HOW TO VITALIZE, STRENGTHEN, and STABILIZE KIDNEY ENERGY

[onlyindreams]

#1 activity to directly benefit the KDs: go to bed earlier.

Also, to benefit the KDs indirectly, through the Earth phase: remove from your diet as much sugar and carbohydrates as possible.

 

 

this post just inspired me to go outside, play guitar and relax under the full moon while drinking my rhodiola tea and get into bed early tonight.

 

can you explain the second part of your post?

 

why should removing extraneous sugar and carbohydrates affect the health and energetic state of the kidney organ system?

 

(to provide some background information, honey is the only sugar that i consume in my diet, and only a very small amount with an ample amount of ghee, also, i follow a paleo diet as often as possible - no dairy besides ghee and a small amount of cheese, no bread, no grains, no pasta - the bulk of the 'refined' carbs)

[manitou]

I wish I could. Like so much of Taoism, it is one of those things that has to be experienced. I could try to record myself doing the sound, but even that would be practically worthless because you wouldn't be able to sense the tone and pitch as if you were there.

 

A suggestion that I can offer is that if you do come across someone who knows the sound(s), make sure that you do them with a rising tone. Start low and get louder/higher as you make the sound.

 

Two sounds that are easy to convey are the lung sound. You say it like sea (the ocean) or si (yes in Spanish). The other is the heart sound. It is an Ohh sound. With the emphasis on O.

 

The kidney sound is hard to write. It's like chwee... ch... weeeee. I wish I could help you more, but it's probably best that you only practice the easy ones... heart and lung. Six repetitions each. Lung first.

 

This was very helpful - thank you!

 

I think I can intuit my way into incorporating this. I'll do a little research first. Thanks again -

Edited February 18, 2011 by manitou

[markern]

Can you recommend a good overall book on healing sounds? I would love to merge healing sounds into shamanic ceremony, as I'm a musician. It would make imminent sense.

 

MIchael Winn has a dvd were he incorporates healing sounds into a moving five animals form.

[solxyz]

 

can you explain the second part of your post?

 

why should removing extraneous sugar and carbohydrates affect the health and energetic state of the kidney organ system?

 

(to provide some background information, honey is the only sugar that i consume in my diet, and only a very small amount with an ample amount of ghee, also, i follow a paleo diet as often as possible - no dairy besides ghee and a small amount of cheese, no bread, no grains, no pasta - the bulk of the 'refined' carbs)

 

The health of the kidneys and the digestion are intimately linked. There are at least two ways to look at this. First, in terms of yang, which for these purposes I will translate as vital-warmth. Digestion requires yang. A lot of activity is needed to breakdown the food and transform it into something appropriate for your own body. One image of this digestive activity is that the stomach is a pot that is cooking the food; the fire under the pot is the mingmen fire (also known as the kidney yang). Sweet (meaning all carbohydrate) creates dampness. Damp is a yin condition, and so it requires a lot of yang to overcome it. Small amounts of sweet can be vitalizing when one is able to fully digest it, but large amounts will overwhelm the digestive yang and leave you with an encumbrance of dampness, which is directly depleting to the kidney yang.

 

We could also talk about this a little more schematically in terms of qi. There are three basic sources of qi in the body: the kidneys, the digestion, and the lungs. The kidneys are all about storage, so here they represent your reserves. If you are not receiving appropriate qi from your food, you will draw on the kidneys, which over time will drain and then damage them. If on the other hand, you are well nourished, you can put some money in the bank.

 

Im also on a more-or-less paleo diet, although I eat large amounts of yogurt. It has clearly been the best thing Ive done for my health in a while. I would also emphasize trying to get as much fermentation in the diet as possible. The enzymes present in fermented food represent a kind of digestive yang, which as I have discussed is nearly fungible with kidney yang.

