KIDNEY FAILURE (RENAL FAILURE, UREMIA)

Clinical Manifestations
  • Oliguria
  • Polyuria
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Oliguria
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • A feeling of distention in the eyes
  • Tinnitus
  • Feverish sensation in the head
  • Irritability
  • Flushed face as if intoxicated
  • Frequent belching
  • Progressive motor dysfunction occurring over hours to days
  • Development of facial asymmetry
  • Heat and pain of the brain
  • Mental confusion with moments of lucidity
  • Inability to fully recover after loss of consciousness
  • Hiccups
  • Irritable Heat in the Heart
  • Tremors
  • Limited mobility of the limbs
  • Persistent high fever
  • Restlessness
  • Twitching
  • Spasms of the extremities
  • Insomnia
  • Tinnitus
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Deafness
  • Dry throat
  • Stiff neck with convulsions
  • Severe headache
  • Maybe expectoration of thick, yellow sputum
  • T: Red or Deep red, dry or burnt with prickles
  • C: Little or Yellow and dry
  • P: Wiry, Excess and long or Wiry and rapid or Wiry and smooth
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Liver and Kidney Yin
  • Resolve Phlegm
  • Invigorate the Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus or deafness
  • Poor memory
  • Aching, soreness or weakness of the low back
  • Spermatorrhea or
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Aching in the bones
  • Aching in the leg and heel
  • Dry mouth
  • Thirst
  • Night sweats
  • Five sole Heat
  • Malar flush
  • Low grade fever in the afternoon
  • Dry throat, maybe recurrent sore throat
  • Dry stools and/or
  • Constipation
  • Urine short and red
  • Heightened libido
  • If Heart Fire also Flares:
    Insomnia
    Frequent dreams
    Palpitations
  • If Liver Yang also Rises:
    Dizziness
    Blurred vision
  • T: Red
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Subdue Fire
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Oliguria
  • Low back and knee pain
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Fatigue
  • Loose stools
  • Poor appetite
  • Pale face
  • Weak voice
  • Reluctance to speak
  • Sweating with little or no exertion
  • Insomnia
  • Dry skin
  • Dry hair
  • Poor memory
  • Scanty periods
  • Chills
  • Cold limbs
  • Inability to get warm
  • Spontaneous sweating
  • Lassitude
  • T: Pale or Pale, thin and dry
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Weak or Thin and choppy or Slow, deep and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Warm the Kidneys
  • Tonify Qi
  • Dispel Dampness
  • Nourish the Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Chills and fever
  • Achiness
  • Stiff neck and shoulders
  • Anhidrosis
  • Headache
  • Stabbing joint pain
  • Itchy throat
  • Cough
  • Asthma
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Maybe frozen shoulder
  • * The Tai Yang symptoms remain for 2-3 days
  • Thirst with no desire to drink
  • May have vomiting immediately after drinking
  • Difficult urination
  • May have upper body edema
  • T: Normal
  • C: White
  • P: Floating and slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Promote urination
  • Dispel Dampness
  • Expel Wind
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Chills and fever or
  • Fever with no thirst
  • Swollen eyes, limbs abdomen or genitals
  • Achiness
  • Stiff neck and shoulders
  • Anhidrosis
  • Headache
  • Stabbing joint pain
  • Itchy throat
  • Cough
  • Asthma
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Maybe frozen shoulder
  • Dyspnea
  • Vomiting, if the condition is tonified before the Wind is expelled
  • Urinary retention if the conditiong is reduced before the Wind is expelled
  • Shortness of breath
  • Mild or severe gasping
  • Hiccups
  • Fullness in chest
  • Vomiting
  • Heaviness of the body
  • Edema
  • Dysuria
  • Maybe thirst
  • Maybe diarrhea
  • Maybe scanty urine
  • Maybe lower abdominal fullness
  • T: Normal
  • C: Greasy and white
  • P: Floating and slippery or tight
Treatment Principle
  • Relieve the Exterior
  • Expel Cold
  • Disperse the Lungs
  • Stop asthma
  • Expel water or Phlegm
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Curls up a lot
  • Doesn't like to talk
  • Tired (disoriented)
  • No spirit
  • Dull Shen
  • Cold extremities
  • Diarrhea or loose stools or undigested food
  • Clear, frequent urine
  • Maybe nausea (wants to vomit but can't)
  • No thirst
  • Likes warm drinks
  • Severe edema in chest
