Kidney infection. Antibiotics?

[MorningFox]

Hello everyone

It looks like I might have a kidney infection, though test results aren't back yet, and was wondering if I might be able to get your thoughts on what action I should take.

I've always had basically perfect health and have never had an infection of any kind before, I was beggining to think I might be immune to them. I've never taken antibiotics before and have always been against them in principle as I understand what they do to the gut flora, amongst other things. I've turned them down a few times for less serious issues but kidneys are of course a little more alarming.

Do you think I should take antibiotics, which obviously I'll be given, and load up on sauerkraut and acidophilus afterwards to replenish my gut flora, or would you recommend another course of action without antibiotics?

Any input greatly welcomed

Thank you all
MF

[Cognitive Dissident]

I'd be interested to see what other people suggest as alternatives, but if you do end up taking antibiotics, I'd also like to know whether people think that taking a broad spectrum of probiotics (including acidophilus and others with even long names) will fully "cancel the bad" of the antibiotics.

Hope you get better soon.

[raregem]

Cranberry juice could help to some degree.
Probiotics also, if you take the antibiotic.
Painful for you? Sorry for that..

[TargeT]

Do you think I should take antibiotics, which obviously I'll be given, and load up on sauerkraut and acidophilus afterwards to replenish my gut flora, or would you recommend another course of action without antibiotics?

Any input greatly welcomed

Thanks you all
MF

If you're not sure & the problem has been going on for a period of time that makes you think your body isn't capable of handling it itself I would go forward with the anti biotics then do some gut health maintence afterwards... be very careful what you eat, I'd completely avoid sugar for a week or two & eat as much raw foods as possible a long with probiotics & fermented foods (fresher the better)... read the gut health thread here, you should be able to coax your internal flora and fauna back if you have to go the antibiotic route.

[Bill Ryan]

.
I was hit with a brief-but-nasty urinary infection about 10 years ago. Like almost every reader here, I totally understand that antibiotics can (and very often do) wreak havoc with the body's valuable and benign gut flora. Antibiotics just carpet-bomb everything in your system, often indiscriminately.

I took a bunch of alternative remedies (though at the time I didn't have any MMS or colloidal silver), but it just continued to worsen quickly. It was really extremely uncomfortable: I was in some pain, and had a fever. It all blew up within 3-4 days.

I waved the white flag, took a course of antibiotics, it all cleared up, and then I took an intensive course of PRObiotics to replenish my damaged gut flora. I think it was the right thing to have done, and I'd never tell anyone not to do the same. Antibiotics can be life- or health-savers in potentially serious circumstances.

But I'd always suggest trying every alternative remedy first — especially if MMS is at hand, you know how to use it, and you know your body responds well to it (which, do note, some people may not).

Moreover, if one has a colloidal silver generator (which means that large quantities are extremely cheap), you can also drink the silver literally by the cupful in an emergency. I believe (but do not know for sure) that as that's a liquid — just silver particles in distilled water, nothing else — it'd go straight to, and support, the kidneys almost immediately.

[TargeT]

I believe (but do not know for sure) that as that's a liquid — just silver particles in distilled water, nothing else — it'd go straight to, and support, the kidneys almost immediately.

The name of it tells you exactly what it is ;)

A colloid is a solution that has particles ranging between 1 and 1000 nanometers in diameter, yet are still able to remain evenly distributed throughout the solution. These are also known as colloidal dispersions because the substances remain dispersed and do not settle to the bottom of the container.
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Core/Physical_Chemistry/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Solutions_and_Mixtures/Colloid


the small size of the particle and even suspension makes it very "bio available".

[PurpleLama]

http://www.amazon.com/American-Biotech-Labs-Silver-Biotics/dp/B009D0WBWI/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1459872921&sr=1-1&keywords=silver+biotics+32oz

This is supposed to be the good stuff.

[TargeT]

http://www.amazon.com/American-Biotech-Labs-Silver-Biotics/dp/B009D0WBWI/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1459872921&sr=1-1&keywords=silver+biotics+32oz

This is supposed to be the good stuff.

I've got a bottle of that in my bathroom, it was purchased for a UTI.. haha

[meat suit]

I would take loads of colloidal silver ... probably 200-300ml (20-50ppm) per day
I make it myself...

[Ewan]

As someone who needed a kidney transplant recently my first step would be to double or even triple my fluid intake using pure water, every second or third glass containing some natural anti-biotic like oregano, turmeric or garlic. If there's no sign of clearing up within 48 hrs, or it worsens in 24hrs, take the antibiotics and prepare for a lot of remedial work.

