What is the best food to nourish the kidneys?

Generally speaking, it is beneficial to consume foods such as black sesame seeds, walnuts, Lycium (goji berries), mulberries, and Chinese yam for kidney nourishment. Additionally, medications such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Six), Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pill), Zuo Gui Wan (Left Return Pill), Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (Five Seed Formula for Descendants), and Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Cortex Phellodendri and Anemarrhena Rhizome Rehmannia Pill) can be used under medical guidance. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Black Sesame Seeds

Black sesame seeds are sweet in taste and neutral in property, entering the liver, kidney, and large intestine meridians. They are rich in fatty oils, vitamin E, and sesamin. Vitamin E has antioxidant properties that delay cellular aging, while the fatty oils lubricate the intestines and relieve dryness. According to TCM, black-colored foods enter the kidney meridian and can nourish the liver and kidney, enrich essence and blood, and help alleviate symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, and premature graying of hair caused by liver and kidney deficiency.

2. Walnuts

Walnuts are warm in nature and sweet in taste, entering the kidney, lung, and large intestine meridians. They contain abundant proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Unsaturated fatty acids nourish brain nerves, support kidney function, consolidate essence, and lubricate the intestines to relieve constipation. They can improve symptoms such as lower back pain, frequent urination, and tinnitus caused by kidney deficiency.

3. Goji Berries

Goji berries are sweet in taste and neutral in nature, entering the liver and kidney meridians. They are rich in Lycium barbarum polysaccharides and carotenoids. Lycium polysaccharides regulate immunity and have antioxidant effects. In TCM, they are commonly used for nourishing the liver and kidney and improving vision, helping to alleviate symptoms such as weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, blurred vision, and declining vision caused by yin deficiency of the liver and kidney.

4. Mulberries

Mulberries are sweet and sour in taste, cold in nature, and enter the heart, liver, and kidney meridians. They are rich in anthocyanins and vitamin C, with anthocyanins having strong antioxidant properties that help eliminate free radicals. Mulberries can nourish yin, enrich blood, generate body fluids, and relieve dryness, alleviating symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, and insomnia caused by yin deficiency of the liver and kidney.

5. Chinese Yam

Chinese yam is sweet in taste and neutral in nature, entering the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians. It contains amylase, polyphenol oxidase, and other substances that promote digestion and absorption. It can strengthen the spleen and stomach, nourish the lungs and generate body fluids, and tonify the kidney to control seminal emission. It helps alleviate symptoms such as seminal emission and frequent urination caused by kidney deficiency.

II. Medications

1. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Six)

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan mainly consists of prepared rehmannia root, cornus fruit (steamed), tree peony bark, Chinese yam, poria, and water plantain rhizome. Its mechanism of action is as follows: prepared rehmannia root nourishes yin and benefits the kidney, enriches essence and marrow, acting as the principal herb (Jun). Cornus fruit nourishes the liver and kidney, and Chinese yam benefits the spleen and kidney, both serving as ministerial herbs (Chen). Tree peony bark clears liver fire, poria strengthens the spleen and drains dampness, and water plantain rhizome clears kidney fire, acting as assistant herbs (Zuo). Together, they nourish kidney yin and are used for symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, and soreness and weakness in the lower back due to kidney yin deficiency.

2. Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pill)

Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan consists of rehmannia root, Chinese yam, cornus fruit, poria, tree peony bark, water plantain rhizome, cinnamon twig, aconite root, achyranthes root, and plantain seed. In this formula, rehmannia root nourishes yin and benefits the kidney; cornus fruit and Chinese yam nourish the liver and spleen and enrich essence and blood; cinnamon twig and aconite root warm and tonify kidney yang and guide fire back to its source; poria and water plantain rhizome promote diuresis and resolve dampness; achyranthes root and plantain seed promote urination and relieve urinary difficulties. Together, these herbs warm and tonify kidney yang, promote qi transformation, and resolve water retention, and are used for symptoms such as kidney deficiency edema, soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, difficult urination, cold intolerance, and cold limbs.

3. Zuo Gui Wan (Left Return Pill)

Zuo Gui Wan contains prepared rehmannia root, dodder seed, achyranthes root, turtle shell gelatin, deer antler gelatin, Chinese yam, cornus fruit, and goji berry. Prepared rehmannia root nourishes the kidney and enriches essence; goji berry and cornus fruit nourish the liver and kidney; dodder seed tonifies the liver and kidney and enriches essence and marrow; deer antler gelatin and turtle shell gelatin strongly enrich essence and blood; achyranthes root strengthens the waist and knees and fortifies tendons and bones. Together, these ingredients nourish kidney yin and are used for true yin deficiency manifested as soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, night sweats, fatigue, and dry mouth.

4. Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (Five Seed Formula for Descendants)

Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan consists of goji berry, dodder seed, raspberry fruit, schisandra fruit, and plantain seed. Goji berry and dodder seed tonify the kidney and enrich essence; raspberry fruit benefits the kidney and consolidates essence; schisandra fruit tonifies the kidney and calms the mind; plantain seed promotes urination and relieves urinary difficulties. Together, these herbs tonify the kidney and enrich essence and are used for impotence, infertility, seminal emission, premature ejaculation, lower back pain, and post-urination dripping caused by kidney deficiency and depletion of essence.

5. Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Cortex Phellodendri and Anemarrhena Rhizome Rehmannia Pill)

Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan contains anemarrhena rhizome, phellodendron bark, prepared rehmannia root, cornus fruit, tree peony bark, Chinese yam, poria, and water plantain rhizome. Anemarrhena rhizome and phellodendron bark clear heat and reduce fire; prepared rehmannia root nourishes kidney yin; cornus fruit and Chinese yam nourish the liver and spleen; tree peony bark, poria, and water plantain rhizome clear heat and resolve dampness. The entire formula nourishes yin and reduces fire and is used for symptoms such as tidal fever, night sweats, and dry throat due to yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity.

In daily life, it is important to maintain regular sleep patterns and avoid staying up late, as sleep deprivation can deplete kidney essence. Moderate exercise, such as jogging or practicing tai chi, should be performed to strengthen physical health, improve circulation, and support kidney health.