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According to the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon): The Kidney is the official responsible for strength and vigor, from which skills and ingenuity emerge.
The Kidney governs hibernation (quiescence), serving as the root of sealing and storing, and is the residence of Essence (Jing). Its brilliance manifests in the hair, its nourishment fills the bones, it belongs to the Great Yin within the Yin category, and connects with the Qi of Winter.
The North corresponds to black, internally connecting to the Kidney, opening into the ears, and storing Essence within the Kidney. Therefore, diseases manifest in the muscle clefts (Xi). Its flavor is salty, its element is Water, its associated domestic animal is the pig, its grain is the bean, it corresponds to the four seasons, and in the heavens it corresponds to Chenxing (the planet Mercury). Thus, one knows that disease resides in the bones. Its musical note is Yu, its number is six, its odor is putrid, and its fluid is saliva.
The North generates Cold; Cold generates Water; Water generates Salty flavor; Salty flavor enters the Kidney; the Kidney generates Marrow; Marrow generates the Liver. The Kidney governs the ears. In Heaven it is Cold, on Earth it is Water, in the body it is Bone, and in the Zang organs it is the Kidney. In sound it is groaning, in movement it is shivering, in emotion it is Fear, and Fear damages the Kidney. Thought overcomes Fear; Cold damages Blood; Dryness overcomes Cold; Salty flavor damages Blood; Sweet flavor overcomes Salty flavor.

There are twenty-seven acupoints on the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian: Yongquan (K1), Rangu (K2), Taixi (K3) are full; Dazhong (K4), Shuiquan (K5), Zhaohai (K6); Fuliu (K7), Jiaoxin (K8), Zubin (K9); Yinggu (K10), Dumai (K11); Tonggu (K12), Youmen (K13) open at half a cun. Measuring the abdomen vertically involves eleven fen; Bulang (KI14), Shenfeng (KI15), Yinglingxu (KI16), Shencang (KI17), [Missing Character], Zhongshu (KI18), Yufu (KI23) conclude (twenty-seven points on each side, totaling fifty-four points).
This meridian originates at Yongquan and terminates at Yufu. Selecting Yongquan, Rangu, Taixi, Fuliu, and Yinggu corresponds to the Jing-River-Well-Spring-He-Sea five Shu points.
The pulse originates below the little toe, slants toward the center of the foot, emerges below Rangu, follows behind the medial malleolus, branches into the heel, ascends along the medial aspect of the lower leg, emerges at the medial border of the thigh, penetrates the spine, attaches to the Kidney, and connects with the Bladder; its straight branch ascends from the Kidney through the Liver and Diaphragm, enters the Lung, follows the throat, and flanks the base of the tongue; its branch emerges from the Lung, connects with the Heart, and pours into the chest. It has abundant Qi and scarce Blood; during the You hour (5 PM - 7 PM), Qi and Blood flow into this meridian.
It is the organ of Gui Water, with the pulse located at the left Chi position. One organ has two forms: the left is named Kidney, storing Essence in men; the right is named Mingmen (Gate of Life), anchoring the Uterus in women. It is the root of Yuan Qi (Original Qi) and the residence of Spirit (Shen). When diseased, it returns to the Bladder; diagnosis distinguishes between Water and Fire. Excess presents with an excess pulse, distension and fullness of the lower abdomen, stiffness and rigidity of the waist and back, yellow urine, and dry tongue; Xie Shen Tang (Drain the Kidney Decoction) can be widely applied. Deficiency presents with a deficient pulse, cold Qi, impotence, turbid voice, weak calves, and intermittent pulse; Cong Rong San (Cistanche Powder) should be carefully studied. If Kidney Qi is disharmonious causing waist and hypochondriac pain, a powder named Yixiang (Strange Fragrance) is used; if Yang meridians are stagnant causing back and shoulder pain, a decoction named Tongqi (Unblocking Qi) is used. Yaotong San (Lumbago Powder) contains Ba Jiao Hui Xiang (Star Anise and Fennel); Jingxie Mo uses Jiu Zi (Leek Seed) one sheng. For Qi stagnation in the waist to promote smooth Qi flow, and blood stasis in the arm causing pain, Shujing (Relaxing the Channels) can be used. Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry) can communicate between the Heart and Kidney, requiring Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood), Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root), Chuan Gui (Sichuan Lovage and Angelica Sinensis), Shan Yao (Dioscorea), Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche), and Gou Qi (Goji Berry); Long Gu (Dragon Bone) calms and nourishes the Spirit, combined with Yi Zhi Ren (Alpinia Oxyphylla), Hui Xiang (Fennel), Gu Zhi (Psoralea), Lu Rong (Deer Antler), Niu Xi (Achyranthes), and Huang Bo (Phellodendron). Di Huang (Rehmannia) tonifies the Kidney and benefits Yin; adding Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) tonifies Marrow. Fu Zi (Aconite) expels Cold and removes Dampness; doubling Ren Shen (Ginseng) strengthens Yang. Long Gu treats bone deficiency with soreness and pain; Zhu Shen (Pig Kidney) aids Kidney weakness and lumbar deficit. Generally, Salty flavor travels to the Kidney; Qiu Shi (Autumn Stone) requires clear combination; Cold can ruin life; Chun Ming (Spring Tea) must distinguish between old and new; agents that drain and lighten to eliminate water should be used cautiously; pills refined to assist Fire should not be consumed. Li Dongyuan once stated that Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark) and Du Huo (Angelica Pubescens) act as guiding messengers; Qian Yi used only Di Huang and Gou Qi as guiding herbs. Furthermore, it is heard that "if bamboo breaks, it must be repaired with bamboo; if the hen breaks, it still needs the egg." Who knows that everyone inherently possesses the elixir of longevity, yet lost disciples vainly discard it? When sweet dew descends, Heaven and Earth unite; where Yellow Sprout arises, Kan and Li intersect. A frog in a well should say there is no dragon's cave; a crane by the fence how could know there is a phoenix's nest? When the elixir ripens, naturally gold fills the house; why seek herbs to learn burning茅草 (mao grass)?