[Upfromtheashes]

The health of the kidneys and the digestion are intimately linked. There are at least two ways to look at this. First, in terms of yang, which for these purposes I will translate as vital-warmth. Digestion requires yang. A lot of activity is needed to breakdown the food and transform it into something appropriate for your own body. One image of this digestive activity is that the stomach is a pot that is cooking the food; the fire under the pot is the mingmen fire (also known as the kidney yang). Sweet (meaning all carbohydrate) creates dampness. Damp is a yin condition, and so it requires a lot of yang to overcome it. Small amounts of sweet can be vitalizing when one is able to fully digest it, but large amounts will overwhelm the digestive yang and leave you with an encumbrance of dampness, which is directly depleting to the kidney yang.

 

We could also talk about this a little more schematically in terms of qi. There are three basic sources of qi in the body: the kidneys, the digestion, and the lungs. The kidneys are all about storage, so here they represent your reserves. If you are not receiving appropriate qi from your food, you will draw on the kidneys, which over time will drain and then damage them. If on the other hand, you are well nourished, you can put some money in the bank.

 

Im also on a more-or-less paleo diet, although I eat large amounts of yogurt. It has clearly been the best thing Ive done for my health in a while. I would also emphasize trying to get as much fermentation in the diet as possible. The enzymes present in fermented food represent a kind of digestive yang, which as I have discussed is nearly fungible with kidney yang.

 

Heh heh am eating lots of yogurt as I read this

So have you found it beneficial to minimize fruits on your paleo diet as well?

[onlyindreams]

 

Quality is SO IMPORTANT both with food and herbs in my experience -

One can get incredible affects simply by eating very High Quality foods and in my experience this definitely includes animal Products

 

 

I have been ramping up my consumption of animal products such as large amounts of ghee, fatty, grassfed meat (eaten as raw as possible), occasional raw cheese and pasture butter

 

a staple of my diet is organic, free range eggs

 

the taste difference is substantial, especially when comparing high quality meats and eggs to the inferior ones

[Red Pheonix]

Heres a video clip with some sounds/techniques for helping your kidneys. It's not a complete video, but it shows the sounds and some of the hand postures. This is generally done after you build up some energy and are already hot. These sounds help you to develop back breathing as well as attract ducks (although I'm unsure as to where that's going to come in handy).

 

[Non]

The health of the kidneys and the digestion are intimately linked. There are at least two ways to look at this. First, in terms of yang, which for these purposes I will translate as vital-warmth. Digestion requires yang. A lot of activity is needed to breakdown the food and transform it into something appropriate for your own body. One image of this digestive activity is that the stomach is a pot that is cooking the food; the fire under the pot is the mingmen fire (also known as the kidney yang). Sweet (meaning all carbohydrate) creates dampness. Damp is a yin condition, and so it requires a lot of yang to overcome it. Small amounts of sweet can be vitalizing when one is able to fully digest it, but large amounts will overwhelm the digestive yang and leave you with an encumbrance of dampness, which is directly depleting to the kidney yang.

 

We could also talk about this a little more schematically in terms of qi. There are three basic sources of qi in the body: the kidneys, the digestion, and the lungs. The kidneys are all about storage, so here they represent your reserves. If you are not receiving appropriate qi from your food, you will draw on the kidneys, which over time will drain and then damage them. If on the other hand, you are well nourished, you can put some money in the bank.

 

Im also on a more-or-less paleo diet, although I eat large amounts of yogurt. It has clearly been the best thing Ive done for my health in a while. I would also emphasize trying to get as much fermentation in the diet as possible. The enzymes present in fermented food represent a kind of digestive yang, which as I have discussed is nearly fungible with kidney yang.

 

 

Well counter to this the foods harder to digest the lowest sugar. E.g. all veggies which do not contain overt starches or sugars. Meat is also quite hard on digestion, and too much at the same time or at all can strain the kidneys quite a bit.

 

So... what then?

 

fermented foods are awesome. awesome. awesome. awesome. awesome.awesome. my gut flora says:awesome!

