Anatomy and Physiology of the Kidneys
The kidneys are roughly the same size as your fists and sit near the middle of your back, just below your ribs. The most important function of the kidneys is in the regulation of the body’s water content.
By way of excretion or reabsorption, the kidneys have the ability to differentiate between wastes and vital substances. Considering water comprises two thirds of our body mass, the kidneys are a very important and very busy organ.
As well as playing an essential role in the maintenance of blood pressure, the kidneys regulate salt balance and maintain the acid/alkali balance of the blood.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the kidneys are known as the “Root of Life”. The kidneys are the foundation for all other organs in the body, including the liver, heart, lungs and spleen. The kidneys store our ‘vital force’ that we were born with, govern birth, growth, reproduction and development. They also govern our general constitution, strength and vitality.
With infertility being such a huge issue in modern life and for couples wishing to undertake pre-conception care programs, kidney detoxification and nourishment plays a central and crucial role in fertility success. If the kidneys are strong and balanced, vitality, sexual energy and fertility will flourish.
The Symptoms
Does your lower back continually ache? Do you have stiff hips and sore knees? Do you find that your energy levels drop after 5pm and you feel so exhausted that you feel like going straight to bed after work? Perhaps you suffer recurring bladder infections, period pain or prostate enlargement? Or do you suffer from anxiety attacks and/or low self-esteem?
If you can relate to any of these conditions, you may like to consider detoxifying and strengthening your kidneys. All of these symptoms can mean that you may have early stages of kidney gravel formation.
Kidney Stones
Finding yourself with a kidney stone, will mean you will be in acute, prolonged pain and will most definitely need to attend hospital. If you pass the stone, then the likelihood of other stones being present is very high.
You will also have some level of ‘sand, grit, or gravel’. Miriam Young’s Kidney Detox uses Food Medicine and Herbal Medicine in order to dissolve the kidney stones and gravel. Every single patient I have ever met with kidney stone formation have had a high ratio of calcium compared to their magnesium.