Patient Help Sheet

Kidney Qi
Here are some tips that you can use to help balance and support
your health during this time. Please feel free to call me
if you have further questions or concerns.
“A healthy outside starts from the inside.”- Robert Urich VOL 12.0

Patient Help Sheet – Boosting Kidney Qi

The kidney is considered the ocean of the human body. According
to Traditional Chinese Medicine, all the essences and fluids of
the body’s pathways pour into the kidney. Water has a tendency
to drain downward and the kidneys are the lowest of the organ
networks. Since the body is made up of at least 70 percent water,
it makes sense the kidneys would receive, assemble and store the
fluids until needed somewhere else in the body.
The kidneys store our essence, which is known as Jing in TCM.
The Jing is the essential fluid of the physical body and it naturally
becomes depleted over time. However, if the kidney function
becomes weak, the storage capability will become inhibited and
Jing will leak from the body. Like most organs, the kidneys have an
energetic pathway that runs throughout the body. The energy that
flows through these pathways is known as Qi (pronounced “chee”).
Qi is an essential element of a strong healthy body. A person who
has low or deficient kidney Qi may exhibit symptoms such as a
weak libido, infertility, impotence, fatigue, insomnia, low back pain,
hearing issues and knee pain or weakness. Unlike Jing, Qi can be Acupressure Points
regenerated and replaced over time through the use of specific Kidney 1 (KD 1) Located on the sole of the foot, between the second
foods, exercises and other techniques. and third toes and approximately 1/3 the distance between the base of the
second toe and the heel. This point helps distribute water throughout the
There are specific associations with each organ and its energetic
body.
pathway. The kidneys correspond to the season of winter, the color Kidney 3 (KD 3) Located in the depression between the tip of the medial
black, the emotion of fear, the element of water, the salty taste and malleolus and the Achilles tendon. This point tonifies the kidneys, while
the colder climate. These associations make it easy to understand strengthening the lower back and knees.
what to avoid and what to indulge in so that the meridian remains Urinary Bladder 23 (UB 23) Located bilaterally on the lower back, level
with the second lumbar vertebra, just over the kidney location. This point
balanced. TCM can offer a number of ways to boost or tonify
strengthens the lower back, benefits the ears and tonifies the kidneys.
kidney Qi.
Lifestyle
There is an old Taoist breathing exercise especially good for boosting
Foods kidney Qi.
Salty flavored foods – Each energetic pathway has a flavor attributed to Here’s how it works: Lie on your back with loose fists placed under the back,
just below the floating ribs. Then you should breathe into your lower back
it. The water flavor that governs the kidneys is salty. Therefore foods such
and feel the muscles pushing into your fists. Keep your fists there until you
as miso, seaweed and seafood are all good choices for boosting kidney Qi.
feel the muscles in your lower back expanding and contracting comfortably.
Kidney-shaped foods – This is somewhat obvious. As the shape Once you have control of the muscles, remove your fists and breathe into
corresponds to the organ itself. This includes most beans. Since beans are your kidneys for a few minutes.
kidney shaped, they have long been considered nourishing to the kidneys. Another technique that can help boost kidney Qi is by massaging the ears.
Blue and black foods – The kidneys are associated with the color black The ears resemble the kidneys and are the external organ the kidneys
open up to. By massaging the ears regularly until they become red, you are
in TCM, therefore foods like blueberries, blackberries, mulberries and black
stimulating the connection and boosting the kidney Qi.
beans are all beneficial.
Nuts and seeds – These relate to fertility and growth which is governed Erin Kumpf Acupuncture & Herbs
by the kidney meridian. This includes flax, pumpkin, sunflower, black 212 Palisade Ave #1R
Jersey City, NJ 07306
sesame and walnuts.
201-338-0552
Vegetables – Specifically those that help with water balance or have a [Link]
diuretic effect, such as asparagus, cucumbers and celery.

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