Chinese and Western medicine have different views on the role of the kidney

It is difficult to express in a few words how important the role of the kidneys is. From the perspective of Western medicine, the kidneys can help produce urine, excrete metabolic products, maintain fluid balance and acid-base balance in the body, etc. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the kidneys are the foundation of one's innate nature, embodying the original yin and yang.

1. Western medicine perspective

The kidneys have three basic functions:

(1) Produce urine and excrete metabolic products. The body produces a variety of wastes during the metabolism process, most of which are excreted from the body with urine through glomerular blood filtration and tubular secretion.

(2) Maintain fluid balance and acid-base balance in the body. The kidneys excrete excess water from the body, regulate acid-base balance and maintain the stability of the internal environment through glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption and secretion.

(3) Endocrine function

① Secrete renin, prostaglandins, and kinins. Through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the kinin-bradykinin-prostaglandin system

System to regulate blood pressure.

② Erythropoietin, stimulates bone marrow hematopoiesis.

③ Active VitD3. Regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism.

④ The degradation site of many endocrine hormones, such as insulin, gastrointestinal hormones, etc. When renal function is impaired, the T1/2 of these hormones is significantly prolonged.

This causes metabolic disorders.

⑤ Target organs of extrarenal hormones. Such as parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, etc. Can affect and regulate kidney function.

2. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine's understanding of the kidney is more extensive than the "kidney" in modern medical anatomy. It believes that the kidney is an extremely important organ in the human body with multiple functions.

;It contains Yuan Yin and Yuan Yang (another name for the Yin and Yang of the kidneys), is the home of water and fire, is the innate foundation, and the root of life. In traditional Chinese medicine, the kidneys, bladder, bone marrow, brain, hair, ears, and two yin organs form a system.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the kidney is the foundation of the innate constitution, embodying the original yin and yang: the innate foundation refers to the foundation of a person's body, "When a person is born, the essence is formed first", and the kidney stores the essence, so the kidney is the foundation of the innate constitution. Yuanyin refers to yin essence, and Yuanyang refers to yuanqi. Yuanyin and Yuanyang play a decisive role in human life activities - from conception to development and growth.

The kidneys store essence and are responsible for growth and development: The kidneys store essence and use qi, which is related to human growth and development. The strength of kidney qi is directly related to a person's growth and development, and even the entire process of aging, and is also related to a person's reproductive ability.