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Does Kidney Yang Deficiency Mean Kidney Disease?

By , About.com Guide

Updated October 25, 2006

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Question: Does Kidney Yang Deficiency Mean Kidney Disease?
I have been diagnosed with kidney yang deficiency. What are the causes of this? I am being treated with acupuncture, herbs, and tuina. Should I consult a doctor of western medicine to get my kidneys checked out? - Vickie
Answer: In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), some of the symptoms of kidney yang deficiency are frequent urination, difficulty urinating, and edema, symptoms that require medical attention.

Your family doctor should be informed of any symptoms you're experiencing. If you haven't consulted him or her, that should be the first step, because alternative therapies should not replace conventional care.

Not everyone with kidney yang deficiency experiences these symptoms. In TCM, the kidneys have a broader role than the kidneys in Western physiology.

They are also involved in adrenal function, which is why some of the symptoms of kidney yang deficiency are cold limbs, lack of energy, and sexual dysfunction. Temperature, energy, and sexual function are regulated in part by the adrenal hormones.

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