People commonly think kidney deficiency is an inevitable part of aging and a condition largely present in males.  However, young adults and females can also develop such a condition, especially if they live unhealthy life styles.  In several cases, kidney deficiency may result in frequent nocturnal urination, prostate enlargement, sexual performance issues, or even prostate cancer. 

URINARY HEALTH

In Western physiology, urine is considered a fluid and a dissolved substance excreted by the kidneys. An analysis of urine sample can provide a good picture of the functioning of the body. By measuring urine volume, concentration, creatinine, urea and proteins, we understand how well the kidneys are functioning. By measuring the pH, sodium, potassium, calcium, we also have a general idea about our whole body’s fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a more holistic interpretation of urine is taken.  The quantity, frequency, color and the feeling during urination reflects how healthy our yin yang balance is (i.e. the degree of hotness and coldness present in our body). An excess of heat or cold on our bodies can cause serious health problems.  

·        When there is extra heat, the urine will appear dark yellow and be urinated for a short amount of time.  In more severe heat situations, individuals may experience painful urination.

·        When there is too much coldness, the urine appears colorless with frequent, long and clear urinations. In some situations, individuals may also experience excessive nighttime urination.

Kidney Yang Deficiency or Kidney Qi Deficiency:

Takes place when frequent, long, clear and white (close to colorless) urinations persistently happen for a considerable period of time.   (Except when we drink a lot of water or when the weather is cold, but the urine will go back to normal soon after.)

Kidney yang is considered to be the “life fire” in the body. It is the foundation of yang qi for all other organs. It provides energy, power and warmth for the body’s physiological activities and functions and empowers the various qi transformations in the body. One of them is the qi transformation of fluids, the formation of urine, and it is powered by the kidney yang.  The normal outflow of urine requires a healthy balance of kidney yang energy and kidney qi regulates the optimal outflow of urine. This is referred to as “control of the opening and closing of the gate.” The gate requires kidney qi to “open” it to allow optimal amount of urine to be discharged, and to “consolidate” to keep the gate closed when there is no urination urge. Inadequate gate opening or closing will lead to serious health problems.

An example of kidney yang deficiency may lead to kidney qi deficiency means there will be inadequate kidney qi consolidation at the gate and urinary frequency will arise. Yang qi is weaker at night than during the day, and individuals with insufficient kidney yang qi are further weakened and this cause them to experience frequent night time urination due to the inadequate consolidation of kidney qi.  Therefore it is important to maintain healthy kidney yang qi energy in order to support normal urination when internal “cold” is present in the urine.

DEEPER MEANING OF URINARY HEALTH

KIDNEY HEALTH

In TCM, urinary health encompasses the theory of kidney health. The kidneys are thought to be the roots of our primordial life. Urination is ruled by the kidneys and is summarized as the “kidneys rule water.”, and thus has very close connection with kidney health.

The kidneys belong to the water element in the Five Elements Theory. They possess life nourishing properties and were interpreted as the organs that “rule growth, development and reproduction” in TCM.  The fact that our aging cycle is governed by the growth and decline of kidney qi requires an abundance of kidney qi to maintain a healthy aging process, and avoid premature aging and decline in other organ functions.

 “Kidney essence” is an essential fundamental substance for promoting life activities in the body.  It comprises the functions of kidney yang and kidney yin. Kidney yang is mainly responsible for promoting the warming, exercising, exciting and qi transformation functions, while kidney yin is mainly responsible for promoting nourishing, calming, forming, yang and heat inhibiting functions. Kidney yang is known as the “root of yang qi” as kidney yin is known as the “root of yin qi”.  Kidney disharmony will affect the functions of all other organs.

To preserve “Kidney essence” Maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet, feeling tranquility, peace and contentment in our hearts and getting adequate rest and sleep are all part of a healthy life style. Our essence is naturally consumed with age, but unhealthy lifestyle and external factors can accelerate the consumption of kidney essence.

Formula Rationale

To benefit the most from Equiguard™, individuals should make sure this supplement fits with their own yin yang balance.  Kidney yang should be supported in a gradual manner to prevent health disharmonies.  These herbs are carefully chosen and formulated to promote and maintain kidney yang harmony. Healthy kidney function allows for a smoother aging process and optimal urinary health. 

·        Epimedium: The monarch herb and main ingredient.  Mild warm nature coupled with its pungent and sweet taste, supports kidney yang in a moderate and gentle way. Also strengthens tendons and bones.

·        Morinda root and Bauchee seed: Invigorate and strengthen kidney yang. Bauchee seed also consolidates kidney essence and reduces excessive urination.

·        Cherokee rose fruit, Chinese raspberry fruit and Chinese dodder seed: Consolidate kidney essence for the production of kidney yang qi; Cherokee rose fruit and Chinese raspberry fruit are astringent in taste and good for reducing excessive urination.

·        Privet fruit: Invigorates both liver and kidney yin. Assist with production of kidney yang. 

·        Schisandra fruit: Astringes the lungs and nourishes the kidneys, helps to consolidate kidney essence.

·        Astragalus root can support qi, which also helps to replenish yang qi in the body.

Equiguard^TM is a herbal formula that focuses on maintaining healthy kidney and urinary functions by supporting kidney yang and consolidating kidney essence.  Our kidneys will then have adequate yang energy to support the yang energy of all other body organs which can help prevent other health disharmonies due to kidney yang or kidney qi deficiency.

What are the symptoms of kidney yang or qi deficiency?

·         Premature aging, hair graying and/or hair loss

·         Dizziness and ringing in the ears

·         Soreness and weakness in loins and knees

·         Male: impotence, premature emission, infertility due to a decrease of sperm

·         Female: irregular menstruation, lack of menstruation (amenorrhoea) and sterility

Who are most suitable to take this product?

Individuals who experience night time urination with clear, white, long and frequent urination episodes accompanied by a kidney yang or kidney qi deficiency are most suitable to take this formula.

Quality & Safety

Equiguard is manufactured according to USP c-GMP standards and has passed toxicity, heavy metal and microbial tests.

Ingredients

60 Vege Capsules per bottle, 350 mg per capsule

Epimedium herb...................................................................................... yin yang huo

Cherokee rose fruit.................................................................................. jin yin zi

Chinese Raspberry fruit.......................................................................... fu pen zi

Bauchee seed......................................................................................... bu gu zhi

Morinda root............................................................................................. ba ji tian

Chinese dodder seed.............................................................................. tu si zi

Privet fruit................................................................................................ nu zhen zi

Schisandra fruit....................................................................................... wu wei zi

Astragalus root........................................................................................ huang qi

Suggested Use

For adults, take three capsules in the morning and three capsules in the evening with water.

Precautions

For conditions of fever and any other inflammatory conditions, painful urination, burning sensation in the genital organs, scant urine, deep yellow urine, turbid (cloudy) urine, deep red tongue color, coating of tongue is yellow or constipation, this product is not recommended until these conditions are resolved. 

This product has not been evaluated in persons who have high blood pressure or who are pregnant.