Strengthening the body's foundation and delaying aging: Deer antler and tortoise shell soup and Eucommia and Morinda officinalis soup for obesity caused by kidney deficiency.
The *Suwen* (Plain Questions) chapter "On the Circulation of Vital Energy" states: "Excessive consumption of sweet foods leads to shortness of breath, a dark complexion, and disharmony of kidney energy." This means that eating too many sweet foods, besides causing weight gain, can also lead to kidney deficiency in nourishing the heart, resulting in heart energy deficiency. Symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. It can also cause a dull, dry complexion, and even the accumulation of melanin on the face. The melanin production increases, eventually turning the face completely black. This clearly indicates a health problem, all due to kidney energy deficiency, insufficiency, and disharmony.
The saying "the kidney is the foundation of innate essence" means that the formation of the embryo, the growth and development of the human body, the functions of the five internal organs, the smooth flow of qi and blood, the limbs, the five sense organs, the nine orifices, the skin, muscles, bones, and whether one is obese or thin, are all influenced by the innate kidney qi. The *Suwen* (Plain Questions) states, "The kidney governs water, receiving and storing the essence of the five internal organs." This means that the kidney has the function of regulating the body's fluid metabolism. Furthermore, the essence of the five internal organs is stored in the kidney. Therefore, when kidney qi is abundant, the five internal organs will be healthy and functioning normally. Conversely, insufficient kidney qi indicates inadequate function of the five internal organs, impaired physiological function, and an inability to produce physiological products such as qi, blood, and body fluids. Instead, pathological products such as phlegm, dampness, visceral fat, excess flesh, and grease are formed.
Kidney Qi is the condensation point of the body's primordial Qi, primordial Yin, primordial Yang, true Qi, and essence. It plays a role in warming and nourishing the five internal organs and six bowels. Generally speaking, kidney Qi deficiency can be caused by congenital insufficiency, acquired imbalance, improper work and rest, external pathogenic factors, internal emotional disturbances, phlegm, blood stasis, excessive sexual activity, and other factors.
Generally speaking, fat has a insulating effect. Obese people are more resistant to cold and less bothered by it. However, the kidneys govern the primordial yang. When yang energy is insufficient, one will experience cold limbs and a feeling of coldness. This is known as "yang deficiency leading to internal cold." In addition, people with kidney deficiency may also exhibit signs of aging, such as hair loss, gray hair, loose or missing teeth, decreased vision, frequent and urgent urination, frequent urination at night, pale complexion, fatigue, age spots, palpitations, insomnia, male infertility, and female amenorrhea. As people age, their vital energy gradually diminishes. Therefore, kidney deficiency-related obesity is more common in people who are physically weak or middle-aged and elderly.
In addition to obesity, patients with kidney deficiency-type obesity may exhibit symptoms of kidney deficiency, including other signs. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the kidneys store essence, govern water metabolism, regulate the intake of qi, manifest in the bones, produce marrow, radiate health through the hair, and are associated with the ears and anus. The associated emotion is fear, and the associated fluid is saliva, which is black in color. Therefore, those with kidney deficiency may experience a range of symptoms, such as: low libido, infertility, fluid metabolism disorders, edema, asthma, generalized bone pain, weakness in the lower back and knees, depletion of brain marrow, intellectual impairment or decline, and slowed thinking.
Since the kidneys are associated with the color black, people with kidney deficiency gradually develop a sallow, withered complexion, which is quite unsightly. While kidney deficiency-related obesity may present with obesity, weight loss should not be the primary focus. This is because the body is in a weakened and aging stage. Using weight-loss drugs indiscriminately can worsen health and accelerate the aging process. The focus should be on tonifying kidney qi, strengthening the body, and improving overall function, supplemented by fat-reducing and weight-loss methods. This combined approach of tonifying and purging is crucial. Once kidney qi is abundant, it can naturally nourish the internal organs, eliminating phlegm, dampness, and viscous substances.
