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The Kidney corresponds to Water and is prosperous in Winter. Its pulse is deep and heavy like a stone; its sensory organ is the ear; its vocalization is groaning; its odor is putrid; its taste is salty; its fluid is saliva; it nourishes the bones; its color is black; its spirit is Zhi (Will); the Foot Shaoyin Meridian belongs to it. It pairs with the Bladder; the Bladder, as a Fu Organ, governs the exterior, while the Kidney, as a Zang Organ, governs the interior.

When Kidney Qi is abundant and the Will is excessive, symptoms include abdominal distension, undigested food diarrhea, body edema, wheezing and coughing, sweating, aversion to wind, dark complexion, and yellow urine. This is termed Excess of Kidney Qi, and treatment should employ draining methods. When Kidney Qi is deficient, symptoms include cold extremities, coldness of the lower back and waist, internal chest pain, tinnitus, and severe deafness. This is termed Deficiency of Kidney Qi, and treatment should employ tonifying methods.

Regarding the Four Seasons: A Kidney disease heals in Spring; if not healed in Spring, it worsens in Late Summer; if it does not result in death in Late Summer, it recovers in Autumn; it originates in Winter. Regarding Heavenly Stems: It heals on Jia-Yi days (Wood days); if not healed on Jia-Yi days, it worsens on Wu-Ji days (Earth days); if it does not result in death on Wu-Ji days, it recovers on Geng-Xin days (Metal days); it originates on Ren-Gui days (Water days). Regarding Time of Day: Symptoms alleviate at midnight, worsen during Si Shi (Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei hours), and are calm in the afternoon (Shen-You hours).

The Kidney desires firmness; quickly consume Bitter flavors to firm it, Salty flavors to drain it, and Bitter flavors to tonify it. Avoid contact with dust and dirt, and do not wear clothes that have been heated by fire.

The Kidney pulse position is located at the Chi position behind the Guan on the left hand. A normal Kidney pulse comes continuously and densely like a hook, feeling firm upon pressure; this is called a Normal Kidney Pulse. In Winter, the Stomach Qi serves as the foundation. In Winter, Kidney Water is dominant, and its pulse is deep, soft, and slippery, named Normal Pulse. If instead a floating, large, and slow pulse is obtained, this is Spleen Earth overacting on Kidney Water (Earth overcoming Water), which is a Major Reversal, resulting in ten deaths with no cure; if instead a floating, choppy, and short pulse is obtained, this is Lung Metal overacting on Kidney Water (Mother returning to Son), which is Empty Evil, easy to treat despite illness; if instead a string-like, thin, and long pulse is obtained, this is Liver Wood overacting on Kidney Water (Son supporting Mother), which is Full Evil, healing itself despite illness; if instead a floating, large, and surging pulse is obtained, this is Heart Fire overacting on Kidney Water (Fire insulting Water), which is Minor Evil, not fatal even if ill, provided treatment is administered.

A diseased Kidney pulse feels like pulling a vine, becoming harder upon pressure; this is called a Diseased Kidney Pulse. In Kidney Wind-Water disease, the pulse is large and tight, the body has no pain, the form is not emaciated, but there is an inability to eat and a tendency to be easily startled; death occurs if startling leads to Heart Withering. A dying Kidney pulse beats chaotically like a rope being pulled apart, or sounds crisp and abrupt like stones striking; this is called a Dying Kidney Pulse. In Winter, a slight Stone pulse with Stomach Qi indicates health; less Stomach Qi and more Stone Qi indicates Kidney disease; only Stone Qi without Stomach Qi indicates death; Stone Qi containing Hook characteristics indicates illness arising in Summer; prominent Hook characteristics indicate current illness.

The True Essence descends to the Kidneys, where the Kidneys store the Qi of Marrow and Bones. When the True Kidney Pulse arrives, it beats strongly and abruptly, sounding crisp like striking stones. If the complexion is yellow-black and lusterless, and hair breaks off, death ensues. Whenever any Zang Organ's True Pulse appears, it is a terminal condition unresponsive to treatment. Decoctions, moxibustion, acupuncture, and stone therapy have separate specific formulas; nourishing and guiding exercises are attached hereafter.

The *Yangsheng Fang* states: The three months of Winter are for closure and storage. Water freezes and the earth cracks; do not disturb Yang. Sleep early and rise late, waiting for sunlight. Let your will remain hidden and concealed, as if holding private thoughts, as if already satisfied. Move away from cold towards warmth; do not allow the skin pores to open excessively, causing frequent loss of Qi. This is responding to Winter Qi, the way of nurturing storage. Violating this injures the Kidneys, leading to Withering and Cold Extremities in Spring.

The *Yangsheng Fang · Daoyin Fa* states: For those suffering from Kidney diseases, characterized by throat obstruction, abdominal fullness, and deafness, use the "Blow" (Chui) exhalation method.

It further states: Sit with legs crossed, grasp both feet at the Jiexi acupoint with both hands, switch positions, reach the extreme posture, tilt the head backward, and repeat seven times. This removes congestion and obstruction of Kidney Qi.