To Dos and Not To Dos for Kidney Essence Deficiency for both Yin and Yang
(specific diet for both yin and yang are listed further below)
1. Do not drink caffeine or take any stimulant, herbal or otherwise, including
herbal weight-loss or “energy” formulas.
2. Avoid alcohol
3. Take supplements such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (a hormone
building block that declines with age) and glandular supplements (including
placenta) for short periods only.
4. Take time each day for rest and relaxation
5. Avoid too much external stimulation (parties, drugs, loud music, too much
sex)
6. Do not smoke
7. Eat as much as possible of the follow goods:
a. Black beans and legumes
b. Kelp (seaweed)
c. Parsley
d. Spirulina, chlorella or blue green algae
e. Wheat germ
f. Wheatgrass
g. Mulberry
h. Millet
i. Non-hormonally treated organ means (tough to find in Singapore tho)
j. Oysters, clams lobster, crayfish (pls ensure you have take hep B jabs)
k. Tofu
l. Raspberries (can find at Sun and Moon fruit shop most of the time)
m. Walnuts
n. Wild rice (similar to brown rice)
o. Pork, Venison
p. Chestnuts
q. Black sesame seeds
r. Lycium fruit
s. Adzuki beans
t. Yams
u. Gelatin
v. Corn
General Direction for Kidney Yin Deficiency
Kidney yin deficiency in women is indicative of a deficient state of ovarian hormones,
namely estrogen and progesterone. Many symptoms such as night sweats, hot flushes,
insomnia, restless sleep, dry skin, early menstruation, and decreased menstrual flow
can be attributed to this pattern.
Sometimes the answers are simple. By reducing your stress level and bringing more
joy and relaxation into your life, you can improve your ovarian hormone function.
You can do this by participating in a moderate exercise regimen, taking a class on
meditation, and finding time for quiet contemplation and relaxation. By eating more
nutritiously, you can also nourish your hormone levels. An adequate consumption of
dark green leafy vegetables such as kale (those purple curly leaves you find in western
salads), Swiss chard, spinach, bok choy, cabbage, seaweed, brocooli, arugula, collard
greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, and chicory are helpful in strengthening
your kidney yin. These dark green leafy vegetables contain good sources of folate,
fiber, many vitamins, and minerals that are important in the synthesis of hormones.
As a general rule of thumb, the darker the vegetable, the more nutrients it usually has.
Eating more astringent types of fruits like berries would be helpful as well. These
fruits include raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, gooseberries, boyenberries and
cranberries. Berries are low in calories and filled with vitamin C and flavonoid (a
power type of antioxidant also found in green tea) which help the body to become
healthier and more sensitive to hormone production.
Diet
1. A diet for Kidney Yin deficiency should be rich in the following foods:
- wheat and wheat germ, bulgur, tofu, millet, barley, rice, amaranth.
- Asparagus, black beans, kidney beans, red beans, string beans, mung beans,
peas and chickpeas, bean sprouts, eggplant and beets
- Seaweed, chlorella and spriulina
- Fruit such as apples, bananas, raspberries, blackberries, lemons, mangoes,
mulberries.
- Shellfish like clams, oysters and mussels
- Eggs
- Duck
2. Avoid the use of dry, pungent, acrid spices (pepper, curry, horseradish etc)
3. Increase dietary sources of phytoestrogens like those found in soy and
flaxseed oil.
4. Do exercise moderately but do not overexercise. Too much physical exertion
deplets Yin such as running for marathons.
5. Do not take saunas or do Bikram yoga as excess heat may further deplete the
Yin. On the other hand, hatha yoga or gentle yoga will be beneficiary.
General Direction for Kidney Yang Deficiency
Kidney yang deficient suggests broader endocrine deficiencies that go beyond simple
ovarian weakness and insufficient production of hormones by the thyroid, adrenal and
pituitary glands. This is overall weakness affects how the body functions in the areas
of metabolism, cardiovascular circulation, and finally, reproduction function. An
aversion to cold and difficulties in ovulation are some of the signs of this pattern.
If you fall into this pattern, you might already be finding yourself carving more warm
and cooked foods. Eating a diet that is moderately higher in the animal protein
categories can be helpful in stimulating endocrine functions. This can include fish,
beef, lamb, turkey and chicken. Certain spices can also be helpful: try adding garlic,
onion, ginger, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, cayenne red pepper, turmeric,
cardamom, chives, cloves, cumin and paprika to your everyday diet. Engaging in
regular moderate exercise activities such as walking, short jogs, stretching, yoga, tai
chi chuan, swimming and using exercise machines can all be helpful in stimulating
your blood flow and improving your overall endocrine function. One more tip for
frequent travellers: reducing time zone changes can help stabilize your endocrine
function.
Diet
1. adhere to the dietary suggestions for Kidney Essence deficiency.
2. Eat warm, nourishing foods
3. Consumer one to three servings of hormone free meat or animal products each
day. Vegan diets are not health for Kidney Yang deficient. Include lobster,
lamb and shrimp.
