HAIR HEALTH ACCORDING TO TCM (2): Kidney’s role

KIDNEY MERIDIAN

Functions of the kidney meridian encompass the urinary system, reproductive system, part of the endocrine system and autonomous nervous system.

TCM views the kidneys as the root of Qi (vital energy) and source of Jing (essences) for the entire body. Its health determines our youthfulness.

*The Kidney is the source of all primordial Yin and *primordial yang in the body.

* ‘YIN’ refers to tangible substances and bodily fluids such as tissues, blood, hormones, semen, urine etc. It has a cooling and moistening effect whereas its counterpart *‘YANG’ is energy that can move and transform substances. It is warming and drying. Yang is involved in growth, reproduction, fluid or water metabolism and blood circulation. Yang energy regulates the adrenal cortex. It is the force that enables organs to function.

Qi is a vital force that belongs to yang energy whereas Jing is a yin substance. Strong, healthy growing hair needs the sustenance of both blood and essence. Its vitality depends on Qi. Deficiencies of any one of these components leads to premature aging.

There are two types of kidney deficiencies. One is environmental and is due to factors such as poor diet, prolonged stress and overwork . Ingestion or exposure to toxic drugs or chemicals and chemotherapy may also weaken the kidneys.

The other type is an inherited weakness; both involve a deficiency of energy in the kidneys (kidney essence).

WESTERN VIEW

Modern Western medicine has identified the adrenal glands that sit atop each of our kidneys as the source of a number of important chemicals that affect many body processes and its malfunction can lead to hair loss. The important chemicals are adrenaline, sex hormones and Cortisol (hormones induced by stress).

Infection, anemia and illness also cause hair loss.

One of the signs of hypothyroidism is hair loss. Stress and iodine are known to be significant contributors to thyroid dysfunction. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are due to problems related to hormones.

In Chinese Medicine, Adrenal Exhaustion and thyroid problem are recognized as weak Kidney Energy or Kidney Deficiency. When the cold energy of Yin in the kidneys is deficient, it is unable to suppress the hot, active yang energy. The unrestrained yang energy may go wild, producing an excess pattern. This leads to internal heat with symptoms such as tidal fever (fever that come and goes), night sweat and thirst.

In kidney deficiency, the organs are not able to send enough nourishment up to the head resulting in hair loss, insomnia, dizziness, headaches and hearing problems .

Hypothyroidism is classified as Yang Deficiency. Hyperthyroidism is considered a disease pattern of excess due to Yin Deficiency.

Prolonged yin deficiency eventually harms the yang energy leading to symptoms such as aversion to cold, cold extremities, infertility among others.