[MorningFox]

I don't know much about colloidal silver, can I use this one?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01348UE4G/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1459876334&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=colloidal+silver+supplement&dpPl=1&dpID=519bIAa%2BawL&ref=plSrch

[conk]

Cranberry juice could help to some degree.
Probiotics also, if you take the antibiotic.
Painful for you? Sorry for that..
Good suggestion, but take it a step farther. Juice is fairly weak, so a cranberry extract solution is a better approach. Kidney infection? Is the kidney infected or the urinary tract? If you have a UTI, then by all means take the cranberry extract and a simple sugar called D-Mannose. D-Mannose could rightly be called a miracle remedy for UTIs. It is very effective at forcing the bacteria to loosen it's grip on your tract lining. It works for most people and works very well. And yes, take copious amounts of quality colloidal silver. No, it won't turn you blue.;)

Also, go to curezone.com for good discussions on cures for UTIs or any infection. Antibiotics are far more harmful than the establishment lets on. Antibiotics means anti-life, so....

[bettye198]

Your profile did not mention where you are located but you can google a nutritional response testing practitioner. The main headquarters is in Florida at Dr. Freddie Ulans clinic and the staff there can advise a practitioner close to you. If not, the game will be guessing. NRT practitioners know how to target what is going on and with what remedy in short order. If its an infection, a toxic bacteria or virus, that info is available to you. Then the very advanced supplements given. No guessing, all customized. Can't mess with kidneys.

[meat suit]

I don't know much about colloidal silver, can I use this one?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01348UE4G/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1459876334&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=colloidal+silver+supplement&dpPl=1&dpID=519bIAa%2BawL&ref=plSrch

yes.. but ouch this is expensive.... it costs pennies to make...

[zen deik]

The cranberry flush, oldtimer cure.

[Swan]

Dr Schulze Kidney detox.

Dr Mercola D-Mannose

[Constance]

Hello MorningFox :bearhug:

Before you get your official diagnosis, what are your symptoms?

In the meantime, for bacterial infections...

Colloidal silver - as suggested above by other fine folk taken at intervals of 20mls every half an hour. You might want to bite the bullet and purchase the more expensive option if you don't have access to a colloidal silver generator because time is of the essence here.

Olive leaf extract is a very potent antibacterial - 10mls every half an hour until symptoms subside. Or if you have access to an olive tree, get some leaves, break up the leaves into some hot water, let steep and then drink.

It wont hurt to eat garlic in large doses either and add to this cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage. These will aid with the elimination pathways.
Best to stay away from anything such as dairy, meat, eggs, fish as they are very heavy foods to digest and not ideal when you already have a bacterial infection. And last but not least, you will give your body nothing to work with. It will be like trying to start up a flat battery.

Do a probiotic flush. To do this, you will need to do the following; using either capsules you can break open, or the powder; place a teaspoon of the powder in half- a- glass of water. Every half an hour, take this mixture until you get diarrhea. This will flush out the bad bugs and help replenish the good bugs. What this will also do is put back what is missing from your body that probably helped create the imbalance in the first place.

Stay overly warm. Wear a beanie, lots of clothes and double socks or slippers. Energy-wise, you want your body to concentrate on healing and not on keeping yourself warm.

As soon as your symptoms subside, drink pineapple juice. Stay on raw foods until you know you are given the all-clear. No nuts and seeds either until your body has the chance to heal itself. They are too heavy and Kapha-forming.

Let us know how you are going..

Last of all but not least...
A big bear hug from me :bearhug:

[MorningFox]

Thanks breal, very helpful. My symptom is chronic and unrelenting pain coming from the kidney area but which moves up my back and through my diaphragm... for the past two days. Apart from that I'm ok. I've been passing waste as normal.

[MorningFox]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate all the input.

I've woken up on day three and while I can move around in bed a little easier than the first two mornings (maybe just experience with what hurts) the pain seems to be as bad as ever in there still.

I'm going to the hospital later to get some tests but in the meantime have ordered some d-mannose, colloidal silver and olive leaf extract which arrives tomorrow. Until then I think I'll just stick to distilled water and vegetable juices, with some lemon and coconut oil too. I have some acidophilus tablets I could take too, maybe.

Will be interesting to get a proper diagnoses as I'm only really connecting dots at the moment. I've had a very slight burning sensation when I urinate for almost a month now, which in hindsight I should have treated straight away as it's possible that is what is giving me kidney pain and may not have travelled up that far had I treated it earlier. It's just so mild a sensation that I almost forgot about it and assumed it would go on its own.