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Sinking and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Restore Yang
  • Reverse inward energy
  • Expel Cold
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Anorexia
  • Abdominal distention and discomfort
  • Suffocating sensation in the chest
  • Epigastric mass
  • Maybe abdominal pain on palpation
  • Yang jaundice (sclera and skin are bright yellow)
  • Dislike of oily foods
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Lassitude
  • Scanty, dark urine
  • Maybe thirst or thirst with no desire to drink
  • Diarrhea with foul smell or
  • Constipation
  • Fever
  • Sweet sticky taste or bitter taste in mouth
  • T: Pink
  • C: Thick, yellow and greasy (maybe sticky)
  • P: Soft and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Benefit Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Facial complexion pale and sallow
  • Both cheeks slightly red
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Dry, rough eyes
  • Blurred vision
  • Spots before the eyes
  • Numbness of limbs
  • Flaccid paralysis (Wei syndrome),
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Tinnitus
  • Deafness
  • Forgetfulness
  • Low back and knees sore, weak and painful
  • Throat dry and painful
  • Five-sole Heat
  • Low-grade fever
  • Night sweats
  • Dry skin
  • Dry throat
  • Thirst with a desire for cold drinks
  • An odor or urine in the mouth
  • A bitter taste in the mouth
  • Irritability
  • Agitation
  • Insomnia
  • Profuse dreams
  • Stools difficult to pass
  • Constipation
  • Dry, bound stools
  • Scanty, reddish urine
  • Men:
    Spermatorrhea
  • Women:
    Irregular menses or
    Scanty menses or
    Amenorrhea
    Vaginal discharge
  • T: Red
  • C: None
  • P: Thready and rapid or Thready, wiry and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish and Reinforce the Liver and Kidneys
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A lusterless facial complexion
  • Fatigue
  • A generalized lack of strength
  • Shortness of breath on exertion
  • Low back and knee soreness and limpness
  • Torpid intake
  • A dry and/or sticky mouth
  • Little or no desire to drink water
  • The taste of urine in the mouth
  • Dry, bound stools
  • Scanty, yellow urine during the day
  • Profuse, clear urine at night
  • Five-sole Heat
  • T: Pale with teethmarks
  • C: Thin and white or Little or None
  • P: Thready
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify the Spleen
  • Augment Qi
  • Supplement the Kidneys
  • Nourish Yin
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Oliguria
  • Fever
  • Thirst
  • Dry mouth
  • Low back pain
  • In Damp-Heat Crystallizes in Urinary Bladder there may also be:
    Colicky pain in the low back, possibly radiating to the groin
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow
  • P: Slippery and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Eliminate Dampness by diuresis
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Oliguria
  • High fever
  • Confusion of mind
  • Delirium (mania)
  • Dark yellow urine
  • Excessive skin rashes all over body
  • T: Deep red, dry or Purple red
    C: None
    P: Rapid or Thready and rapid or Thready and feeble
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Nourish Yin
  • Promote water metabolism
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Frequent urination
  • Copious amounts of clear urine
  • Incontinence of urine
  • Enuresis
  • Either a tendency towards being too hot of too cold
  • Shortness of breath
  • Asthma
  • Cold limbs
  • Weak back and knees
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Deep, weak possibly tight
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify Kidney Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Oliguria
  • Polyuria
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish the Kidneys
  • Nourish Blood
  • Strengthen the Spleen and Stomach
  • Nourish the Heart
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Sallow complexion
  • Anorexia (maybe with vomiting)
  • Four limbs feel tired and heavy
  • Abdominal and epigastric distention after eating
  • Maybe acid regurgitation or vomiting
  • Loose stools or watery stools containing undigested food
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the epigastrium with cold sensations (pain is relieved by warmth)
  • Cold limbs
  • Feeling chilled
  • Mental fatigue
  • Maybe scanty urine with edema
  • Maybe clear, watery vaginal discharge
  • T: Pale
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Deep and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Warm the Center
