The "Three Character Classic" for nourishing the kidneys

Kidneys are the innate foundation of a person. If you want to prolong your life, nourishing your kidneys is the first priority. The "Inner Canon of Medicine" says that after the age of 40, kidney energy is halved. This shows that people over 40 need to learn more about kidney care. The secret to nourishing the kidneys can be summarized into the following "three-character classic".

Take good care of your feet

The kidney meridian starts at the soles of the feet, and the feet are easily invaded by cold air, so special attention should be paid to keeping the feet warm. It is best to wear socks that cover your ankles and avoid walking barefoot in wet places for a long time. When sleeping, don't leave your feet exposed. Make sure the quilt covers your feet and goes above your shoulders. Don't expose your feet directly to the air conditioner or electric fan. There are many acupoints on the soles of the feet. Massaging the Yongquan point on the soles of the feet before going to bed can nourish the kidneys and strengthen the essence.

Smooth bowel movement

Inconvenient bowel movements, accumulation of stool, and upward movement of foul air not only make people irritable, chest tightness and shortness of breath, but also damage the kidneys, leading to low back pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Therefore, keeping bowel movements smooth is also a way to nourish the kidneys. To achieve smooth bowel movements, you need to adjust your diet according to your actual situation and do more exercise. When you have difficulty defecating, you can press the back of your hands against the kidney area and massage them vigorously. This can stimulate kidney Qi and speed up defecation.

Drink enough water

Water is the source of life, and drinking water regularly is an important way to nourish your kidneys. Drinking too little water may cause the retention of toxins and increase the burden on the kidneys, so you should develop the habit of drinking more water. You should drink at least 8 large cups of boiled water every day (note: do not replace it with beverages) to dilute urine and prevent kidney diseases such as stones.

Sleep well

Adequate sleep plays an important role in the biochemistry of qi and blood, and the maintenance of kidney essence. Sleep can restore essence, nourish qi, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and strengthen bones and tendons. Clinically, it has been found that many patients with renal failure have experienced long-term staying up late, excessive fatigue, and lack of sleep. Therefore, it is necessary to develop good work and rest habits, go to bed early and get up early, and avoid indulgence, so as to benefit the maintenance of kidney essence.

Don't hold your urine

When the urine stored in the bladder reaches a certain level, it will stimulate the nerves to produce a urination reflex. At this time, you must go to the toilet in time. Otherwise, holding urine for too long will lead to increased bladder pressure, bladder pressure reflex disorder and decreased detrusor function, or affect the ureter-bladder anti-reflux mechanism, causing urine reflux, which can easily induce pyelonephritis and even cause renal damage.

Swallowing saliva

The ancient Chinese health-preserving methods attached great importance to the value of saliva, believing that swallowing saliva can "moisturize the five senses, brighten the skin, strengthen teeth, strengthen muscles and bones, promote blood circulation, and prolong life." The saliva in the mouth is divided into two types: the thin saliva is called salivarius, which is controlled by the spleen; the thick saliva is called spit, which is controlled by the kidneys. Human saliva contains a variety of beneficial substances, which have the functions of aiding digestion, neutralizing stomach acid, antibacterial, and enhancing immunity. You can stimulate saliva production by licking your upper palate with the tip of your tongue or holding a date pit in your mouth.

Waist massage

There are many acupoints on the waist, such as Mingmen, Shenshu, Yaoyangguan, Yaoyan, etc. You can often massage or tap the lumbar sacral area, rub both sides of the waist, and move the waist and buttocks, once in the morning and once in the evening every day, which can warm the kidney yang, benefit the waist and spine, and dredge the meridians. When taking a walk, you can relieve back pain by massaging the kidney area with the back of your hands.

Use medication with caution

All medicines are poisonous to some extent. The main drugs with nephrotoxicity include aminoglycosides, vancomycin, contrast agents, heavy metals, cisplatin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cephalosporins, etc. Some Chinese herbal medicines such as Aristolochia mandshurica and Aristolochia can also cause kidney damage. Be vigilant when using drugs to prevent abuse or excessive use of different types of drugs. For drugs with potential nephrotoxicity, strictly follow the indications, methods, dosages, and courses of treatment.

Eat more black

According to traditional Chinese medicine, black foods can replenish kidney essence, strengthen the body, prevent diseases, and delay aging. Modern medical research believes that the color of black food mainly comes from anthocyanins, a plant pigment that helps reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. In addition, black foods contain higher levels of antioxidants than light-colored foods. You can eat more black sesame, black fungus, black rice, blackberry, black beans, and drink more black tea to replenish kidney qi and delay aging. Also be careful when eating black foods, and never consume them in excess, so as not to increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and affect your health.