 

raw foods have enzymes too. but the vegetables without overt sugars or starches are harder to digest.

 

so tonify the Spleen-Earth with Heart-Fire element. Tonify the heart-fire with Liver-Wood, Tonify the Liver-Wood with Kidney-Water, and Kidney Water with Lung-Metal.

 

Yin and yang.

 

Etc..

 

edit: Seaweed? How about seaweed? Seaweed comes from the ocean, can be salty, have L-Arginine (really, especially the laver/nori irish moss and generally harder ones), EPA and DHA. They come from the ocean, where it is blue and black at the deep end, treat the liver with their greenness their detox properties. Laver is purple but purple and are usually associated with the same green. Fishes high in Omega 3s like salmon.. omega 3s. Walnuts, hemp seed, flax seed, chia seed.

 

Dates are also supposed to be good for semen production. Dates and figs. Beets enrich the blood, which can be a precursor to semen production.

 

Kung fu stance training is really awesome as well. Sancai shi. Horse stance to hanging stance to cat stance to crossing stance, turn around to cat stance (other side) to crossing stance to kai ma bo to long stance. Etc.

 

Also working on calves help. Stand up on calves and do squats on those staying up on your toes. Run on the balls of your feet. Jump on the balls of your feet. Walk on your knees..., or on all fours, on the earth. Bend down touch your toes then reach up into the air, and then back, etc. Lateral squats. RUnning in place, jump in place. Do burpees.

 

OF course don't over-exercise ie till failure. Do enough to get the heart pumping and get slightly fatigued to general fatigue but not too fatigued unless you want to build yourself up. After you build up, just tonify.

 

Do tai chi.. ba gua, xing yi.

 

uhm.. naked sunbathing (im serious) with genitals in particularly exposed to the sun.

 

hard as hell to do without feeling weird though if you're like me.

 

Kicks are also VERY good for the kidneys. Working out the muscles in connection like psoas and hips. Holding your foot in the air as high and as long as possible. All different types of kicks. Arrow kicks, stretch kick, thrust kick, roundhouse, side kick, hook kicks, chicken kicks, inside and outside crescent.

 

Tiger kicks on all fours kicking to the back.

Edited February 21, 2011 by Non

[Non]

definitely ab exercises and lumbar working /spinal exercises. ie the superman, etc. it seems many of the qigong exercises I know of for the kidney utilize these muscles in a standing position or stance.

[onlyindreams]

definitely ab exercises and lumbar working /spinal exercises. ie the superman, etc. it seems many of the qigong exercises I know of for the kidney utilize these muscles in a standing position or stance.

 

 

I agree.

 

Going along with exercises, I'd also add kidney tapping.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps in conjunction with the healing sounds? Achieve some sort of vibrational resonance effect

[relaxer]

I've just gotten into working out with kettlebells and it's pretty amazing. It focuses on movement around the center. It works the body as one unit, it doesn't isolate. Careful: In my experience, it's like Viagra the morning after... The force is strong with the morning pine tree.

[torus693]

v

Edited February 23, 2011 by torus693

[Non]

I agree.

 

Going along with exercises, I'd also add kidney tapping.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps in conjunction with the healing sounds? Achieve some sort of vibrational resonance effect

 

yea I forgot about the tapping/slapping the kidneys.

 

I've just gotten into working out with kettlebells and it's pretty amazing. It focuses on movement around the center. It works the body as one unit, it doesn't isolate. Careful: In my experience, it's like Viagra the morning after... The force is strong with the morning pine tree.

 

holy shizz yea I never thought about that ... because I dont have kettlebells.but I know, dumbell swings do work out the lower lumbar area just like many of the kidney qigong exercises do.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Non

[onlyindreams]

yea I forgot about the tapping/slapping the kidneys.

