Advertisements everywhere proclaim "nine out of ten men suffer from deficiency" and "kidney deficiency requires tonification," leading many middle-aged individuals, exhausted by the demands of life, to attribute even minor symptoms like soreness in the lower back and knees to "kidney deficiency." Some even scour the market for kidney-tonifying health supplements. Kidney function naturally declines with age, but certain unhealthy lifestyle habits or behaviors can also significantly contribute to kidney damage.
Nine Kidney-Damaging "Killers" Men Must Beware Of
1. Indiscriminate Use of Kidney-Damaging Herbal Medicines
Recent clinical observations consistently reveal that certain herbal medicines (including proprietary Chinese medicines) can cause renal impairment.Herbs known to harm the kidneys include: - Tripterygium wilfordii - Akebia trifoliata - Pharbitis nil - Xanthium sibiricum - Papaver somniferum - Raw Aconitum carmichaeli - Toona sinensis - Aquilaria sinensis - Stephania tetrandra Among these, Tripterygium wilfordii causes the most severe kidney damage, followed by Akebia trifoliata. The kidney toxicity of Akebia trifoliata stems from its content of aristolochic acid, a substance harmful to the kidneys.
II. Abuse of Western Analgesics
Long-term or high-dose use of certain anti-inflammatory analgesics, such as analgesic tablets, indomethacin, paracetamol, and aspirin, can easily cause kidney damage.Kidney damage may manifest as fatigue, dry mouth, loss of appetite, frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, and even hematuria or sterile pyuria, accompanied by joint pain. Some cases may directly cause acute nephritis or nephrotic syndrome with glomerular necrosis. Severe cases can lead to renal failure and death.
III. Frequent Urine Retention
Some individuals suppress urination for extended periods due to busy work schedules. Urine stagnating in the bladder for too long facilitates bacterial growth. These bacteria can ascend through the ureters to the kidneys, causing urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis. Recurrent infections of this type can develop into chronic infections that are difficult to cure. Patients may experience symptoms like lower back pain and frequent/urgent urination, and the condition may progress to acute uremia.
IV. Insufficient Water Intake
Prolonged dehydration reduces urine volume, increasing the concentration of waste and toxins in urine. Common clinical conditions like kidney stones and hydronephrosis are closely linked to chronic water deficiency. Adequate hydration dilutes urine, protects the kidneys, and facilitates the efficient elimination of waste and toxins.
5. Overeating
Modern social gatherings often involve excessive consumption of "delicious" foods. All ingested nutrients eventually produce waste products like uric acid and urea nitrogen. Since most of these are excreted through the kidneys, unrestrained eating undoubtedly increases their workload.
VI. Excessive Beverage Consumption
Overconsumption of soft drinks and sports drinks indirectly damages the kidneys. The human body maintains an alkaline pH of 7.2, while these beverages are highly acidic, significantly altering the body's pH balance upon consumption. As the primary organ regulating acid-base balance, the kidneys bear the burden of prolonged excessive intake of soft drinks and sports drinks, increasing the risk of renal damage.
7. Eating overly soft bread
Bread and pastries often contain the food additive potassium bromate, which provides the gluten strength and elasticity necessary for baked goods, resulting in a soft texture. However, excessive consumption can damage the central nervous system, blood, and kidneys.
Potassium bromate has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
8. Excessive Salt Intake
A diet high in salt, particularly from snacks like potato chips and instant noodles, can lead to unknowingly excessive sodium absorption. This causes elevated blood pressure, disrupting normal blood flow to the kidneys and potentially triggering kidney disease.
9. Drinking Strong Tea After Alcohol Consumption
Some believe strong tea after drinking alcohol can sober them up. In reality, this is not only ineffective but also harmful to the kidneys. The caffeine in tea can quickly affect the kidneys and exert a diuretic effect. At this time, alcohol has not yet been fully metabolized and is excreted through the kidneys, causing the kidneys to be stimulated by large amounts of ethanol, thereby damaging kidney function.
Note: The kidneys are vital organs responsible for secreting urine, excreting waste and toxins, regulating electrolyte concentrations, and maintaining acid-base balance. Impaired or declining kidney function reduces their excretory and regulatory capabilities. Severe kidney damage can lead to life-threatening uremia. While kidney function naturally declines with age, certain lifestyle habits and behaviors can significantly contribute to kidney damage.To protect your kidneys, be vigilant about the following "kidney-damaging" factors. Four Major Misconceptions About Kidney Deficiency "While kidney deficiency garners significant attention in China, few truly understand it," Professor Zhang Qicheng of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Director of the Chinese Medicine Culture Branch of the Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine lamented to Life Times. Kidney deficiency has become a catch-all term, with various symptoms being attributed to it.Comprehensive analysis reveals four major misconceptions about kidney deficiency among the general public.
Declining sexual function requires kidney tonification. This is the underlying logic for many who feel their "lower body is failing," and arguably the most harmful misconception. In her clinic, Professor Wang Xiaoqin, Director of the Nephrology Department at Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Director of the National Key TCM Nephrology Specialty, frequently encounters patients who leave her both amused and exasperated:Patients who should be seeing urologists mistakenly believe they have kidney deficiency and come to our nephrology department." In fact, a Beijing University of Chinese Medicine survey of over 700 ED patients revealed that only 32.9% were caused by kidney deficiency. Buying random aphrodisiacs from street-side adult stores can worsen the condition.Professor He Qinghu, Vice President of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine and Council Member of the Chinese Society of Sexual Medicine, has treated such patients. Initially experiencing sexual fatigue, frequent urination, and incomplete voiding, they self-diagnosed as having yin deficiency or ED. After indiscriminately taking aphrodisiacs, their symptoms worsened—developing burning urination and urethral pain—delaying proper treatment.Many people suspect kidney deficiency when they experience excessive sweating, frequent urination, soreness in the lower back and knees, or decreased libido. Professor He Qinghu explains that in traditional Chinese medicine, kidney deficiency is a syndrome concept encompassing various symptoms, including those mentioned above. However, the presence of these symptoms alone does not necessarily indicate kidney deficiency. A comprehensive diagnosis through the "Four Examinations and Consultation" (observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation) is required to determine kidney deficiency.Take excessive sweating, for example. It can stem from kidney deficiency, weak stomach qi, damp-heat accumulation, or cold pathogens invading the body. Moreover, beyond kidney deficiency, you might also have more serious underlying conditions. Fixating solely on kidney deficiency while ignoring other issues could delay proper diagnosis and treatment.
Kidney deficiency indicates kidney dysfunction. "Many patients react with alarm upon hearing 'kidney deficiency,' assuming they have a serious illness and that their sexual function is inevitably compromised. Such worries are unnecessary," explains Wang Xiaoqin. Traditional Chinese Medicine's concept of kidney deficiency differs entirely from Western medicine's definition of kidney disease. Kidney deficiency does not equate to kidney disease or erectile dysfunction (ED). It is a natural phase nearly everyone experiences, an inevitable aspect of the aging process.
Without distinguishing between kidney yin deficiency and kidney yang deficiency, people indiscriminately take supplements. Traditional Chinese medicine operates on a system entirely distinct from Western medicine, with its most significant characteristic being a strong emphasis on individualized treatment.Zhang Qicheng explains that kidney deficiency is primarily categorized into kidney yang deficiency and kidney yin deficiency. Different types require different treatment principles. Most products on the market target kidney yang deficiency. For those with kidney yin deficiency, taking them not only proves ineffective but may also cause side effects or worsen the condition. Even the classic Liuwei Dihuang Pill isn't suitable for everyone.