Herbs To Balance The Kidney Meridian

Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, is based on a network of meridians, or channels, that allow energy, also known as Qi, to flow around the body. The kidney meridian affects the kidneys, but it also influences the adrenal glands, the ears, the bones and bone marrow, and the hair. Illness may occur if Qi is blocked, deficient or in excess, all of which are symptoms of an imbalance in your system. Herbs may help restore balance and relieve disease symptoms. Consult a healthcare practitioner before using herbs to treat your symptoms.

Herbal Actions

The function of TCM herbs is to restore balance to the entire body. In TCM, herbs work by entering a meridian and toning the organs associated with that meridian. If the problem is a kidney Qi deficiency---an energy imbalance---tonic herbs help correct the deficiency and increase energy. Various herbs may also correct blockages, clear stagnation, and balance excess or deficient yin and yang forces, which regulate heat, cold, dryness and dampness. TCM is very individually oriented, so consult a practitioner for advice on dosage and preparation of these herbs.

Dogwood

Dogwood, or Cornus officinalis, is a small tree with yellow flowers and red berries, native to China, Korea and Japan. The plant affects the kidney and liver meridians, and is known as "shan zhu yu" in China. The fruits, which contain cornin, ursolic acid, morroniside and sworiside, have astringent, antimicrobial, diuretic and hypotensive actions. TCM practitioners use the berries as a balancing tonic to strengthen the liver and kidneys, and to treat ear problems, such as deafness and tinnitus, associated with the kidney meridian. In her 2009 book, "The Holistic Herbal Directory," herbal consultant Penelope Ody notes that healers also use the plant to stop excessive bleeding and sweating and to treat urinary and menstrual problems. Do not combine this herb with blood pressure medicine.

Psoralea

Psoralea, or Psoralea corylifolia, is an herb in the Pea family with spikes of violet flowers. TCM healers call it "bu gu zi" and use its seeds as a kidney tonic and to treat excessive bleeding, impotence, low back pain and urinary problems. Psoralea, a warm herb, balances the kidney meridian by correcting a kidney yang deficiency, which occurs when the kidneys are affected by too much cold and damp. The kidney meridian also affects the bones, and a study published in the April 2009 issue of "The British Journal of Nutrition" found that psoralea protected test animals against bone loss. This herb may cause photosensitivity. Do not use this herb if you are taking blood thinners.

Water Plantain

Water plantain, or Alisma plantago-aquatica, is a perennial native to Asia, where it is called "ze xie" and used to balance kidney excesses. Herbalist Penelope Ody states that ze xie, a cold herb, regulates water metabolism and eliminates heat and dampness. TCM practitioners use the tubers to treat conditions that involve an imbalance in water and other fluids, such as edema, vaginal discharge, urinary problems, night sweats and kidney disorders. Ody also notes that it is used to prevent "kidney fire," a condition that occurs when there is deficient kidney yin, such as in tinnitus and vertigo. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing.