Infertility in acupuncture and Chinese medicine: Kidney Essence Deficiency

Below are some of the key signs and symptoms that you can expect to see in a diagnosis of Kidney deficiency, the main thrust being deficiency of Kidney Essence:

• Disorders of sexual function - libido and fertility
• Underdeveloped sexual characteristics
• Late puberty, irregular cycles, amenorrhoea
• Severe fatigue and weakness, dizziness, tinnitus
• Low back pain
• Disorders of body temperature regulation (e.g. flushing, night sweats or cold extremities and intolerance of the cold)
• Delayed development in children
• Constitutional weakness
• Early senility
• Age-related cognitive decline
• Disorders of urination (such as oliguria, fluid retention, polyuria, nocturia and dribbling)
• Respiratory disorders with dyspnoea

• Long or Short menstrual cycle, scanty and light coloured flow, no clots
• Scanty fertile mucus
• Frequent sexual dreams, increased libido, dry vagina
• Dizziness or vertigo, tinnitus, poor memory, sleep disturbance, hearing loss, pain and weakness of the low back and knees
• Restless, anxious
• Emaciation, thin physique
• Night sweating, heat in the five centres, malar flush, afternoon fever (or subjective sensation of heat)
• Dry mouth (which is worse at night), thirst, dry and hard stools possibly constipation, dark and scanty urine
• Tongue is red and dry with little or no coat and may also have cracks
• Pulse is thready and rapid

Formulation of an individual Chinese herbal prescription is based on a preparation that will incorporate gynaecological formula such as Yang Jing Zhong Yu Tang with other formulas such as Zuo Gui Wan or Si Wu Tang.

Key signs and symptoms of Kidney Yang-Essence Deficiency in infertility

• Sexual hypofunction such as low libido, dry vagina
• Short menstrual cycle with scanty pale flow and possibly with tissue fragments, or amenorrhea
• Lethargy, low motivation, slow metabolism
• Apathy, lack of will power, gloomy disposition, depressed mood
• Low back pain with period
• Cold signs such as intolerance of cold, cold extremities, cold in the lower abdomen, cold sensation in the lower back, cold knees, weakness of the legs and knees
• Pale and dull complexion
• Fatigue is severe
• Dizziness, tinnitus
• Urination is copious and clear, nocturia
• Poor appetite, loose stools
• Possibly leukorrhea with thin and pale discharge
• Tongue is pale, swollen and moist
• Pulse is deep and weak and may also be slow

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are targeted to Warm and tonify the Kidney Yang and Enrich the Kidney Essence in order to nourish the Chong and Ren Channels, which are major pathways that influence the uterus.

Formulation of an individual Chinese herbal prescription is based on a preparation that will incorporate gynaecological formula such as Yu Lin Zhu Tang with other formulas such as Ba Ji Yin Yang Tan or You Gui Wan.

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© Copyright Pier Tsui-Po 2005-2012 All Rights Reserved,
Dr Pier Tsui-Po Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic
Berwick Specialist Suites,
Level 1, Suite 8, 50 Kangan Drive, Berwick 3806,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Telephone: 9796 2388