4 Most Overlooked Signs of Kidney Deficiency: 2 Simple Tips to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

The kidney is the body’s innate root. If we picture the human body as a tall tree, the kidney is its foundation: only when the root absorbs and passes along enough nourishment can the tree grow full and lush. Kidney deficiency can cause a wide range of health problems. But in practice, many people overestimate how common kidney deficiency is, and often mistake symptoms like excessive sweating, lower back pain, frequent urination, and low libido for signs of it. As soon as these symptoms pop up, people often blindly reach for kidney-tonifying supplements on their own, which can delay proper treatment. By contrast, many conditions tied to kidney deficiency go completely unnoticed. He Qinghu, vice president of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, and Lu Fuhua, head of the nephrology department at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, have outlined the 4 most commonly overlooked types of kidney deficiency, along with detailed explanations and guidance.

Often Overlooked 1: Women need to care for their kidney health too

Many people write kidney deficiency off as a “men’s issue,” but that’s not true. Women are just as likely to develop kidney deficiency due to physiological and pathological factors, and the rate of kidney deficiency in women is just as high as it is in men.

In today’s fast-paced world, many women carry chronic stress and push themselves to the limit at work and home, draining their energy and leaving them vulnerable to kidney deficiency. The kidney is the root of both beauty and overall health. When a woman has kidney deficiency, it doesn’t just take a toll on her appearance — it can cause premature hair loss, dull skin, and more. It also impacts her physical and emotional well-being, leading to low mood, memory lapses, and other issues. Many common gynecological conditions are also tied to kidney fatigue and deficiency, including irregular periods, thin clear vaginal discharge, habitual miscarriage, painful periods, missed periods, low libido, breast hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, and menopause symptoms. This is why women need to prioritize nourishing and protecting their kidney health just as much as men do.

Often Overlooked 2: Shortness of breath can signal kidney deficiency

When we think of breathing, most of us only consider the lungs — but that’s not the full picture. Shortness of breath and panting can also stem from kidney qi deficiency, which weakens the kidney’s ability to receive and hold air, leading to breathlessness and gasping even with light physical activity.

While breathing is closely tied to both the lungs and kidneys, its root lies in the kidney. Only when kidney qi is strong enough can the kidney properly draw in the air needed for smooth, effortless breathing. If kidney qi is weak, the kidney can’t take in air effectively, which disrupts respiratory function. So if you’re struggling with shortness of breath, don’t just focus on your lungs — make sure to support and nourish your kidney health too.

Often Overlooked 3: “Five-dawn diarrhea” is a red flag for kidney deficiency

Some older adults wake up to diarrhea at 4 or 5 a.m. Just after they climb back into bed after using the bathroom, they feel the urge to go again, often making two or three trips in a row. This condition tends to flare up with seasonal shifts, and is called “five-dawn diarrhea” in traditional Chinese medicine.

TCM attributes five-dawn diarrhea primarily to insufficient kidney yang and excess internal yin cold. Treatment focuses on warming the kidney, strengthening the spleen, and consolidating and astringing to stop diarrhea. Patients can take Sishen Wan, a herbal formula made with psoralea fruit, nutmeg, evodia fruit, schisandra, fresh ginger, and jujube. If obvious signs of kidney yang deficiency like aversion to cold and cold extremities are present, aconite and prepared ginger can be added as needed to boost the formula’s ability to warm the kidney and strengthen the spleen.

Often Overlooked 4: Children can develop kidney deficiency too

We often think of children as the morning sun, assuming their yang energy is always strong and they could never have “deficiency.” But that’s not always the case. If parents are weak or frequently ill at the time of conception, conceive after drinking alcohol, or conceive when either parent is over 50 or too young, the child may be born with innate deficiency.

Expert Guidance: Two Simple Tips for Kidney Health

Tip 1: Kidney-supporting massage routine

There are two simple techniques:

1. Start by massaging three points at once: the Guanyuan point (3 cun below the navel), the Mingmen point (on the lower back, directly opposite the navel), and the Shenshu points (1.5 cun on either side of the Mingmen point). Before you begin, rub your palms together until they’re warm. Place your left palm on your front (over the Guanyuan point) and your right palm on your back (over the Mingmen point), then rub and knead the areas in clockwise and counterclockwise directions until they feel warm.
2. The second technique targets the Yongquan point on the sole of your foot. Cross your hands left over right (or right over left, whichever is comfortable) and rub the point vigorously until it feels warm. Aim for 120 rubs per session, and practice this routine both morning and evening for best results.

Tip 2: Nourish your kidneys through diet

In your daily diet, prioritize black foods like black sesame, black rice, black beans, and black fungus. Walnuts, chestnuts, goji berries, bone marrow, and pork kidney are also excellent choices for kidney health. In TCM, the kidney is also tied to “willpower” and emotional stability, so it’s important to cultivate a calm, steady mindset. Work to regulate your emotions, avoid extreme mood swings, and keep anger and frustration in check.

More Kidney-Tonifying Foods to Try

1. Black beans
   Black beans are packed with trace elements, and have well-documented benefits for slowing aging and lowering blood pressure. Their high fiber content also supports healthy digestion and prevents constipation. In TCM, black beans have a sweet flavor and are used to promote blood circulation, clear heat and toxins, and nourish and invigorate the blood.

2. Black sesame
   Black sesame is full of the essential amino acids your body needs. When paired with vitamins, these amino acids help speed up your metabolism. Eating more black sesame can prevent anemia, boost brain cell activity, and is also used to treat dizziness and limb weakness caused by liver and kidney deficiency.

3. Ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin)
   Ejiao supports lymphocyte transformation in healthy people, and helps regulate the body’s calcium balance by influencing calcium metabolism. It is well-known for its ability to nourish and tonify blood, nourish yin, and moisten dryness.

4. Dang gui (Chinese angelica root)
   Dang gui contains several active medicinal compounds, including n-butylidene phthalide and niacin. It can improve kidney function, reduce kidney damage, supports the repair of renal tubule damage, and offers strong protective benefits for the kidneys.