  • Dispel Cold
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Body cold
  • Limbs icy
  • Complexion white and shiny
  • Lassitude
  • Lack of strength
  • Torpid intake
  • Low back, knees and abdomen feel cold and painful
  • Lower abdomen feels cold and painful
  • Loose stools containing undigested food
  • “Cock-crow” diarrhea (occurs at about 5 am)
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Edema of face and limbs
  • Edema of the body
  • A sticky sensation in the mouth
  • A bland taste in the mouth
  • Frequent, clear nighttime urination or
  • Scanty urination
  • Dysuria
  • Severe:
    Abdominal ascites
  • T: Pale, tender, moist and swollen maybe with teethmarks
  • C: Thin and white or White and greasy
  • P: Deep and weak or Deep, thready, weak and maybe slow
Treatment Principle
  • Warm and Reinforce the Spleen and Kidneys
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Frequent urination
  • Frequent nocturia
  • Copious amounts of clear urine
  • A lusterless complexion
  • Torpid intake
  • Abdominal distention
  • A tendency to loose stools
  • A sticky feeling in the mouth
  • A bland taste in the mouth
  • Incontinence of urine
  • Enuresis
  • Either a tendency towards being too hot of too cold
  • Shortness of breath
  • No thirst or thirst with no desire to drink
  • Asthma
  • Cold limbs
  • Low back soreness and pain
  • Weak back and knees
  • T: Pale with teethmarks
  • C: White
  • P: Deep, weak and possibly tight
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen the Spleen
  • Tonify the Kidneys
Herb Formulas
Points
  • REN-4, SP-6, SP-9, UB-23
    For a stronger effect: + KI-7
    For severe edema and cold low back pain: + moxa DU-4
    For severe edema and cold low back pain and hematuria: + moxa DU-4, Xuechou
    For Heart palpitations and rapid panting: + LU-7, PC-6, REN-23
    For severe edema in the limbs: + ST-28
    For severe edema in the abdomen: + REN-9
Clinical Manifestations
  • Edema below the waist
  • Fatigue
  • Cold limbs
  • Low back and knee soreness and pain
  • Scanty urination
  • A dark complexion
  • Abdominal distention
  • A tendency to loose stools
  • A sticky feeling in the mouth
  • A bland taste in the mouth
  • Either a tendency towards being too hot of too cold
  • Shortness of breath
  • Purple lips and nails
  • No thirst or thirst with no desire to drink
  • Asthma
  • Irregular menstruation
  • T: Purple and thick with possible purple static maculae or spots
  • C: Thin, white and slimy
  • P: Deep and choppy
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen the Spleen
  • Tonify the Kidneys
  • Promote urination
  • Invigorate the Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus or deafness
  • Poor memory
  • Aching, soreness or weakness of the low back
  • Spermatorrhea or
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Aching in the bones
  • Aching in the leg and heel
  • Dry mouth
  • Thirst
  • Night sweats
  • Five sole Heat
  • Malar flush
  • Low grade fever in the afternoon
  • Dry throat, maybe recurrent sore throat
  • Dry stools and/or
  • Constipation
  • Urine short and red
  • Heightened libido
  • If Heart Fire also Flares:
    Insomnia
    Frequent dreams
    Palpitations
  • If Liver Yang also Rises:
    Dizziness
    Blurred vision
  • T: Red
  • C: Little or None
  • P: Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Yin
  • Subdue Fire
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Lumbago: low back feels cold, weak and aching
  • Feeling chilled
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Cold limbs
  • General debility
  • Pale face
  • Urinary frequency with abundant, clear urine or
  • Oliguria with edema
  • Maybe nocturia
  • Lassitude
  • Withdrawn, subdued behavior
  • Knees feel cold and aching
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Impotence
  • Spermatorrhea
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Low libido
  • Female infertility ("uterus cold and infertile")
  • Maybe anorexia
  • Maybe loose stools
  • Maybe chronic diarrhea or "cock crow" diarrhea
  • T: Pale and swollen
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Deep and thready - maybe slow
Treatment Principle
  • Warm and Reinforce Kidney Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Extreme lack of strength
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Cold limbs
  • Five-sole Heat
  • A dry mouth with a desire to drink
  • Does not drink a lot
  • A taste of urine in the mouth
  • Low back and knee soreness and pain
  • Anorexia