 

 

 

holy shizz yea I never thought about that ... because I dont have kettlebells.but I know, dumbell swings do work out the lower lumbar area just like many of the kidney qigong exercises do.

 

 

so exercising the core / lower lumbar area seems to be a key point

 

what about the pelvic floor muscles? the psoas? the muscles near the sacrum?

 

hip twists? spine twists? side bends?

 

would actually putting pressure on the kidneys energize them?

 

what if the kidneys are in an already 'weakened' state?

[Non]

so exercising the core / lower lumbar area seems to be a key point

 

what about the pelvic floor muscles? the psoas? the muscles near the sacrum?

 

hip twists? spine twists? side bends?

 

would actually putting pressure on the kidneys energize them?

 

what if the kidneys are in an already 'weakened' state?

 

Yep, all that. Putting "pressure" on the kidneys helps move the qi and blood, and strengthens just like working a muscle does.

 

Probably putting heat too.. ie rub palms on the surface of the kidneys. Do sound healing qigong as well.

[markern]

Well counter to this the foods harder to digest the lowest sugar. E.g. all veggies which do not contain overt starches or sugars. Meat is also quite hard on digestion, and too much at the same time or at all can strain the kidneys quite a bit.

 

So... what then?

 

fermented foods are awesome. awesome. awesome. awesome. awesome.awesome. my gut flora says:awesome!

 

raw foods have enzymes too. but the vegetables without overt sugars or starches are harder to digest.

 

so tonify the Spleen-Earth with Heart-Fire element. Tonify the heart-fire with Liver-Wood, Tonify the Liver-Wood with Kidney-Water, and Kidney Water with Lung-Metal.

 

Yin and yang.

 

Etc..

 

edit: Seaweed? How about seaweed? Seaweed comes from the ocean, can be salty, have L-Arginine (really, especially the laver/nori irish moss and generally harder ones), EPA and DHA. They come from the ocean, where it is blue and black at the deep end, treat the liver with their greenness their detox properties. Laver is purple but purple and are usually associated with the same green. Fishes high in Omega 3s like salmon.. omega 3s. Walnuts, hemp seed, flax seed, chia seed.

 

Dates are also supposed to be good for semen production. Dates and figs. Beets enrich the blood, which can be a precursor to semen production.

 

Kung fu stance training is really awesome as well. Sancai shi. Horse stance to hanging stance to cat stance to crossing stance, turn around to cat stance (other side) to crossing stance to kai ma bo to long stance. Etc.

 

Also working on calves help. Stand up on calves and do squats on those staying up on your toes. Run on the balls of your feet. Jump on the balls of your feet. Walk on your knees..., or on all fours, on the earth. Bend down touch your toes then reach up into the air, and then back, etc. Lateral squats. RUnning in place, jump in place. Do burpees.

 

OF course don't over-exercise ie till failure. Do enough to get the heart pumping and get slightly fatigued to general fatigue but not too fatigued unless you want to build yourself up. After you build up, just tonify.

 

Do tai chi.. ba gua, xing yi.

 

uhm.. naked sunbathing (im serious) with genitals in particularly exposed to the sun.

 

hard as hell to do without feeling weird though if you're like me.

 

Kicks are also VERY good for the kidneys. Working out the muscles in connection like psoas and hips. Holding your foot in the air as high and as long as possible. All different types of kicks. Arrow kicks, stretch kick, thrust kick, roundhouse, side kick, hook kicks, chicken kicks, inside and outside crescent.

 

Tiger kicks on all fours kicking to the back.

 

Reading this post makes me very optimistic about your sitaution Non. With this kind of training and your other practices such as meditation and your diet, your psyche will in a few years be unusually strong. So will your masculine vibe be. Coupled with working within the field of TCM which you are passionate about I think your life will be great and women will not be a problem for you:)

[Maddie]

Speaking of the kidney/bladder meridian / water element. I've noticed that between the hours of 3-7 pm when its these meridians dominate time, that I tend to get rather horney lately. Anyone know why this might be?

