Did excessive use of kidney-tonifying and aphrodisiac supplements cause internal heat and insomnia?
Table of contents
Kidney tonificationExcessive use of aphrodisiacs can cause internal heat.Insomnia?The answer is: Absolutely.
Excessive or improper consumption of kidney-tonifying and aphrodisiac soups, traditional Chinese medicines, or health supplements leading to symptoms such as internal heat and insomnia is a very common occurrence in traditional Chinese medicine clinics.
Why do tonifying the kidneys and enhancing male virility lead to "internal heat" and "insomnia"?
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this is mainly related to "The medicinal properties are slightly warm and dry." and "Body imbalance" related.
1. The medicine is warm and drying in nature, which can promote yang and damage yin.
- Common aphrodisiac herbs, such asDeer antler,Epimedium,Morinda officinalis,Cynomorium,Haima,CinnamonThese are mostly "warming yang" or "tonifying yang" products, and their medicinal properties tend to be...warm and dry.
- These medicinal herbs were originally designed to treat typical cases. "Kidney Yang Deficiency" Symptoms include:Feeling cold and aversion to cold, cold hands and feet, lower back and knee pain, lethargy, decreased libido, and frequent urination at night..
- However, if the user isYin deficiency constitution(Typical symptoms: dry mouth and throat, hot palms and soles, night sweats, insomnia and vivid dreams) orDamp-heat constitutionTaking these highly warming and hot medicinal herbs again would be tantamount to... "Adding fuel to the fire" .
- Even if one is inherently of a Yang deficiency constitution, ifOverdoseorTaking it for too longHowever, this can easily lead to "over-nourishment." This will deplete the body's yin fluids (the substances in the body that moisturize and cool), causing an excess of yang energy that cannot be restrained, thus transforming into "deficient fire" or "excess fire," triggering symptoms of internal heat.
2. Excessive Yang energy disturbs the mind.
- In traditional Chinese medicine theory,Heart belongs to fire,Kidney belongs to waterA normal state of health is one of "harmony between the heart and kidneys," where kidney water rises to nourish heart fire, and heart fire descends to warm kidney water, thus achieving a balance between water and fire.
- Excessive tonification of kidney yang can lead to an overabundance of yang energy in the lower abdomen. This excessive yang heat will then rise upwards.Disturbed mind.
- The mind governs the spirit.When the mind is disturbed by heat, naturally the following will occur.Insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and vivid dreamsSymptoms such as these. It's like there's a furnace inside your body constantly roasting you, making it impossible to calm down.
3. Simply supplementing Yang while neglecting Yin.
- Skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioners emphasize tonifying Yang. "Seeking Yang within Yin" This means that on the basis of nourishing Yin, we should warm and tonify kidney Yang, so that Yang Qi can have a solid foundation and grow gently, rather than being superficial and restless.
- Many people, when taking tonics on their own, only focus on adding large amounts of warming herbs, but neglect the importance of proper combination with other herbs.Rehmannia glutinosa,yam,Goji berries,Ophiopogon japonicusThe use of yin-nourishing herbs can cause the replenished yang energy to lack yin fluids to adhere to, turning it into "deficient fire" that rises upwards, resulting in insomnia and symptoms of heatiness in the head and face.
Specific symptoms of "over-supplementation"
If you experience the following symptoms after taking supplements, it is very likely that you have "overdone it":
- SleepDifficulty falling asleep, light sleep with frequent awakenings, vivid dreams, or even sleeplessness.
- Regarding "internal heat":
- false heatSymptoms include: dry mouth and throat but no desire to drink much, dry and sore throat, flushed cheeks, burning sensation in the palms and soles (five-center heat), and night sweats.
- Real fireSymptoms include: dry mouth with a preference for cold drinks, mouth ulcers, swollen and painful gums, acne on the face, constipation, and dark yellow urine.
- Full body sensationSymptoms include: irritability, restlessness, feeling hot all over, headache, and dizziness.
- Male functionOn the contrary, it may occurwet dream,Spermatorrhea,Premature ejaculationThe phenomenon of "unable to retain essence" is caused by excessive yang heat disturbing the seminal vesicle.
| Time point | symptom | Severity | Response methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes after drinking | Slightly dry mouth | ★☆☆ | Drink plain water |
| 2 hours after drinking | Sore throat, rapid heartbeat | ★★☆ | Chrysanthemum tea |
| 4 hours after drinking | Mouth ulcers, irritability | ★★★ | Stop replenishing + Malva nut |
| 8 hours after drinking | Difficulty falling asleep | ★★★ | Foot bath |
| 24 hours after drinking | constipation | ★★☆ | mung bean soup |
| 48 hours after drinking | worsening lower back pain | ★★★ | See a traditional Chinese medicine doctor |
How to properly tonify the kidneys and enhance male virility while avoiding side effects?
