Kidney Yin Deficiency
They heat up from the inside from mid-afternoon on: heat rising to the face, sweating while asleep, a dry mouth in the small hours and a background ringing in the ears that no longer goes away.
In plain words
They heat up from the inside from mid-afternoon on: heat rising to the face, sweating while asleep, a dry mouth in the small hours and a background ringing in the ears that no longer goes away.
The reserve of fluid and coolness that cushions the body is used up by short nights, sustained stress or long illness. With less coolness left, the body's own heat finds no counterweight and rises on its own, above all as evening falls. That unchecked heat dries the mouth at night, pushes out sweat during sleep and leaves hearing and eyesight without the support they relied on.
Characteristic symptoms
- Dull and chronic pain in the lumbar region and knees
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Chronic low-pitched tinnitus
- Hot flashes and recurrent heat, worse in the afternoon and evening
- Night sweats
- Insomnia, especially in the second half of the night
- Dry mouth and throat at night
- Scanty and dark urine
Key clues to recognize it
- The heat runs on a schedule: it appears in the afternoon and climbs at night, it is not there all day.
- Sweat that comes out during sleep and stops on waking.
- A continuous low-pitched ringing in the ears, alongside dull pain in the lower back and knees.
Tongue and pulse
- Tongue
- Red, dry tongue with scanty or absent coating; possible cracks
- Pulse
- Thin (xì) and rapid (shuò) pulse, weak in the Kidney position
Treatment principle
Nourish Kidney Yin, clear empty Heat and subdue Yang
Common points
Reference formula
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia)
What not to confuse it with
What aggravates it
- Habitually going to bed late and cutting the last stretch of the night.
- Sustained stress with no real pause in the day.
- Spicy food, alcohol and coffee, especially in the afternoon.
- Hot, dry environments and too much heating at night.
Lifestyle advice
Avoid overwork, chronic stress and excess sex. Sleep 7-9 hours in a dark, cool environment. Eat foods that nourish Kidney Yin: black mulberry, black sesame seeds, walnut, oysters, seaweed, wood ears. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine. Practice meditation and gentle Qi Gong.
When to see a doctor
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