4. Include gingerroot, black beans, adzuki beans, lentils
5. Include grains like oats, spelt, sweet brown rice and quinoa
6. Eat walnuts
7. Fruits should include citrus peel, dates and cherries
8. Eat vegetables that are Yang in nature including parsnips, parsley, mustard
greens, winter squash, cabbage, kale, onions, leeks, chives, garlic and scallions
9. Cook with peppers and warming spices and herbs such as anise, ginger,
cinnamon, cloves, fennel, basil, rosemary, dill, caraway and cumin
10. Stay warm. Take warm baths, warn your feet and warm your lower abdomen
with a heating pad or hot water bottle, especially before ovulation
11. Exercise moderately
12. Supplement with L-arginine
General Direction for Liver Qi Congestion Deficiency
This pattern indicates that you might be experiencing a more abrupt cycling of your
hormones. This could be due to a temporary spike in your hormone levels or a greater
hormonal sensitivity. For example, some women experience more severe
premenstrual symptoms than other women, including moodiness, breast enlargement
and tenderness, constipation, food cravings and insomnia. In most normal situations,
the symptoms are mild and manageable, and they do not affect a woman’s daily
activities. But when this pattern is severe, its is more than discomforting – it might
also be a an indication of abnormal ovarian functioning such as the presence of
ovarian cysts, which put out more estrogen than the body actually needs. This extra
estrogen secretion, occurring over a long period of time, can increase the oddes of
getting uterine and breast fibroids, which in turn can affect fertility potential.
Avoid heaty food. You need to eat a lot of vegetables, making sure they is plenty of
fiber intake. Drinking more water also help to balance this abrupt cycling. Including
such spices as cilantro, bay leavees, anise, basil, coriander and mint in your diet can
help to regulate hormone secretions. Engaging in exercises geared toward focus such
as yoga, tai chi chuan, walking, fencing and dancing can help keep your emotions
grounded.
Diet
1. Do not overeat. Try to avoid heavy, hard-to-digest foods such as peanut
butter, butter, animal fat and too much meat in one single meal. If consume
meat and harder to digest food, chew well.
2. Avoid foods with preservatives and chemicals.
3. Sit down when eating
4. Eat frequent small meals. This keeps the blood sugar levels more stable and
inhibits adrenaline release.
5. Use spices that move the Qi, like peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, turmeric
and thyme.
6. Supplement your diet with zinc, especially premenstrually
7. Chew foods adequately
8. Do not drink alcohol or caffeine. Do not smoke.
9. Get adequate physical exercise
10. Avoid harbouring anger and resentment. Feelings of frustration and internal
emotional tensions need to be resolved as soon as possible as any stagnation
emotion can inhibit the Qi mechanism.
11. Laugh. Watch funny movies or shows to release any stuck internal feelings.
12. Breath deeply and relax.
13. Too much estrogen creates Liver Qi stagnation. To help the liver metabolize
the excess estrogen, reduce over consumption of hormonally treated animal
products.
General Direction for Phlegm-Damp Congestion Deficiency
This pattern indicates symptoms of excessive mucus production such as sputum,
phlegm, vaginal secretion and mucus in the bowel movement. Mucus is frequently
composed of glycoproteins, immunoglobulins, lipids and waste products.
Glycoproteins are blended molecules of sugar and protein. These sugar proteins serve
important functions – not just lubricating mucous membranes but also acting as
hormone or immune protectors to help fight off diseases. Immunoglobulins are a type
of glycoprotein that form the fundamental network for our immune system. Along
with lipids, these components protect our mucous membranes, which expose and
exchange nutrients with the outside environment. Mucous membranes line the entire
digestive tract, the respiratory tract (beginning with the nose) and the vaginal and
urinary tracts.
An excessive sudden, and acute production of mucus suggests infection and
inflammation in the body. Chronic and ongoing excessive mucus secretion can mean
chronic infections and inflammations, as well as allergies, excess weight, or other
metabolic or immune disorders. If you have symptoms of excessive mucus
production such as chronic nasal drainage, throat congestion, coughing, asthma,
indigestion, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, weight gain, frequent urinary
bladder infections, profuse vaginal secretions, or vagiinal odor, you have some degree
of this pattern.
There are practical steps you can take to help decrease symptoms. First and foremost,
address your dietary habits. Avoid alcohol, sweets, and greasy foods and reducing
dairy product intake would be a good way to start decreasing mucus production. An
overall reduction of food intake for those who tend to overeat can be helpful. Engage
in good hygiene and be sure to make moderate exercise a part of your daily life.
Diet
1. Avoid greasy, fried goods
2. Avoid sugar, sweets, bottle fruit juices and refine carbohydrates such as white
bread.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Avoid excessive consumption of diary products including ice-cream
Do not over indulge in soy products which are dampening in nature.
Don’t eat chocolate
Do not consume alcohol
Include drying foods such as Job’s tears, which has a diuretic effect. Other
diuretic goods include alfalfa, parsley, radishes, summer melons, celery,
carrots, cabbage, cranberries, cucumber, lettuce and kelp.
8. If you have damp heat signs, eat a lot of green vegetables containing indole-3carbinol, which helps the Liver rid the body of the negative (damp heat)
effects of excess estrogens.