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The Kidney corresponds to the image of Wood, and combines with the Bladder to form a Fu organ (the Bladder is the Fu organ of fluid metabolism). Its meridian is the Foot-Shaoyin (Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian), which is exterior-interior related to the Foot-Taiyang (Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian).

Its pulse is Chen (Chen pulse, deep pulse, is the major characteristic of the Kidney pulse). It corresponds to the three months of Autumn (Metal rules in Autumn, Water cooperates with it). It Wang (thrives) during the three months of Winter, Fei (is idle) during Spring, Qiu (is imprisoned) during Summer, and Si (dies) in the sixth month of Ji Xia (late summer). Its Wang days are Ren and Gui days; its Wang times are R Ding (early night) and Ye Ban (midnight); its Qun days are Bing and Ding days; its Qun times are Yu Zhong (mid-morning) and Ri Zhong (noon); its Si days are Wu and Ji days; its Si times are Shi Shi (meal time) and Ri Xi (afternoon sun). Its Shen (spirit) resides in Zhi (willpower, stored by the Kidney). It governs body fluids, nourishes bones, opens into the ears, manifests as groaning sounds, has a black complexion, a rotten odor, produces saliva, tastes salty, prefers sour flavors, and dislikes sweet flavors. Shenshu (BL23) is located at the 14th thoracic vertebra on the back, and its Mu point is Jingmen (GB25); Cangshu (BL28) is located at the 19th thoracic vertebra, and its Mu point is Zhongji (CV3). (Jingmen is one cun above Henggu, in the depression five cun below the umbilicus anteriorly). This section is newly compiled.

The Kidney belongs to Water of the North, the repository of all things (Winter is when Northern energy prevails, thriving after the other three seasons; the Kidney is below the four Zang organs, thus thriving in the North; all things spring birth, summer growth, autumn harvest, winter storage). Hundred insects hibernate (insects that do not eat while hibernating in winter, indicating many species). Yang Qi sinks downward, Yin Qi rises upward. If Yang Qi emerges midway, Yin Qi becomes fierce and turns into frost, ceasing to rise, transforming into snow and frost; fierce beasts hibernate, and small insects hide (Yang Qi sinking downward means descending into the earth. Although its Qi tends to rise out, the Yin Qi above is extremely cold; although Yang Qi rises, it cannot reach itself, thus transforming into frost and snow. Alternatively, "Yang Qi emerging midway" refers to frost falling in the tenth lunar month. Fierce beasts hibernating likely refers to dragons and snakes hiding during winter. Snail-like insects without fur or shells hibernate upon feeling cold, following the location of Yang Qi to avoid ice and frost, thereby warming and nurturing themselves). Its pulse is Chen. Chen indicates Yin and interior conditions; sweating should not be induced. If sweating is induced, it is like insects emerging from hibernation to see frost and snow (Yang Qi is below, hence the Winter pulse is Chen, warming and nourishing the Zang organs. This is interior excess and exterior deficiency. Inducing sweating from the exterior is contrary treatment, not the correct method. It is like insects emerging from hibernation to appear in ice and frost; death is certain. Contrary treatment leads to death, which is what this refers to). If Yin Qi is at the exterior and Yang Qi is in the Zang organs, purgation must be avoided. Purgation damages the Spleen; if Spleen Earth is weak, Water Qi will act recklessly (Yang Qi is below, warming the Zang organs, so purgation is contraindicated. Purgation damages Yang Qi and injures the Spleen and Stomach. Earth normally controls Water, but now it is injured, causing Water to overflow and act recklessly). Purgation is like a fish leaving water or a moth entering boiling soup (treating illness contrary to principles kills, just as a fish leaves water or a moth enters fire/water, dying instantly). Heavy pathogenic factors residing in the interior: moxibustion/fumigation must be avoided. If fumigated, the pathogen becomes contrary, and the patient will pant (Heavy pathogen refers to Yang Qi. "Heavy" implies respect. Yang resides high, but now temporarily low, hence called "guest". Fumigation involves burning needles or hot substances to induce sweat. This allows guest heat to enter from outside and clash with Yang Qi, which is contrary. Qi steams up to the chest, causing panting). Do not retain guest heat, lest it cause mouth ulcers (Do not use hot substances to fumigate and induce sweat. Fumigation causes fire Qi to enter the interior as guest heat, leading to mouth sores). The Yin pulse loosens, blood scatters and does not flow, Zheng Yang (True Yang) becomes Jue (rebellious/cold extremities), and Yin does not follow (Blood flows in vessels, Qi flows outside vessels, circulating fifty times and meeting again, like an endless circle. Blood is Yin, Qi is Yang, they support each other. Sweating separates Yin and Yang, disperses the pulse, and blocks blood flow. Jue means rebellion, where Yang Qi rebels and no longer interacts. Improper treatment causes Yin-Yang disorder, so caution is needed). Guest heat enters wildly, forming Jie Xiong (Chest Binding) internally (Yin-Yang confusion, wild external heat enters and binds in the chest). Spleen Qi becomes weak, leading to clear urine and diarrhea (The Spleen governs food and fluids; its Qi is weak, failing to transform food and fluids, resulting in continuous diarrhea. "Qing" refers to the toilet; urine exits via the water pathway, but here it refers to diarrhea occurring at the toilet). This section is from *Shang Si Shi Jing* (Treatise on the Four Seasons).

