Many people experience symptoms like back pain, frequent urination, urgency, insomnia, and vivid dreams as they age. They often feel lethargic, prefer sitting over standing, and constantly feel exhausted with declining interest in activities.
Medical checkups show no obvious problems, yet they feel generally weak. What's going on?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the kidneys have three main functions: storing essence, governing water metabolism, and controlling qi reception.
The kidneys' role in storing essence refers to their ability to preserve and safeguard the body's vital essence. The essence stored in the kidneys governs human growth, development, and reproduction. The entire life cycle—birth, growth, maturity, aging, and death—is closely linked to the abundance or decline of kidney essence. If kidney essence diminishes, symptoms such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, lethargy, slow reflexes, and reduced sexual function may appear.
There are two main reasons for insufficient kidney essence: first, the kidneys themselves may be weak, reducing their ability to store essence; second, blood deficiency may be present. Essence and marrow can generate qi and blood—when essence is abundant, blood thrives, and when blood is sufficient, essence is naturally replenished. The two nourish each other and coexist in harmony.
Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert, a TCM male health specialist at Singapore Gong Fang Tang TCM, explains that kidney deficiency and blood deficiency lead to a decline in kidney essence. Therefore, tonifying the kidneys, strengthening yang, and nourishing the blood are crucial.
Today, we’ll share several Chinese herbal formulas that are even more potent than the classic Kidney Qi Pills—they replenish kidney essence at its root!
Five-Seed Proliferation Pill
It consists of seeds from five different plants. In TCM, plant seeds are believed to contain immense energy, which aligns with the kidney's functions. Therefore, seeds can tonify kidney essence. If you frequently experience soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, or poor memory, you may consider Five-Seed Proliferation Pill to replenish kidney essence.
Tortoise and Deer Two-Immortal Glue
This formula not only nourishes kidney essence but also enriches liver blood. In TCM, the liver and kidneys share a common origin—kidney essence and liver blood can transform into each other. Thus, while tonifying the kidneys, liver nourishment should not be neglected. Tortoise and Deer Two-Immortal Glue simultaneously replenishes both essence and blood, regulating both the liver and kidneys.
Golden Lock Essence-Securing Pill
For kidney essence deficiency, simply replenishing essence is not enough—it must also be firmly retained to prevent unnecessary loss. True to its name, Golden Lock Essence-Securing Pill acts like a golden lock, strengthening the kidneys' ability to retain essence. If you experience symptoms like involuntary ejaculation or nocturnal emissions, this formula may be suitable.
Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill
In this formula, prepared Rehmannia root is the primary herb, heavily dosed to nourish yin, tonify the kidneys, and replenish essence and marrow. Cornus fruit supports liver and kidney function while astringing essence, and Dioscorea rhizome strengthens spleen yin and stabilizes the kidneys—these serve as secondary herbs. Together, these three form the "Three Tonics," with kidney tonification as the main focus. Alisma promotes diuresis to drain kidney turbidity; Poria drains dampness and fortifies the spleen; and Moutan bark clears deficient heat. These three make up the "Three Drains," acting as supporting herbs. The formula follows a "three tonics, three drains" principle, with tonifying herbs outweighing draining ones, ultimately achieving its goal of nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys.
Medical Case Report
Patient: Male, 45 years old.
Chief Complaint: The patient reported long-term symptoms including soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and decreased sexual function, accompanied by cold intolerance, cold limbs, insomnia, vivid dreams, and frequent nocturia.
TCM Diagnosis: Kidney Essence Deficiency.
Treatment Principle: Based on the patient's symptoms, tongue, and pulse examination, a kidney-tonifying and essence-replenishing herbal formula was prescribed.
Prescription: Common herbs used included:
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) – Nourishes kidney essence and blood.
Cornus Fruit (Shan Zhu Yu) – Tonifies the liver and kidneys, astringes essence.
Lycium Berry (Gou Qi Zi) – Nourishes liver and kidney yin.
Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) – Strengthens kidney yang and essence.
Epimedium (Yin Yang Huo) – Warms kidney yang and boosts vitality.
These herbs work synergistically to tonify kidney essence, warm yang, and stabilize kidney function.
Follow-up: After a period of treatment and lifestyle adjustments, the patient's symptoms gradually improved. The soreness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, and tinnitus significantly reduced, and sexual function showed signs of recovery. Tongue and pulse conditions also normalized over time.
