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.
EquiguardTM 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.