[Eram]

Morning Fox,

On top of all the advice given, there's one more thing you can do.

To fight the oxidation process, which is an effect of the infection and is what makes you feel miserable, you should take as much vitamin C as you can tolerate.
If your digestive system can tolerate 4 grams at once, you could do that 4 times a day.
It will (among other things) help to fight the oxidation process, so your body can spend it's energy where it's needed (the infection itself).

All the best!

[Stephanie]

33248

Blessings and health. :flower:

[Constance]

Thanks breal, very helpful. My symptom is chronic and unrelenting pain coming from the kidney area but which moves up my back and through my diaphragm... for the past two days. Apart from that I'm ok. I've been passing waste as normal.

:bearhug:

okay...get all the probiotics you can into you then in the meantime, whilst you wait for the other items to arrive. I know it can be tough when you are in that sort of pain but if you work with your colon, your kidneys will also benefit. Coconut oil may be too taxing on the body - it is also very heavy, unctuous and Kapha-forming when your body is in this state. Try warm vegetable soups instead with as many greens as possible added. Watch as many funny movies as you can (it will help keep your spirits up) and if you can, get some sun-gazing in (inside or outside with your eyes shut).
I'll be thinking of you. Keep us posted.

p.s If you can afford to, I also had the intuition that you need to get acupuncture done. I forgot about it this morning and then was very promptly reminded about it this evening!

[Agape]

Make sure to drink plenty of clean water at all times which is ultimately the only safe agent to clean the kidneys inside out . Cranberry juice is said to help a lot even in tablet form .
I would take the antibiotic - if it was me - and especially if you had none for quite some time it should help . If there's infectious process in the kidney /urinary tract and remains under-treated it tends to stay there , turns chronic , causes much pain n fatigue , people complain of this at all times .

For your own comfort , cut down on salty foods , soups especially and search low oxalate diet (http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/Pages/low-oxalate-diet.aspx). Even if you have no kidney stones identified it may spare you some of the acute pain.

I've once suffered quite sharp kidney attack when staying in ashram in Rishikesh , more than 20 years ago after we went for lentil/bean soup everyday as part of the routine and the kitchen made it 'too tasty' with chillies and salt ,
not used to much spices otherwise after 2 weeks my kidney bloated and just hurt .

I had little money at that moment and no thought of getting myself through doctors but all i knew was I have to give up on that soup immediately and kept drinking clean water instead of all else , even tea . It helped after few days .

Our older generation here from what I've seen , many of them were taught to drink water 'with respect' , in fact they probably drank more tea and coffee and bear or whatever their fav beverages were and it's a habit .
So unless you acquire the good habit you have to make yourself drink water willingly,
2 litres a day , at least , safe spring water , alternatively some mineral water but not all of it.

Get better soon :flower:

[Ammit]

Water with fresh lemon juice 3 times a day usually helps mine as I usually get very bad pains when i contract urine or kidney infections. To be honest, I have never found antibiotics help.
All the best

[conk]

If your kidneys are stressed it might be wise to limit your protein for a while.

[MorningFox]

Thanks again for all the input.

I've been researching colloidal silver and my question is this... How is it any different from antibiotics in terms of killing off your gut flora? As usual there seems to be conflicting information out there.

[TargeT]

Thanks again for all the input.

I've been researching colloidal silver and my question is this... How is it any different from antibiotics in terms of killing off your gut flora? As usual there seems to be conflicting information out there.


Colloidal silver does indeed act as a broad spectrum natural antibiotic, if enough is taken it can cause havoc on your intestinal tract... Colloidal silver simply has no way of knowing a beneficial microbe from an infectious microbe. If the microbe is sensitive to silver, then silver will kill it whether it is a beneficial microbe or an infectious one.

However, taking small daily doses of colloidal silver is not as problematic in this regard as you might think. That's because there are anywhere from three to seven pounds of beneficial microorganisms populating the entirety of the intestinal tract at any point in time. once you exceed an ounce of colloidal silver a day, a fair amount of the mineral silver does indeed goes through the intestinal tract and can kill off larger numbers of the friendly microbes your body depends upon for a number of functions. So experienced colloidal silver users tell us that once they exceed an ounce a day – for example, when taking larger daily dosages to help fight off a cold, flu or other infection – they also supplement with lactobacillus acidophilus, or some other product containing friendly microbes.

