Introduction: Kidney deficiency seems to be a topic with a sensitive label for many Chinese males. With the changes in society, kidney tonifying has become a focal point that male groups cannot avoid, whether it’s television advertisements, street corners’ promotions, or casual conversations among relatives and friends, kidney tonifying is always an unavoidable topic.
However, the reasons behind it and the real health issues are often not as straightforward. According to authoritative statistics, the number of diagnosed chronic kidney disease patients in China is staggering, reaching a remarkable 131 million, which means that about one in every ten people may be a kidney disease patient.
More worrying is that due to the high incidence of kidney disease and the often subtle early symptoms, many patients have low awareness of it, leading to a high mortality rate from kidney disease.
Therefore, kidney tonifying has become a rigid demand for many men pursuing health in Chinese society. However, should we blindfoldedly pursue kidney tonifying? Are Chinese men really universally “kidney deficient”?
Addressing this issue, the World Health Organization once proposed that kidney deficiency is to some extent seen as a cultural specific barrier, a product of a specific cultural environment.
Professor Ma Xiaonian, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Society of Sexology, holds a similar view. He believes that what Chinese people often say about kidney deficiency is often a cultural illness, stemming from collective anxiety about kidney dysfunction.
In fact, from the perspective of modern medicine, there is no concept of “kidney deficiency.” The kidney, as one of the important organs of the human body, mainly functions in metabolizing urine, eliminating waste and excess water from the body, and maintaining water-electrolyte balance. It does not have a direct connection with physical capability. Some so-called symptoms of kidney deficiency, such as soreness in the lumbar region and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, are often caused by other health problems rather than kidney deficiency.
Kidney deficiency does not equal kidney dysfunction!
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the kidney is considered an important source of essence and vitality in the human body. In traditional Chinese medical theory, the kidney is not just an anatomical organ but also a functional concept covering the source of power for human growth and development, reproductive functions, and the dynamic source of life activities.
The essence and vitality of the kidney are fundamental to life activities and crucial in maintaining the normal functioning of the human body. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine also believes that the kidney has the function of urine metabolism, participates in the excretion of waste in the body, promotes circulation in the lungs to ensure smooth breathing, maintains the stability of bones and teeth, and protects the integrity of the human body structure.
However, in modern clinical medicine, the understanding of “kidney function” is more specific and clear. Kidney function mainly refers to the physiological functions of the kidneys in the human body, including filtering metabolic waste products in the body, such as urea, creatinine, and maintaining the body’s electrolyte and acid-base balance.
Furthermore, the kidneys also have important endocrine functions, such as the secretion of renin, erythropoietin, participating in blood pressure regulation and red blood cell production. Therefore, in clinical medicine, the assessment of whether kidney function is normal is usually based on testing relevant indicators in blood and urine, such as creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, etc.
Although there are differences in the understanding of the kidneys between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, it does not mean that the two are mutually exclusive. In fact, traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine may use different theories and methods in treating certain diseases, but the goal is always to treat the disease and restore health.
Therefore, in understanding the concepts of kidney deficiency and kidney function, we should fully recognize the differences and connections between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, avoiding conflating the two.
What are the functions of the kidneys?
The kidneys, as vital organs of the human body, play numerous and complex roles that are astonishing. We already know that the kidneys are mainly responsible for excreting excess waste and water from the body and regulating the body’s electrolyte and acid-base balance. In addition to these basic physiological functions, the kidneys also play more refined roles.
Endocrine Function
The kidneys have endocrine functions; they can secrete various hormones such as renin, prostaglandins, which play important roles in regulating blood pressure, promoting red blood cell production, and activating vitamin D, which is crucial in maintaining bone health.
Immune Function
Furthermore, the kidneys play an essential role in the immune system. They filter out harmful substances in the blood, such as bacteria and viruses, to prevent these pathogens from invading the body. Additionally, immune cells in the kidneys can recognize and eliminate invading pathogens, protecting our bodies from disease invasion.
Temperature Regulation
When the body is in a cold environment, the kidneys reduce the excretion of urine, retaining body water and heat to help the body maintain warmth. Conversely, in a hot environment, the kidneys increase urine excretion, helping the body dissipate heat through evaporation of sweat, maintaining stable body temperature.
Your kidneys are gradually being overstrained! Correct these 5 “bad habits” as soon as possible.
Staying up late
Staying up late has become a daily habit for many people. However, prolonged late nights disrupt the body’s biological clock, affecting the kidneys’ detoxification and repair functions. Over time, the kidneys’ workload will gradually increase, leading to a decline in kidney function. Therefore, ensuring an adequate amount of sleep and trying to go to sleep before 11 p.m. is an essential measure to protect the kidneys.
Unhealthy eating habits
Excessive salt, greasy, and high-protein foods can burden the kidneys. Therefore, maintaining a balanced diet, moderate protein intake, reducing salt and fat intake, eating more fresh vegetables and fruits can alleviate the burden on the kidneys.