Kidney deficiency type obesity and corresponding decoction formula:
(1) Deer Antler, Tortoise Shell, and Chestnut Soup. Serves: 4. Ingredients: 3 qian of deer antler, 2 liang of tortoise shell, 6 liang of chestnuts, 1 skinless black-boned chicken, 1 piece of dried tangerine peel. Preparation: Simmer in 15 bowls of water for 3 hours. Efficacy: Tonifies the kidneys and strengthens yang, invigorates essence and bones.
Deer antler is the unossified young antler of the male sika deer, a member of the deer family. It is considered one of the "Three Great Chinese Medicines," along with ginseng and cordyceps. It is particularly effective in tonifying the kidneys, generating heat, and boosting yang. Deer antler is sweet and salty in taste, and warm in nature. It has the effects of tonifying the kidney meridians, boosting kidney yang, generating essence, and strengthening muscles and bones. Clinically, it is often used for kidney deficiency diseases such as insufficient kidney yang, impotence, cold limbs, lower back and knee weakness, frequent urination, spermatorrhea, anemia, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea. However, people with excessive heat or yin deficiency with internal heat should not consume deer antler. To mitigate the drying properties of deer antler, it can be taken with yin-nourishing herbs (such as tortoise shell).
Tortoise shell has a salty and sweet taste, and is neutral in nature. It has the effects of nourishing yin and suppressing yang, tonifying the kidneys and strengthening bones, consolidating the menstrual flow and stopping uterine bleeding, and nourishing blood and benefiting the heart. It is often used for kidney yin deficiency, bone steaming fever, yin deficiency due to febrile diseases, yin deficiency causing wind, weakness in the waist and legs, and metrorrhagia.
Chestnuts are sweet and warm in nature. They have the effects of nourishing the stomach and spleen, tonifying the kidneys and strengthening muscles, promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding, delaying aging, replenishing qi and blood, and dispersing blood stasis and reducing swelling. Their kidney-tonifying effect is particularly strong. Roasted chestnuts have a wonderfully fragrant aroma that makes you want to eat them immediately. In addition, chestnuts can also be used to make soup, making the broth sweeter and more delicious.
(2) Deer Antler Glue, Eucommia, and Morinda officinalis Soup. Serves: 2. Ingredients: 1 piece of deer antler glue, 5 qian of Eucommia ulmoides, 5 qian of Morinda officinalis, 1 old pigeon, 8 red dates. Preparation: Double-boil in 4 bowls of water for 2 hours. Efficacy: Warms and nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens muscles and bones.
Deer antler glue is a gelatinous substance made by simmering and concentrating deer antler. It has a sweet taste and neutral properties. It is believed to tonify kidney yang, promote sperm production and blood circulation, and promote tissue regeneration and detoxification. It is very inexpensive and has a mild medicinal effect, without any harsh or heating side effects.
Eucommia ulmoides has a sweet taste and warm properties. It tonifies the liver and kidneys, strengthens tendons and bones, and calms the fetus. Clinically, it is often used for liver and kidney deficiency, lower back and knee pain and weakness, dizziness, impotence, frequent urination, lower abdominal coldness, weakness in pregnant women, and threatened miscarriage. Studies have shown that Eucommia ulmoides has a blood pressure-lowering effect. It can also be used for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Eucommia ulmoides is a commonly used kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal medicine.
Morinda officinalis has a sweet and pungent taste, and is warm in nature. It has the effects of tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang, dispelling wind and dampness. Clinically, it is often used for kidney deficiency and impotence, seminal emission, premature ejaculation, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, rheumatic bone pain, infertility due to cold uterus, irregular menstruation, and lower abdominal pain. Modern research indicates that Morinda officinalis has effects such as enhancing immunity, diuresis, lowering blood pressure, and acting as a corticosteroid-like substance. Because Eucommia ulmoides and Morinda officinalis have similar properties in terms of efficacy, the two herbs are often used together.