  • A tendency to loose stools with reddish yellow urine or
  • Dry, bound stools with frequent, clear urine
  • T: Pale and fat with teethmarks
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Deep and thready or Deep and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen Yin and Yang
Herb Formulas
Points
  • KI-3, KI-7, SP-6, UB-23
    For marked Kidney Yang Deficiency: + moxa or moxa needle DU-4
    For a dry mouth and parched throat or an enduring sore throat with a low-grade fever: + KI-6, HT-6
    For anorexia and abdominal fullness, especially after eating: + PC-6, SP-4
    For constipation: + SJ-6
Clinical Manifestations
  • Oliguria or
  • Polyuria
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Hypochondriac pain
  • Chills
  • Low-grade fever
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Intolerance of Cold
  • Pain in the armpits
  • Unilateral pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium
  • Stiffness and spasms beside and below the umbilicus
  • Pain in the waist and legs
  • T: Normal
  • C: Greasy and white
  • P: Deep, tight and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Warm the Interior
  • Disperse Cold
  • Alleviate pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Limbs icy
  • Complexion white and shiny or
  • A dark and stagnant complexion
  • Low back, knees are sore and weak
  • Legs and feet are aching and painful
  • Superficial edema which is more marked below the waist
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Anorexia
  • Scanty urination or
  • Anuria
  • Maybe clear, long and urination
  • T: Pale, tender, moist and swollen maybe with teethmarks
  • C: Thin and white or White and greasy
  • P: Deep and weak or Deep, thready, weak and maybe slow
Treatment Principle
  • Warm and Reinforce the Spleen and Kidneys
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Transform Stasis
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A lusterless face
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Anorexia
  • A slimy mouth with a sweet taste
  • Inhibited defecation
  • Heaviness of the limbs
  • T: Thick and pale with teethmarks
  • C: White
  • P: Deep and thready
Treatment Principle
  • Warm Yang
  • Assist transportation
  • Harmonize the Stomach
  • Expel Turbid Dampness
Herb Formulas
  • Niao Du Er Hao Fang
  • For more pronounced edema, especially in the lower extremities with coughing, panting, palpitations, inability to lie down and less nausea and vomiting: Dao Shui Fu Ling Tang modified
Points
  • PC-6, REN-13, SP-4, SP-9
    For constipation: + SJ-6
  • For more pronounced edema, especially in the lower extremities with coughing, panting, palpitations, inability to lie down and less nausea and vomiting: PC-6, REN-9, REN-17, SP-4, SP-9
Clinical Manifestations
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • A bitter taste with a sticky feeling in the mouth
  • An odor of urine in the mouth
  • Anorexia
  • Abdominal distention
  • Dry, bound stools or
  • Loose stools and diarrhea
  • Yellow urine
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of strength
  • T: Red
  • C: Slimy and white or Slimy and yellow
  • P: Wiry and slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Transform Dampness
  • Harmonize the Middle Jiao
  • Stop vomiting
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Urinary blockage
  • Trembling fingers
  • Headache
  • Red, swollen gums
  • Oral ulcers
  • Itching
  • Severe cases: syncope
  • Tremors
  • Agitation
  • Worry
  • Restlessness
  • T: Crimson and curled upward or Crimson and trembling
  • C: Scorched yellow
  • P: Thready, weak and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Subdue Yang
  • Extinguish Wind
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Transform Stasis
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Anorexia
  • Edema
  • Abdominal distention
  • Chest and hypochondriac distention
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Vertigo
  • Thirst with no desire to drink
  • Maybe no thirst
  • Palpitations
  • Shortness of Breath
  • T: Normal
  • C: Thick and slippery
  • P: Slippery, full and maybe wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Warm and Dissolve Tan Yin
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Cough
  • Asthma
  • Shortness of breath which is worse when lying down
  • Abdominal distention with water retention
  • Edema in the lower extremities
  • Facial edema
  • T: White bubbles
  • C: Thick, greasy and white
  • P: Thready
Treatment Principle
  • Regulate the Lungs
  • Purge Yin
Herb Formulas
Points