Holding urine for a long time
Holding urine for too long in the bladder can easily breed bacteria and cause urinary tract infections, which can affect kidney health. Therefore, it is important to develop a habit of urinating regularly and avoid holding urine for long periods.
Excessive obesity
Obesity can cause metabolic disorders in the body, leading to diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, which can damage kidney health. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling weight through proper diet and moderate exercise is important.
Abusing drugs
Many drugs need to be metabolized and excreted through the kidneys. Long-term abuse of drugs can increase the burden on the kidneys, even leading to drug-induced kidney damage. Therefore, it is important to follow medical advice when using drugs and avoid indiscriminate drug use.
If men wake up without these 3 problems, it means “kidney energy is full”, enviable
When kidney function is impaired, or when abnormal problems arise, it often not only affects the kidneys themselves but can also extend to the whole body, causing symptoms in other organs. This is because the kidneys, as an essential organ in our body, perform various functions such as filtering blood, excreting waste, maintaining fluid balance, etc. Once a problem occurs, this balance is disrupted, negatively impacting other organs and systems.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand the “help signals” the kidneys may send out. If we can identify these symptoms in our daily lives, we may be able to timely salvage kidney function and prevent the disease from progressing further.
Attention male friends in front of the screen! The following symptoms could be warning signals from the kidneys. If you do not have these mentioned symptoms, it means your kidneys are relatively healthy, which is indeed commendable.
Lower back pain
If males do not feel any lower back pain symptoms after waking up in the morning, this is generally considered a positive sign, indicating that their kidney function is in good condition. Lower back pain, as a common symptom of kidney deficiency, is often closely related to kidney health. This is because kidneys are considered the “foundation of innate essence” in traditional Chinese medical theory and have a profound connection with the lower back.
In traditional Chinese medical theory, kidneys are not just an important organ in the body but a system covering various life functions. They are responsible for storing and releasing essence, providing energy for various physiological activities. When kidney function declines, and essence is insufficient, discomfort symptoms such as soreness, weakness may first appear in the lower back, an external manifestation of kidney health.
Therefore, when males feel comfortable in the lower back after waking up, move freely without any pain or weakness, it often indicates that their kidney function is normal, and kidney energy is sufficient. This not only signifies good physical health but also indicates having enough vitality to cope with various challenges in daily life.
Exhaustion
If males do not experience mental fatigue or exhaustion upon waking up in the early morning, this is generally a positive sign, indicating good kidney function. There is a close connection between the kidneys and one’s mental state as kidneys are considered the “foundation of innate essence” in traditional Chinese medical theory, governing essence, water metabolism, closely related to one’s energy, stamina, and mental state.
When kidney function declines, the body’s metabolism and detoxification abilities are affected, leading to internal disturbances that may cause a series of mental health issues. For instance, individuals may feel mentally dull, lack concentration, experience memory decline, etc. These symptoms not only affect daily life and work efficiency but may also worsen the kidney burden, forming a vicious cycle.
Conversely, if males feel mentally energized, full of vitality upon waking up, it typically means good kidney health, abundant kidney energy. This healthy mental state not only helps improve work and life efficiency but also aids in maintaining physical health and vitality.
Frequent Urination, Urgency
If males do not experience urinary frequency, urgency, or pain in the mornings after waking up, it is usually a positive sign, indicating that their kidney function is normal. As a vital part of the human urinary system, the kidneys play a crucial role in filtering blood, removing waste products, and maintaining fluid balance to keep the body’s internal environment stable.
When kidney function declines, the filtering and detoxification abilities are impaired, resulting in the accumulation of waste and toxins in the urine, leading to various urinary system problems. Common symptoms include frequent urination, urgency, painful urination. These symptoms not only inconvenience daily life but can also increase the kidney burden, affecting overall health.
However, if men find their urinary system is working normally after waking up, without the aforementioned discomfort, it usually indicates good kidney function and abundant kidney energy. This healthy state helps men maintain full energy, vitality, enabling them to better cope with the challenges of daily work and life.
How to improve kidney function?
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
We need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes ensuring adequate sleep because the kidneys are most active when the body rests, carrying out detoxification and repair work.
Moreover, regular exercise is essential; activities like walking, jogging, swimming, aerobic exercises can help improve kidney blood circulation, enhancing its function.
Balanced Diet
Controlling salt intake is necessary because excess salt can lead to water retention in the body, increasing the burden on the kidneys.
Additionally, the consumption of foods rich in high-quality protein, such as lean meat, fish, eggs, provides necessary nutrition support for the kidneys. Also, eating foods rich in antioxidants like fresh vegetables and fruits can help protect the kidneys from damage.
Monitoring Potential Health Issues
Besides adjusting lifestyle and diet, we need to pay attention to certain potential health problems. For instance, chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes can damage the kidneys. Therefore, regular check-ups are necessary to detect and treat these diseases promptly.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Negative emotions like stress, anxiety can adversely affect the kidneys. Therefore, learning to regulate emotions and maintain a calm mindset is important to protect kidney health.