A simple way to replenish the body's beneficial micro-flora is to eat some yogurt containing high beneficial bacteria counts each day during the time of increased silver consumption, and for a few days after having consumed the larger amounts of silver.



So why use colloidal silver at all if it's the same?

so far as we know it is impossible for microbes that are silver sensitive to change to silver resistive (aka "antibiotic resistant" super bugs) & that is not the case with antibiotics...


Want to REALLY knock out an infection? mix Colloidial silver and antibiotics, the silver acts as a booster (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/07/03/antibiotics-colloidal-silver.aspx)... I reserve this as my "silver bullet" (haha), only use if needed.

[Pam]

Hello everyone

It looks like I might have a kidney infection, though test results aren't back yet, and was wondering if I might be able to get your thoughts on what action I should take.

I've always had basically perfect health and have never had an infection of any kind before, I was beggining to think I might be immune to them. I've never taken antibiotics before and have always been against them in principle as I understand what they do to the gut flora, amongst other things. I've turned them down a few times for less serious issues but kidneys are of course a little more alarming.

Do you think I should take antibiotics, which obviously I'll be given, and load up on sauerkraut and acidophilus afterwards to replenish my gut flora, or would you recommend another course of action without antibiotics?

Any input greatly welcomed

Thank you all
MF


I have had more than one UTI. What I found that has worked wonders is D-Mannose. It is a simple sugar that has the ability to bind e coli, which is the primary bacteria that causes UTIs preventing them from adhering to the bladder wall.
I have used it to treat a full blown infection along with lots of fresh garlic but it is better to use at the beginning signs of infection. It really does work and is great as a preventative.

[MorningFox]

I went to the hospital, they took a urine test and had a prod around and concluded that it's muscle pain. That's the news I wanted to hear but I'm not completely convinced. It certainly doesn't feel like muscle pain, I didn't do anything to strain it, and I've been having a burning sensation when I urinate for the past three or four weeks.

The pain has eased up now. It's still pretty bad but nowhere near as bad as it was. I'm going to continue taking d-mannose and see how I get on. I've got colloidal silver but not sure I'm going to take it yet.

[Curious77]

Exactly what I was going to recommend -

D-Mannose is a powder -- or tablet -- I use the power.

In winter I sometimes get a UTI -- it's a natural sugar which coats the organs to prevent any infection -- or to chase it away.

You simply take the power in a half glass of water -- 1 level teaspoon of the power. It's practically tasteless.
Works within hours or overnight. You can take it more than once a day.
If you suspect an infection, they recommend you take it once a day for three days.

Also where kidneys are concerned -- drink lots and lots of water.

It's a bit expensive -- $16.00 or a bit more -- but you can store it so after the first use it's reusable.

[Curious77]

The good thing about DMannose is that you'll pretty much know almost right away if it is going to help you.
Read the directions. You can take it more than once a day.
I use NOW's product

[Nan]

I have had numerous UTI's in the past, to the point that I had built up a resistance to all but 1 antibiotic. I didn't have to visit the doctor to be diagnosed anymore. I knew immediately. A simple inexpensive cure is raw apple cider vinegar chased with lots of water. 1/4 c. vinegar mixed with OJ or enough water to get it down at least 3 times the first day and then once daily for a week. You can take silver along with it the first few days. Drink lots of water to flush your system. Cranberry juice is a good preventative, but did not work for me once I had a full blown UTI. The discomfort and urgency to urinate goes away with a matter of an hour or so. There is also an over the counter med that helps with the discomfort until whatever course of action you decide on takes effect.

I also used this remedy on my cat successfully.

[TargeT]

Cranberry juice is a good preventative, but did not work for me once I had a full blown UTI.

Not sure if it was mentioned or not here:

Cranberry "juice" works great as long as it's the kind with no sugar added (most kinds have sugar added); sugar just helps feed the infection and won't assist in clearing it... unsweetened cranberry juice is pretty strong in flavor/tartness.

[Nan]

Cranberry juice is a good preventative, but did not work for me once I had a full blown UTI.

Not sure if it was mentioned or not here:

Cranberry "juice" works great as long as it's the kind with no sugar added (most kinds have sugar added); sugar just helps feed the infection and won't assist in clearing it... unsweetened cranberry juice is pretty strong in flavor/tartness.

Thanks, I should have mentioned that. You are exactly right.

[Daozen]

Chancapiedra is excellent for the kidneys. Works as pills or a tea that you boil. One of the most powerful (and safe) herbs out there. Cranberry juice is good for the kidneys, definitely worth buying. If I had kidney problems, I'd buy sugarless Cranberry juice ASAP, and then order some Chancapiedra.

