern medicine is to look at the extremes of both a young infant and an elderly person. In the case of the child, the Kidney system is still in development while for the older person, a weakening Kidney function is just a progression of the natural aging process.

Young infant
- bald
- no teeth
- incontinent / bedwetting
- weak back & legs, can't walk
- soft bones, open fontanel
- undeveloped memory
- undeveloped reproductive organs

Elderly person
- bald
- no teeth
- incontinent
- hunched back, shortening of height
- brittle bones
- poor memory
- declining sexual function
- hearing loss

As can be seen from just this brief list, the Eastern view of the Kidney system involves many other parts of the body as well:
- growth and development
- urinary system
- reproductive system
- hormones
- bones & marrow, especially the spine
- brain function & memory
- hearing

According to Traditional Oriental Medicine, the Kidney is also in charge of controlling the Fluid metabolism throughout the body and could be thought of as the coolant system that prevents things from overheating. For example, a condition commonly treated with acupuncture is the typical menopausal woman where the Kidney system is not doing its job of cooling the body. As a result, this extra heat rises up and collects towards the top of the body, producing symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, shoulder pain, and insomnia.

In addition, the Kidney is regarded as a measure of strength of a person's constitution, similar to what Western medicine might refer to as hereditary and genetic factors. For instance, the grandma who has her three gin & tonics every day, smokes cigarettes like a chimney, has never been sick a day in her life, and yet lives to 100 would definitely be described as having a strong Kidney. On the other extreme, the frail, sickly, asthmatic kid who's always coming down with a cold has a weak Kidney and will probably have to work extra hard for the rest of their life just to maintain average health.

Finally, Eastern medicine makes special connections between specific organs and their corresponding emotions. In the case of the Kidney, its emotions are associated with fear, shock, and willpower. An obvious example of this would be someone who gets a sudden scare and loses control of their bladder. Another less common example could be someone who experienced a traumatic event and seemed to age overnight as a result. With regards to willpower, references to this exist even in our everyday language, such as describing a weak person with no ability to stand up for themselves as 'spineless' or 'having no backbone', which especially makes sense from the Eastern perspective.

Hopefully, this brief introduction to the Kidney system gives a better understanding of the way Traditional Oriental Medicine views a person and how it interconnects everything together.

Tips for keeping the Kidney system healthy
Stay flexible - because both the Kidney meridian and its related Bladder meridian travel through the back and the legs, maintaining flexibility in these areas is very important. Yoga poses such as Downward Dog and Child's Pose, along with stretches for the hamstring muscles help to gently stretch out and improve the energy circulation of
these meridians. You're only as young as your back!

Keep warm - because the Bladder meridian travels through the top of the head and neck, exposure to drafts can allow cold to enter here, where it can then travel along the meridians and penetrate deeper into the body. For a similar reason, the abdomen and lower back should always be covered up and kept warm (even if fashion trends say otherwise).

Breathe deep - so many of us are shallow breathers, especially when stressed out. By focusing on deep relaxed abdominal breathing, it helps draw energy downwards to help strengthen the Kidney.

Don't stress out - unlike our caveman ancestors who only had to deal with immediate threats such as war or hunting, we have to deal with more prolonged stress since modern society usually doesn't allow us to either fight or run away from danger. This continuous stress builds up in the body and depletes the Kidney. So take some time for yourself, even if it's only for 15 minutes. Turn off the tv. Take a walk. Listen to some music. Breathe. Enjoy the moment.

Avery Yackel - Traditional Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Shiatsu Massage tel: 604-671-4682 www.ayacupuncture.com 15228 Pacific Avenue, White Rock, BC V4B 1P7; and 108 - 2078 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9

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