Kidney qi deficiency may manifest in various bodily conditions. For example, some people may still feel cold hands and feet in the warm spring, which could be due to insufficient essence accumulated during winter, leading to inadequate nourishment of the limbs. If the kidney essence is insufficient in winter, resulting in reduced body energy and cold limbs, it indicates the need for kidney tonification.
Another sign is an increased preference for strongly flavored foods, especially spicy ones. This reflects weakened spleen and stomach function, decreased sensitivity to taste, the need for strong flavors to stimulate appetite, also a manifestation of kidney qi deficiency.
Some individuals are prone to low-grade fever between 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm daily, which is related to low levels of qi and blood, indicating significant damage to kidney qi. Additionally, some people habitually fidget their legs while sitting, often misunderstood as a bad habit but actually a reflection of insufficient kidney essence.
Premature graying of hair in young people is also a sign of weakened kidney qi. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the health of hair is directly related to the condition of the kidneys. White hair at a young age indicates deficiency of kidney essence, requiring timely nourishment.
Nocturnal sweating, sweating unknowingly during sleep, in Chinese medicine attributed to deficiency of qi and yin, long-term implications for health. In elderly individuals, occasional tremors of the head during urination, different from children, are mostly due to weakness of kidney qi and qi-blood, efforts should be made to prevent kidney qi leakage.
In the face of kidney qi deficiency, dietary therapy is a gentle way of nourishment. For instance, celery and egg pudding combines celery, egg yolk, and meat broth, aiding in nourishment; lycium, dioscorea, and wolfberry porridge utilizes dioscorea, dioscorea, and wolfberry, to be consumed at breakfast, once daily; yam dish cleverly combines yam with other ingredients, delicious and nourishing; saltwater shrimp simple to prepare, rich in nutrients, beneficial for replenishing essential elements; polygonum stewed chicken utilizes the unique effects of polygonum, stewed with chicken, a nourishing delicacy.
By observing the above symptoms, individuals can self-assess their kidney qi condition. Once kidney qi deficiency is confirmed, appropriate measures should be promptly taken for adjustment.
