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Chen Liang
The traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM) concept of "kidney"
is
consider-
ably different
lrom the
strictly anatomi-
cal description of
the
organ called "the
kidney"
with
Western
medicine.
Accord-
ing
to
TCM authorities, the term
"kid-
ney" represents much more than the
anatomical structure that
is
visible to
the
eye as
just the "kidney-shaped
thing".
Moreover, according
to
TCM concepts,
there are two kinds of body
essence,
one inborn, signifying the control of the
power of reproduction, growth,
devel-
opment and
life
of
humans;
the
other,
acquired, signifying the basic materials
for
maintenance
of
human
growth,
development and
life.
The
latter came
from the food and, through the diges-
tive tract, are being absorbed and then
stored
in
the "kidney
system"
of
the
body.
Thus,
the
kidney system takes
charge
of
reproduction, growth
and
development,
through
the
body
essence stored therein. According to
TCM principles, conditioning the kidney
system can actually strengthen
the
muscles
and tendons and
prevent
osteoporosis.
Hence,
with
adequate
kidney qi,
the
bone and
teeth
are strong,
and vice versa. Similarly,
if
the essence
ol the kidney
is
inadequate, the nutri-
tion
of
the bone and
its
marrow become
deficienl
and pathological
changes
would
begin to occur. Hence, the TCM
management lor osteoporosis stresses
on managing
lhe
kidney.
Moreover, any
pathological changes affecting
the
kid-
ney
would,
in
turn,
affect other internal
organs.
This shows how
important the
"kidney system"
is.
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