[Non]

The books by Gabriel Cousens: Conscious Eating and Rainbow Greens-LiveFood Cuisine, or his books on Prana might help on the sugar intake decrease.

 

It's based on a low glycemic diet, that's high in nutrients and eventually leading you to the raw vegan calorie restriction diet which cuts back 20-30 percent calories. CR diets have an anti-aging effect. 100% raw veganism might not be necessary , only as supposedly 80% raw and 20 % cooked. IF you go more than this experts say you are consusming more waste material than your body can clean out over the long term which leads to aging effects and potential disease. Also, the body reacts to cooked foods as if it was a toxin and gives an immune response to "attack" the cooked food. Im not sure if perhaps this has more to do with cooked fats or carbs. I usually stay away from cooked fats for sure. Egg protein starts to coagulate at any higher than 140 F. Enzymes degrade starting at 118, and 106 in some cases. Fats also start becoming rancid when heated, and also have a heating effect on the body. Ever felt really hot and greasy after eating a cooked fatty food? well that's part of why...

 

I can go on and on on diet.

 

So of course, this probably enhances yuan-source qi conservation.

 

Having good sleep is also essential.

 

You have acquired/postnatal qi from air, food, drink, etc... you run out of acquired qi through exercise, lack of sleep, lack of breathing and meditation, digestion etc. you consume your yuan qi. Yuan qi can be tonified (supposedly) through meditation also.

 

but taking this into account, a calorie restricted diet and non-entropic, non-doing, reverse entropic "activity" can help either conserve or even tonify the yuan-source prenatal qi.

Edited February 26, 2011 by Non

[onlyindreams]

 

but taking this into account, a calorie restricted diet and non-entropic, non-doing, reverse entropic "activity" can help either conserve or even tonify the yuan-source prenatal qi.

 

a sentence worth reading over and seriously contemplating right here

[Leif]

I practice Bagua a lot so that helps in a more general sense; the Maoshan 5E really hammers it home though.

Do you know whether Jenny Lamb teaches Maoshan 5E practice in her Yi Gong DVD please?

 

on re-edit couple of days later: she doesn't teach it, it's something Max Christensen learned from someone else (Andrew Lum?) so Kunlun book is probably the most accessible source on this practice

Edited March 12, 2011 by Leif

[onlyindreams]

Speaking of the kidney/bladder meridian / water element. I've noticed that between the hours of 3-7 pm when its these meridians dominate time, that I tend to get rather horney lately. Anyone know why this might be?

 

^

[Non]

^

 

Goji berries supports yin jing.

 

 

http://www.cultureoflifestore.com/pages.php?pID=3&CDpath=0

Edited March 3, 2011 by Non

[gendao]

^ Man, I love his explanation of the 3 Treasures:

The interface of these three treasures (Jing (constitutional vitality), Chi (immediate daily energy), Shen (spirit) help one to select energy intake in the form of foods, supplements, herbs, and superfoods, not merely according to one's constitution, but also the three basic energies necessary for creating the highest quality of life from a Taoist point of view.

 

An elegant analogy of the Three Treasures paradigm is to view them as the composite parts of a burning candle. Jing, as essence and physical substance, is symbolized as the wax and wick of the candle. The density and quality of the candle determines how long it will burn (i.e. how long one will live in wellness). Chi, as energy and metabolism, is symbolized as the candle's flame. It creates light, but also heat that melts the wax and burns the wick of the candle. Balancing Chi is essential for regulating how fast the Jing is burned up. Finally, Shen, as spirit, including presence, wisdom and spiritual understanding, is symbolized by the candle's light. This is the light of consciousness that we are ever seeking, in the context of expanding the energy of Shen. This is the guiding light and context for individualizing your dietary choices and lifestyle. If your goal is simply more energy, and improving athletic or sexual performance, this approach can also be used to optimize your approach.