Get Well Soon.

[Unicorn]

Apart from all the aforementioned, the humble sodium bicarbonate is just GREAT for many kidney problems, even severe illness. Lots of info on the Internet (just an example: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1200287/Daily-dose-baking-soda-stop-kidney-patients-needing-dialysis.html)

[Sierra]

ANY red fruit: cherries, cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, dried goji berries (a superfood). I eat 11/2 cups of blueberries with dried goji berries in yoghurt every morning (found a yoghurt with only five grams sugar per helping) with other stuff...

[Omi]

Kidney malfunction is so painful.
I give my sympathy to everyone who have had to experience this, and to those who are still having to go through the pain at the moment.

I've had chronic kidney malfunction since 4 years ago, it's been better for this past year and half but still reoccurs once in a while. I always carry around a bottle of water and keep hydrating myself. I drink lots of tea during the colder seasons, ideally 2-3 litters of fluid intake is supposed to be good.

I was hospitalized for 2 nights when I had kidney infection for the second time. I didn't have so much of a high fever as the first time and I was getting a higher tolerance for the pain although I remember it was still quite painful. I was so weak and had very little energy. The doctor gave me an infusion of antibiotics 3 times during my stay, along with probiotic natural remedies, cranberry juice and tons of water, and eucalyptus oil soaked in gauze attached to a towel to put directly on my lower back. After I could go home, I was prescribed a 50ml bottle of eucalyptus oil to continue using, it seemed to have helped a lot. The doctor also prescribed antibiotic tablets and probiotic natural remedies, same ones as what I was given at the hospital. Antibiotics were so bad.. but I took the advice from the doctor only because I could sense that he knew what he was talking about, and genuinely wished for my recovery.

I had to be hospitalized not only because of the poor condition of my kidneys. The whole process of the health check took so much time because the doctor somehow had the impression and was suspicious of my pregnancy. He had asked me a few times if I felt there would be any chance of me being pregnant. I said no each time, but had the blood test done twice and was put under ultrasound scan to make sure. When the doctor and nurses were definitely sure that I wasn't pregnant, they waited a little bit more for some reason until they finally gave me the first infusion of antibiotics. By that time many hours have gone by and it was in the evening, they had already told me during the scan that I would have to stay for a few nights. It says a lot about how cautious and careful the doctor and the nurses were about giving me antibiotics, and how damaging it could be to the human body.

There are many ways to treat kidney malfunction, whether that be with antibiotics or probiotics. In my opinion, it may take a bit more time with probiotics and natural remedies that do not have as strong effects compared to antibiocs, but the nature's way is really what humans need and want for good health.

After being hospitalized I did some research on the spiritual cause of kidney malfunction and how it could possibly be prevented from happening. One needs to consider the cause of any problem so that we can learn from them and to not make the same mistakes over again.

I have some knowledge and experience with accupuncture massage, which is from the Chinese medical philosphy of the 12 meridians. And so my first research was to go further with this.

Kidney meridian
http://lieske.com/channels/5e-kidney.htm

12 Meridians
http://lieske.com/channels.htm

Then a yoga instructor friend was doing some research around the same time on causes and cures for one of her students with cancer, and together we found a list of interpretations for physical symptoms on the wild web. Some are more agreeable, some others not as much. Whatever that resonates with me, I take as a referrence.

http://ourspiritualnutrition.com/is05.htm

Wishing everyone good health for the mind, body and soul.

[Unicorn]

According with the traditional chinese medicine, the negative emotion linked to kidney problems is fear. So the energetic medicinal antidote for the kidneys is to find new senses of life that awaken self-confidence in your own abilities and creative powers. Yoga, Chi Kung, and other ways of developing a better understanding of your own body and mind are very useful here.

And back to the physical approach, there is extensive research on polyphenols and kidney protection (see, for instance, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18087814. Maqui berry is one of the best natural sources of polyphenols currently known...

[Omi]

Yoga and qigong are both very good indeed, thank you for pointing this out Unicorn.
I used to train in qigong and reiki for some time, then I was also a yoga instructor.