Huangdi asked: The Winter pulse is like a camp (Ying). What constitutes Ying? Qibo replied: The Winter pulse belongs to the Kidney and corresponds to Northern Water, the season when all things gather and store. Therefore, its Qi comes deep and firm (Jia Yi text reads Ru), hence it is called Ying. The opposite of this indicates disease. Huangdi asked: How is it opposite? Qibo said: When its Qi comes hard like a bouncing stone, this is called Tai Guo (Excess), indicating disease in the Exterior; when its Qi goes rapid like a Shu pulse, this is called Bu Ji (Deficiency), indicating disease in the Interior. Huangdi asked: Regarding Excess and Deficiency of the Winter pulse, what are their symptoms? Qibo said: Excess causes lethargy, pain in the spinal meridians, shortness of breath, and reluctance to speak; Deficiency causes a sensation of hunger with an empty heart, coldness in the hypochondrium, spinal pain, abdominal fullness, and yellow-red urine.

A Kidney pulse that comes rapidly and continuously like a hook, firm upon pressure, is called a Ping (Normal) Kidney pulse. In Winter, Stomach Qi is the foundation. A Kidney pulse that comes like pulling a vine, becoming firmer upon pressure, indicates Kidney Disease. A Kidney pulse that comes like a pulled rope, crackling like stones, indicates Kidney Death. The True Kidney pulse appears condensed and severed, like fingers striking stones, crackling distinctly; with a sallow-black lusterless complexion and brittle hair, death ensues. A Winter pulse slightly Stone-like with Stomach Qi is Normal; Stone with little Stomach Qi is Kidney Disease; Stone without Stomach Qi is Death. Stone pulse with Hook characteristics indicates disease in Summer; prominent Hook characteristics indicate current disease. (All people rely on grain and water for life; thus, cutting off grain and water leads to death, and a pulse lacking Stomach Qi also leads to death. Lacking Stomach Qi means obtaining only the True Zang pulse without Stomach Qi. Specifically, if the Liver pulse is not String-like and the Kidney pulse is not Stone-like, it lacks Stomach Qi). The Kidney stores Essence, and Essence houses Zhi (Will). Unchecked anger injures Zhi; injuring Zhi leads to forgetfulness, lower back and spine pain, inability to bend or stretch, withered hair, and dull complexion, leading to death in late summer.

In Winter, Kidney Water thrives; its pulse is Deep, Soft, and Slippery, which is the Normal pulse. If instead a Large and Slow pulse is obtained, it is the Spleen overacting on the Kidney, Earth overcoming Water, known as Zei Xie (Robber Evil), a great reversal, ten deaths with no cure (One version says: count days, months, years to one; avoid Wu and Ji days). If a String-like, Thin, and Long pulse is obtained, it is the Liver overacting on the Kidney, Son supporting Mother, known as Shi Xie (Solid Evil); though diseased, it will heal spontaneously. If a Floating (Qian Jin Fang reads Wei/Micro), Choppy, and Short pulse is obtained, it is the Lung overacting on the Kidney, Mother returning to Son, known as Xu Xie (Empty Evil); though diseased, it is easy to treat. If a Surging, Large, and Dispersed pulse is obtained (Qian Jin Fang reads Floating, Large, and Surging), it is the Heart overacting on the Kidney, Fire suppressing Water, known as Wei Xie (Slight Evil); though diseased, it will recover quickly.

A Kidney pulse that is Deep, Fine, and Tight, arriving twice per respiration, is Normal; three times per respiration is Li Jing (Departing from the Channel), indicating disease; four times is Tuo Jing (Essence Depletion); five times is Death; six times is End of Life. This is the Foot-Shaoyin pulse.

An excessively Crisp Kidney pulse indicates Bone Atrophy and Epilepsy; mildly Crisp indicates Ben Tun (Running Piglet), Chen Jue (Deep Cold Extremities), foot paralysis, and inability to urinate or defecate. An excessively Slow pulse indicates Spinal Fracture; mildly Slow indicates Dong Xia (Cavity Diarrhea), where food is not digested and regurgitates upon swallowing. An excessively Large pulse indicates Impotence; mildly Large indicates Shi Shui (Stone Water), swelling starting from below the navel to the lower abdomen, hanging heavily, extending up to the stomach, which is untreatable and fatal. An excessively Small pulse indicates Cavity Diarrhea; mildly Small indicates Xiao Dan (Wasting-Thirst). An excessively Slippery pulse indicates Long Bi (Dysuria); mildly Slippery indicates Bone Atrophy, inability to sit up, blindness, and seeing black spots. An excessively Choppy pulse indicates Large Carbuncle; mildly Choppy indicates Amenorrhea and internal hemorrhoids. When the Qi of Foot-Shaoyin is exhausted, bones wither. Shaoyin is the Winter pulse, hidden within and moistening the bone marrow. Thus, if bones are not moistened, flesh cannot adhere to them; if flesh and bone are not intimate, flesh shrinks and recedes. As flesh recedes, teeth appear long and dirty (Nan Jing reads Ku/Dry), hair loses luster. Hair losing luster indicates bone death first. Condition worsens on Wu days, dies on Ji days, as Earth overcomes Water.

The dead脏 (Zang) pulse of the Kidney is firm upon light palpation, chaotic like a rolling pill upon heavy palpation, extending down into the Chi position, indicating death. This section is from *Su Wen*, *Zhen Jing*, and Zhang Zhongjing.