Kidneys & Fear

by

Ramsay Z Falcove LMT

Chinese Medicine is based on a very different world view than that of Western Medicine. Since the 17th century, westerners have tended to think in terms of a body/mind split. There is the body and there is the mind; and many a Western philosopher and scientist has tried to puzzle out the relationship between these two. In order to understand Traditional Chinese Medicine one must first and foremost understand that no such dualism between the body and the mind exists. The body is the material basis for the mind which is seen as the natural expression of the functions of the body. There is no  prejudice  in TCM of psychological over bodily functions or symptoms. Mental activity has always been considered to be inseparable bodily diseases. The causative relationship between Psyche and the body in Chinese Medicine is completely bidirectional.

With this concept in mind, I  will discuss the relationship between the Kidney and the emotion of fear. In order to further clarify, In TCM when it talks about the different vital organs, it is actually talking about the various functions of each organ. For example, when it talks of the spleen, it is referring to not just the spleen organ, but the relationship between the small intestine, stomach, and the spleen organ. These serve to breakdown and assimilate food and drink. For the kidney it refers to the relationship between the kidneys, the bladder, and the reproductive organs(gonads, uterus). Making babies is a kidney function in Chinese Medicine.

Fear is a mental activity that is closely related to will. When we are overcome by fear, we lack the will to confront whatever it is we are afraid of. Fear can arise in two ways. We can have life experiences that cause fear to affect the kidneys or we can engage in physical activities which damage the function of the kidneys in our bodies.

From the beginning, we come into this world with a certain amount of kidney essence (life energy). This essence(energy) defines our immunity,constitution, vitality, and character. This essence (life energy) comes from our parents. If it is strong and we are raised with the right nourishment(this includes love & support), our ability to confront and deal with life stresses will be adequate. The essence (DNA) of parents in their twenties is much stronger and healthier than the essence (DNA) of parents in their forties or fifties.

How we respond to fearful situations is based in this essence(life energy). They come in many forms. A 3 year old may be frightened or bitten by a dog, a 7 or 8 year old may be beaten up by his peers. A worst case scenario would be the child , who is molested by an a adult ( related or not).  The confusion and crisis set up by these ordeals cause several things to happen inside our bodies.

As adults, when we are frightened, we  initially “lose it” and then it takes a few moments to “get it back together”. We move on. On a physical level our essence(life energy) and Qi scatters and our well being loses its form, briefly. As adults we can “pull ourselves back  together’ and move on. Our children, though, if they are not properly nurtured & protected( or left to their own devices) will not recover and will remain scattered and lost. They develop holes in their souls and become victims to the bullies of the world.

This initial loss sets up conditions for disease later on ( in time or in life). The kidney function provides life energy for all the other organs in the body. The liver,heart,spleen,and lung  get their basic life energy to create,pump,nourish,and oxygenate  blood. Without the kidney these other activities would be impossible. Generally, there is not an organ in the body , that doesn’t have some involvement with the kidney. This goes for any diseased organ also.  Symptoms of kidney disease include , lumbago, sore & weak knees and lower back, ringing in the ear, deafness, loss of hair, graying of hair, Impotence,seminal emission, defective ejaculation,defective sperm, irregular menstruation, anemia, infertility, edema, abnormal defecation and urination.

If you are aware that you have low kidney function there are many things you can  do about it. An adequate diet and exercise are the best. But with the state of food commerce in  America, even the F.D.A. advises a person to take extra B vitamins. It probably wouldn’t hurt to take other supplements as needed. Chinese Herbs (patent medicines or those prescribed by a qualified Chinese Physician), help tonify the kidney and provide more functional support. Acupuncture can balance and tonify the kidneys as well. People in a chronic state of insufficiency would need 3 or 4 treatments a year to maintain a balance through seasonal changes.

Many times we damage ourselves. If we eat an improper diet, this will have an adverse effect on the kidney function. The kidneys need proper nourishment to replace original essence(life energy). When you were 18 years old, you could get by on Pizza  & Coke. Back then you had plenty of original essence. If you  still maintain the same diet at the age of 35, you are placing yourself in jeopardy. This is the time your essence(life energy ) is starting to wane and you need more nutrients from the outside to protect what's on the inside.

For men, when you were 18,  you may have masturbated every day or every other day. If this was your habit,  you probably did just fine, you had plenty to spare. If you are still doing that when you are forty then you may be getting into trouble. I have heard myths about how a man’s body creates plenty of sperm throughout a his life and that he never has to worry about running out. Anyone who believes that is either in denial or acting just plain foolish. What is old age if it is not graying of hair, loss of hair, deafness, weak knees or impotence. Sperm is the essence that keeps the body young, ejaculation is that same essence leaving the body. To put is simply, our ability to recreate ourselves and others diminishes as we age.

Women are different. Since women don’t ejaculate when they have an orgasm their hormones do not leave their bodies. They can maintain their essence longer. Of course they lose their essence in other ways, but not as directly.

I have just skimmed the surface as to all the ways the kidneys serve us and I hope I haven’t confused you. Traditional Chinese Medicine can help you keep your essence(life energy) toned and functional. There is more to write about but I need to close.

Ramsay Falcove became an acupuncturist through 5 years of apprenticeship with a well known licensed acupuncturist from China. He has been in practice on his own for 2 years and is eligible to take the NCCAOM licensure exam.Look for Ramsay’s next article , Spleen & Worry.  wwwramsayfalcove.com

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