The *Daoyin Benjing* states: Humans receive the Qi of Heaven and Earth to have life, and the essence of Taiji resides therein, which is what we inherently possess and fills the universe.
If one rides upon it improperly, hundred diseases arise. This is like opening four doors to admit thieves; how could it not lead to ruin! Yet since ancient times, sages have mostly commanded examination. Is it because they were浑蒙 (thick and ignorant), receiving Heaven's endowment particularly heavily, and their breathing and postures achieved human distinction through unique arts? Or is it because will is tranquil and Dao is one, spirit is fresh and unadulterated, allowing our inherent True Qi to always be the master of the body, so that Ying and Wei circulate freely, and evil has no entry? Those Wind, Cold, Summer-Heat, and Dampness are like a strong city; although external thieves come repeatedly to spy, how can they find gaps to wreak havoc? Those who claim to be medical families, distinguishing symptoms and following formulas, applying prescriptions according to pulses, suddenly achieving results, certainly do not abandon this. However, stopping thieves when they arrive is inferior to having no thieves to stop; treating illness when it arrives is inferior to having no illness to treat. Rather than seeking mineral drugs and constantly worrying about insufficiency, it is better to seek the Jing of our own body and always have surplus. Thus, the dialogue between Huangdi and Qibo states: "The hundred limbs obey orders; only by preserving Taihe (Great Harmony) and stabilizing Tianjun (Heavenly Monarch/Spirit) can this be achieved." This is the meaning. Sages of old said: "The great treasure of Heaven and Earth is pearls and jade; the great treasure of the human body is Spirit and Essence." The *Neijing* says: "The great desires of men and women exist here." Indeed, if one can use Reason to control desire, and Righteousness to drive emotion, even if beautiful colors are before the eyes, it is merely pleasing to the eye and soothing to the mind; how can one indulge in情欲 (lust) and lose Essence? As the saying goes: "When oil is exhausted, the lamp extinguishes; when Marrow is depleted, the person dies; adding oil strengthens the lamp, replenishing Marrow strengthens the person." It also says: "In winter, Heaven and Earth close; Blood and Qi hide; latent Yang is inside, and the Heart and Diaphragm are often hot. One must strictly avoid sweating to leak Yang Qi; this is called Closing and Storing. Water freezes, earth cracks; do not disturb Yang. Sleep early, rise late, waiting for sunlight. Let your will be like hiding or concealing, as if having private intentions, as if already satisfied. Move away from cold and towards warmth; do not vent the skin pores, causing Qi to be frequently deprived. This is responding to Winter Qi, the way of nurturing storage. Violating it damages the Kidney, leading to Wei Jue (flaccidity and cold extremities) in Spring. People should consume Guben Yishen Jiu (Root-Firming Kidney-Nourishing Wine) to welcome Yang Qi. Do not become too warm, injuring the eyes; nor get too drunk and expose oneself to cold. If injured by Cold in Winter, Warm Disease will surely occur in Spring. Therefore, the former Kings closed passes in this month, ensuring heat and cold were moderate." I have heard it said: "Profoundly calm and sincere, guarding the profound Essence; obtaining images and forgetting words to discern the Dao; properly managing the female gate (lower dantian) based on reason; using divine calculation before Zi hour and after Wu hour." Thus, refining Yuan Jing (Original Essence) to transform Jiaogan Jing (Sexual Essence), mixing three substances to merge with Dao, naturally Yuan Jing solidifies, and Jiaogan Jing does not leak. Methods of health preservation begin here. Regarding the aforementioned Kidney: when Essence is complete, one does not think of lust; when Qi is complete, one does not think of food; when Spirit is complete, one does not think of sleep. These words summarize it all.