Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
January 20, 2006
Kidney inflammation, known as "nephritis" in Western medicine, is a common condition; in traditional Chinese medicine, it is referred to as kidney water and falls under the category of edema. Currently, clinical treatments for nephritis can involve the use of relevant medications. However, incorporating dietary therapy into the treatment can enhance its effectiveness. While Western medicine primarily focuses on anti-inflammatory treatments for nephritis, traditional Chinese medicinal diets aim to promote water metabolism and regulate the interrelationships between the kidneys, bladder, and urethra, showcasing a distinct comprehensive management approach. Below are several medicinal diet recipes for treating nephritis, along with a dialectical analysis.
According to the "Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Diseases," "The kidneys govern water and are internally and externally connected to the bladder... opening into the yin, which is the pathway for urine and feces." This indicates that the kidneys, bladder, and urethra are interconnected, and kidney disease can directly cause diseases of the bladder and reproductive organs. The ancient text "Suwen" mentions, "Each organ has one, but the kidneys have two," and also states, "Kidney disease causes pain in the lower abdomen, waist, and spine, soreness in the bones, back pain, and tendon pain after three days; urinary retention, abdominal distension after three days, and pain in both flanks after three days." In summary, when the kidneys are afflicted, symptoms such as cold extremities, bone atrophy, lower back pain, coldness in the waist like ice, constipation, vomiting and diarrhea with a foul smell, clear and cold urine, and incontinence may occur.
In severe cases of kidney inflammation, lower limb edema may appear, and urine tests may reveal a high protein content. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is known as kidney water, while Western medicine refers to it as nephritis. Although ancient Chinese medical texts do not specifically mention "nephritis," they have long recognized the prevention and treatment of this condition, categorizing it under edema. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the root of the disease lies in the kidneys, the tip in the lungs, and its regulation in the spleen. Clinically, in addition to using relevant medications, dietary therapy is often incorporated.
Winter Melon Peel and Broad Bean Soup: 200 grams of old broad beans, 30 grams of winter melon peel, and 100 grams of brown sugar, boiled in water to make 500 milliliters. Consume 100 milliliters on an empty stomach every morning, finishing in 5 days, and can be taken continuously. Suitable for chronic nephritis. Traditional medicine believes that broad beans have the effects of benefiting qi, strengthening the spleen, promoting diuresis, and reducing swelling. They contain nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin C, as well as substances like glucose and oxygen-containing groups in the broad bean coat and seed coat. Modern research indicates that they can reduce renal hypertension without decreasing renal blood flow.
Watermelon Peel Soup: 150 grams of chopped watermelon peel, boiled in water. Take half a cup of the concentrated juice twice a day, can be taken continuously, suitable for uremia, jaundice edema, etc.
Books such as "Chinese Medicinal Formulas" and "Modern Practical Pharmacology" both introduce watermelon as a treatment for nephritis edema and dysuria. Watermelon, with its sweet and slightly cold nature, is a refreshing and thirst-quenching fruit that enters the heart, stomach, lung, and kidney meridians. Known as the king of summer fruits, it is an excellent summer heat-clearing food, with the effects of clearing heat, relieving summer heat, promoting fluid production, and diuresis. It has been referred to as the "natural Baihu Decoction" by predecessors. It contains various phosphates, malic acid, fructose, glucose, sucrose, protein amino acids, carotene pigments, vitamins, etc.
Black Fish and Winter Melon Soup: One live black fish (can use crucian carp) (about 350 grams), 350 grams of winter melon,
Dietary Support for Nephritis Edema
Kidney inflammation, known as "nephritis" in Western medicine, is a common condition; in traditional Chinese medicine, it is referred to as kidney water and falls under the category of edema. Currently, clinical treatments for nephritis can involve the use of relevant medications. However, incorporating dietary therapy into the treatment can enhance its effectiveness. While Western medicine primarily focuses on anti-inflammatory treatments for nephritis, traditional Chinese medicinal diets aim to promote water metabolism and regulate the interrelationships between the kidneys, bladder, and urethra, showcasing a distinct comprehensive management approach. Below are several medicinal diet recipes for treating nephritis, along with a dialectical analysis.
According to the "Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Diseases," "The kidneys govern water and are internally and externally connected to the bladder... opening into the yin, which is the pathway for urine and feces." This indicates that the kidneys, bladder, and urethra are interconnected, and kidney disease can directly cause diseases of the bladder and reproductive organs. The ancient text "Suwen" mentions, "Each organ has one, but the kidneys have two," and also states, "Kidney disease causes pain in the lower abdomen, waist, and spine, soreness in the bones, back pain, and tendon pain after three days; urinary retention, abdominal distension after three days, and pain in both flanks after three days." In summary, when the kidneys are afflicted, symptoms such as cold extremities, bone atrophy, lower back pain, coldness in the waist like ice, constipation, vomiting and diarrhea with a foul smell, clear and cold urine, and incontinence may occur.
In severe cases of kidney inflammation, lower limb edema may appear, and urine tests may reveal a high protein content. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is known as kidney water, while Western medicine refers to it as nephritis. Although ancient Chinese medical texts do not specifically mention "nephritis," they have long recognized the prevention and treatment of this condition, categorizing it under edema. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the root of the disease lies in the kidneys, the tip in the lungs, and its regulation in the spleen. Clinically, in addition to using relevant medications, dietary therapy is often incorporated.
Winter Melon Peel and Broad Bean Soup: 200 grams of old broad beans, 30 grams of winter melon peel, and 100 grams of brown sugar, boiled in water to make 500 milliliters. Consume 100 milliliters on an empty stomach every morning, finishing in 5 days, and can be taken continuously. Suitable for chronic nephritis. Traditional medicine believes that broad beans have the effects of benefiting qi, strengthening the spleen, promoting diuresis, and reducing swelling. They contain nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin C, as well as substances like glucose and oxygen-containing groups in the broad bean coat and seed coat. Modern research indicates that they can reduce renal hypertension without decreasing renal blood flow.
Watermelon Peel Soup: 150 grams of chopped watermelon peel, boiled in water. Take half a cup of the concentrated juice twice a day, can be taken continuously, suitable for uremia, jaundice edema, etc.
Books such as "Chinese Medicinal Formulas" and "Modern Practical Pharmacology" both introduce watermelon as a treatment for nephritis edema and dysuria. Watermelon, with its sweet and slightly cold nature, is a refreshing and thirst-quenching fruit that enters the heart, stomach, lung, and kidney meridians. Known as the king of summer fruits, it is an excellent summer heat-clearing food, with the effects of clearing heat, relieving summer heat, promoting fluid production, and diuresis. It has been referred to as the "natural Baihu Decoction" by predecessors. It contains various phosphates, malic acid, fructose, glucose, sucrose, protein amino acids, carotene pigments, vitamins, etc.
Black Fish and Winter Melon Soup: One live black fish (can use crucian carp) (about 350 grams), 350 grams of winter melon,