What should be done for liver and kidney deficiency?
Nov 10, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Deficiency of liver and kidney can be improved through dietary adjustments, better sleep habits, moderate exercise, acupuncture support, and herbal medicine regulation. Treatment should be individualized based on syndrome differentiation, with emphasis on long-term care. If symptoms such as worsening soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, frequent dizziness, tinnitus, or other discomforts occur, prompt medical consultation is recommended. It is advisable to consume more foods that nourish the liver and kidneys, such as black sesame seeds, goji berries, walnuts, and Chinese yam.
Deficiency of the liver and kidneys can be improved through dietary adjustments, improved sleep habits, moderate exercise, acupuncture support, and herbal regulation. Treatment should be individualized based on syndrome differentiation, with emphasis on long-term care. If symptoms such as worsening soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, frequent dizziness or tinnitus, or other discomforts occur, timely medical consultation is recommended.
1. Dietary Adjustments: Increase intake of foods that nourish the liver and kidneys, such as black sesame seeds, goji berries, walnuts, and Chinese yam. Avoid spicy, greasy, raw, and cold foods, and reduce consumption of tobacco and alcohol to provide essential nutrients for liver and kidney health.
2. Improved Sleep Habits: Ensure 7–8 hours of sleep each night and avoid staying up late, especially between 1:00–3:00 a.m. (when the liver meridian is active) and 3:00–5:00 a.m. (when the kidney meridian is active), allowing the liver and kidneys sufficient rest for self-repair.
3. Moderate Exercise: Choose gentle exercises such as Tai Chi, Baduanjin (Eight Brocades), or walking. Exercise 3–5 times per week for about 30 minutes each session. Avoid intense physical activity. Regular movement helps promote blood and qi circulation and enhances liver and kidney metabolic functions.
4. Acupuncture Support: Key acupoints such as Liv-18 (Ganshu), BL-23 (Shenshu), KI-3 (Taixi), and SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) can be stimulated through needle insertion or moxibustion to unblock meridians, regulate qi and blood, and support recovery of liver and kidney functions—suitable for long-term调理 (regulation).
5. Herbal Regulation: Under medical guidance, use traditional Chinese herbs or patent medicines that nourish the liver and kidneys, such as Liuwei Dihuang Wan or Qiju Dihuang Wan. For those with yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys, these formulas help nourish yin and support liver function; for those with kidney yang deficiency, warming kidney herbs may be added. This approach gradually improves the state of deficiency.
In daily life, massage the Yongquan (KI-1) and Taichong (LV-3) acupoints for 5–10 minutes each time. Maintain emotional stability and avoid prolonged anxiety or irritability. Regulate frequency of sexual activity to prevent excessive depletion of kidney essence, thus supporting liver and kidney health.