Raja yoga in particular is good to work on balancing and strengthening the mind and body.
http://shardsofconsciousness.com/user/sites/shardsofconsciousness.com/files/ebooks/RajaYoga_Vivekananda.pdf

How you breathe is a big key to having better understanding of your overall health in your mind and body.
It's good to pratice breathing techniques. There are many, some of them can be difficult and complicated, and it's necessary to have a good instructor/ teacher/ guru, but starting off on your own by simply observing how you breathe for 3-5mins and intentionally making each breath calmer and more relaxed in a meditation is already helpful. If you can go one step further, visualize that you take in positive life-force energy (prana) as you inhale and let out any negative and/ or used up and stagnant energies (apana) as you exhale.

So for the kidneys, the emotion of fear is the causes of malfunction, so let them go and replace them with courage, self-confidence, etc. with conscious breathing. It makes a big difference after some time of continuous work.

Here's the text from the link on kidney meridian.


Kidney: Water-energy yin organ

Known as the 'Minister of Power', the kidney is regarded as the body's most important reservoir of essential energy. The original prenatal energy (yuan chee) which forms the basis of life is stored in the kidney organ-energy system, which is why the kidneys are also known as the 'Root of Life'. In the Chinese view, the kidney organ system also includes the adrenal glands, which consist of the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex. These glands sit like hats on top of the kidneys and secrete a wide range of essential hormones that regulate metabolism, excretion, immunity, sexual potency and fertility. Destruction of the adrenal cortex is fatal. The kidney system also includes what the Chinese call the 'external kidneys': the testicles in men and the ovaries in women. Thus the kidneys control sexual and reproductive functions and provide the body's prime source of sexual vitality, which the Chinese regard as a major indicator of health and immunity.

The kidneys themselves are responsible for filtering waste metabolites from the blood and moving them onwards to the bladder for excretion in urine. Along with the large intestine, the kidneys control the balance of fluids in the body. In addition, they regulate the body's acid-alkaline balance (pH) by selectively filtering out or retaining various minerals.

The kidneys, particularly the adrenal glands, are especially vulnerable to damage from excessive stress and sexual abuse. In the Chinese view, such damage is a major cause of immune deficiency, low vitality, and sexual impotence.

The kidneys control the growth and development of bones and nourish the marrow, which is the body's source of red and white blood cells. Weak kidney energy is therefore a prime cause of anemia and immune deficiency. The Chinese view the spinal cord and the brain as forms of marrow, and therefore poor memory, inability to think clearly, and backache are all regarded as indicators of impaired kidney function and deficient kidney energy.

Kidney vitality is reflected externally by the condition of head and body hair and is associated with the aperture of the ears. Tinnitus (ringing ears) is thus a sign of kidney dysfunction. The kidneys are the seat of courage and willpower, and therefore any impairment in kidney energy results in feelings of fear and paranoia. Intense fear can cause involuntary urination, a phenomenon also known to Western medicine.

Kidney
Paired Organ Bladder
Color light flame blue
Peak Hours 5pm-7pm
Mental Qualities fear, paranoia
Physical Branches ears, bones, urine, head and pubic hair, brain, marrow
Functions stores prenatal essence, filters the blood

Kidney: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

The Marrow produced from the Kidney Jing flows into the brain. The thinking ability is strengthened when Qi and Blood in the cerebral cortex are abundant. With the increase of thinking activity, a circle of light develops within the body's Taiji Pole. The individual's innate intelligence (Yuan Shen) is represented by the intensity of light. The degree of accumulated spiritual energy is reflected by the number of light circles developed within the Taiji Pole. These circles of light can be best observed when first waking. By placing slight pressure of the external eye lids the inner light of the Taiji Pole is projected onto the optic nerves, reflecting an image of the circle of light. If the circle of light is complete, it reflects a strong, healthy condition. If the circle of light is dark within its center (similar to a doughnut), this reflects a Deficient condition. If the circle of light is broken or interrupted, it reflects an extreme Deficiency.

The "memory zone," as well as the "thought center" are also located in the cerebral cortex and will not develop until the Kidney Channels travel through the spine, along with the Liver Channels, to reach the cortex. When the Qi of these two channels is abundant, the memory function is keen.

The Kidneys house the body's will power (Zhi). They control short-term memory and store data. The Kidneys provide the capacity and drive for strength, skill and hard work. A patient with strong Kidneys can work hard and purposefully for long periods of time. Consequently, when the Kidneys are in a state of disharmony, the patient can sometimes be driven to a state of excessive-compulsive working habits (a workaholic). A patient with weak Kidneys will lack strength and endurance.

The Kidney's positive psycho-emotional attributes are wisdom, rationality, clear perception, gentleness, and self-understanding. The negative attributes are fear, loneliness, insecurity, and shock (which attacks the Heart first then descends into the Kidneys to become fear).