You can see by this analogy that the Three Treasures must be regulated and guided in an intelligent way for optimal support of your life purpose. If the wax and wick (Jing) are weak, only a small flame (Chi) with mediocre light (Shen) will be produced. If the flame (Chi) is too strong it will shine much light (Shen), but only briefly, as it quickly consumes the wax and wick (Jing). The light (Shen) is obviously dependent upon the quality of the flame (Chi), while the quality of the flame (Chi) determines the quality and longevity of the wax and wick (Jing). Considering that my primary motivation and life purpose is spiritual development and enlightenment, I recognize that we must cultivate Shen by conserving Jing and balancing Chi. This may or may not be your agenda, so this system can be focused to serve your personal ends. My list of twenty-two top herbs, supplements, and superfoods can help you find your balance as a unique individual.

 

Jing (Primordial Lifeforce and Constitutional Energy)

 

Jing energy is similar to the Vedic ojas. It is the energy of our reproductive force, our basic seed energy, and the genetic strength we pass to future generations. Jing is housed in the kidneys, adrenals, testes, and ovaries. It is theorized that it comes out in the lower dantian, in the area slightly lower than the solar plexus. Jing has two levels: We are born with 'prenatal' or 'primordial' jing. It is our natural, constitutional, primordial strength. Our 'postnatal' jing is superficial and is conditional upon the quality of our environment, lifestyle, and food choices. We have the most effect on our post-natal jing through diet.

Jing is the essence of our deep health, youthfulness, and our ability to function and reproduce in the world. It allows us to handle life's stresses and challenges. Prenatal jing, when depleted from toxic lifestyle, is difficult to rebuild. It takes years of a live-food lifestyle to begin to build it up, after depleting it through abuse. Post-natal or superficial jing, on the other hand, can be built up through the use of herbs, live-food, structured water, and living the Six Foundations and Sevenfold Peace. The primary yin jing herb is goji berry.

 

Chi (Immediate Vital Lifeforce)

 

Chi is the vital lifeforce we use for our daily energetic needs. Chi is the force behind talking, eating, digestion, and all metabolic functions. Chi is located in the realm of the middle jiao region of the stomach, spleen, and liver. Chi comes from food and oxygen metabolization. It is one step above jing and protects it. Chi is also depleted by toxic lifestyle and poor diet. When this occurs we feel fatigued and worn out. If that chi is not reestablished by chi-building foods and exercises, we begin to use up our jing. This results in the degeneration of our health.

 

When these jing and chi energies are added together, combined with a strong constitution and a Culture of Life and Liberation lifestyle, we can continue to cultivate our chi and live a long, healthy, and spiritually expansive life. Strong chi helps us to assimilate nutrients from our food, such as minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients. The bioavailability of nutrients is determined by the amount of chi we have. In other words a strong chi empowers our digestion. The most powerful chi-building herb is ginseng and second to that is the goji berry.

 

Shen (Spirit)

 

From my perspective on Spiritual Nutrition, we are each put here to reach our highest spiritual potential. Because of this, for me Shen is the most important of the Three Treasures. Shen is the essence of spiritual nutrition. It is the foundation that allows our spirit to ascend and the kundalini to awaken and unfold. Shen is often considered the ability to access spiritual awareness. Strong jing and chi are necessary to help our body become a superconductor for the Divine. Shen helps us detoxify and strengthen our body and expand the mind and consciousness to become a superconductor for the Divine.

 

As I pointed out in 1987, becoming a superconductor for the Divine is the goal of our spiritual nutrition and lifestyle. Shen is this state of expanded awareness. Enhancing Shen is the essence of Spiritual Nutrition. As Taoist masters taught, without spiritual purpose, there is a lack of depth, quality, meaning, and value in life. This is why I teach that the purpose of life is not longevity, but that, properly used, longevity can create an opportunity to expand our consciousness and our knowledge of God as our primary life purpose or dharma.