- In diagnosis and treatment, the first step is to consider the patient's constitution (this is the most important!).:
- It is absolutely not recommended to self-diagnose your constitution and take supplements arbitrarily..
- A qualified traditional Chinese medicine practitioner must diagnose the condition to determine whether it is "kidney yang deficiency" or "kidney yin deficiency," or whether there are complex conditions such as yin and yang deficiency, or damp-heat.
- Kidney Yang DeficiencyOnly then can one consider warming and tonifying kidney yang.
- Kidney Yin DeficiencyThe patient should be nourishing yin and reducing internal heat; if they mistakenly take aphrodisiacs, it will only worsen their condition.
- Choose a mild formula and dosage.:
- A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner will prescribe a suitable combination of herbs based on your specific condition. For example, adding herbs to a warming yang formula.Yin-nourishing medicinal materials(such as yam, wolfberry, and rehmannia) to counteract its drying properties and achieve the effect of nourishing both yin and yang.
- More is not always better. For example, when stewing soup, the dosage of herbs such as Morinda officinalis and Eucommia ulmoides is generally 15-30 grams, and should not be excessive.
- Know when to stop, and quit while you're ahead.:
- Supplements are also "medicine," and their frequency must be strictly controlled. It is sufficient to drink tonic soup 2-3 times a week; avoid excessive supplementation every day.
- During the consumption period, you should closely observe your body's reaction. If you experience any signs of internal heat or insomnia, you should stop immediately.
- It should not be consumed continuously for daily health maintenance. It is generally recommended to stop after a period of supplementation to allow the body a buffer period.
- Dietary supplements are better than medicinal supplements:
- For those with mild kidney deficiency or those wishing to maintain their health daily, it is advisable to prioritize milder foods, such as...Walnuts, black sesame seeds, black beans, chestnuts, goji berries, and eucommia bark (relatively mild medicinal properties). It's relatively safe to use it for making soup or porridge.
What should I do if I'm already experiencing insomnia due to internal heat?
- Stop replenishing immediatelyThis is the first and most crucial step. Stop taking all warming and nourishing herbal decoctions and foods.
- Dietary therapy:
- Drink more water, you can drink someCooling and nourishing tea,likeChrysanthemum and goji berry tea, honey water, pear water.
- Eat someNourishing Yin and reducing internal heatFood, such asPears, watermelons, water chestnuts, winter melons, mung bean soup, tofu.
- Avoid eating spicy, fried, barbecued, mutton, leeks, and other "hot" foods.
- Daily routine:
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid staying up late (staying up late is most detrimental to Yin).
- You can engage in some gentle exercises, such as walking, yoga, or tai chi, to help the body's energy flow smoothly and direct the fire downwards.
- Those with severe cases need to seek medical attention.:
- If symptoms of insomnia due to internal heat are severe or do not improve after several days, you should seek help from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
- Chinese medicine practitioners will prescribe medications based on diagnosis.Nourishing Yin and reducing internal heat, calming the mind and stabilizing the spiritThe body can use traditional Chinese medicine formulas (such as Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, Huang Lian E Jiao Tang, etc., with modifications) to treat the symptoms and restore the balance of Yin and Yang in the body.
The "3-3-3 Rule" to Prevent Over-Supplementation
| in principle | content |
|---|---|
| 3 grams | No more than 3g of each herb (for beginners) |
| 3 days | No more than 3 consecutive days of supplementation |
| 3 hours | Don't sleep for 3 hours after drinking the soup (to allow the internal heat to dissipate). |
Kidney tonification and aphrodisiacSummarize
Kidney tonification and aphrodisiac treatment is a profound subject.The purpose of nourishing the body is to achieve a balance of Yin and Yang, not to simply "add heat"..
When used properly, it can be a lifesaver for those with genuine kidney yang deficiency; however, when used improperly, especially for those with unsuitable constitutions or those who take excessive amounts, it can exacerbate the condition by causing excessive internal heat and insomnia. Before taking any supplements,It is essential to consult a professional Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner.This is the most responsible attitude towards one's own health.
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