Analysis of George from the Perspective of Chinese Medicine

In Chinese Medicine the source of all energy in the body lies in the Kidneys. Chinese medicine differentiates between the organ systems in terms of process rather than structure and there are a range of processes that are associated with the Kidneys and their partner organ system, the Bladder.

This analysis requires a detailed understanding of Chinese medicine, but the interested reader will be able to follow the general line of thought.

The Bladder function of storing and releasing urine is facilitated by the Kidneys – Kidney Qi to be exact. The following factors are pertinent here:

1. George is 67 years old and there tends to be a natural decline in Kidney Qi (or energy) with age.
2. There are various presenting features and symptoms that suggest that the weak or deficient Kidney energy is Kidney

Yang Qi. These include:
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• Aversion to cold
• Weakness/lethargy
• Aching/stiff low back & knees
• Wet and pale tongue
• Characteristics of the pulse

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3. In the early stages of the problem the Kidneys had ceased exercising control over the Bladder resulting in increased frequency. However, as the Kidney Yang energy diminishes the Kidneys were no longer able to move the body fluids with any efficiency and this resulted in an increased sluggishness and the associated symptoms.

4. The type of work that George did until recently was likely to lead to his Kidney energy becoming depleted. Regular outdoor work will result in cold and damp invading the lower back and becoming lodged in the channels of the body – a pattern described in Chinese medicine as Cold Damp Bi (or Cold Damp Obstruction Syndrome). This pattern would also lead to depletion of the Kidney energy.

5. George’s poor & erratic diet will not help. It is likely that this will have the effect of depleting the energy of the Spleen, which would lead to the accumulation of damp in the lower part of the body, which would further exacerbate the urinary retention problems.

In summary, from the perspective of Chinese medicine, George presents with the following syndromes:

1. Kidney Yang deficient.
2. Bladder retaining Damp
3. Spleen Qi and/or Yang deficient.
4. Retention of Damp in the lower part of the abdomen (lower Jiao)
5. Cold Damp Bi in the joints – especially the knees & lower back.