The “kidney” acupuncture meridian (tai yin or great yin) affects more than kidney function. See its pathway from its origin at the bottom of the foot up through the ankle, calf, thigh, groin, abdomen, heart area and, with deeper connecting meridians, up to the brain. Low vitality or circulation constriction along that line affects the functioning of internal organs. And “kidney” meridian energy is linked to adrenal function because the “kidney” and ‘bladder” meridians are connected. Qi from the foot moves upward and connects with Qi at the eyes (the beginning of the bladder merdian) and moves down the back to make a complete energy loop. What does that mean to you? . . . How do you feel when adrenal vitality is low? Weak, out of sorts, moody or weepy? Does your heart feel uncomfortable or irregular? Is your memory challenged? Can you hear as well or think as clearly as though you felt at the top of your form? No. Blood, bringing oxygen (qi) and nutrients (wei qi), does not get to where it can nourish internal organs. Herbal Qi tonics in traditional Asian herbal medicine usually enhance kidney, adrenal, lung and heart vitality. That sort of reasoning has made ginseng, an adaptogen that improves endocrine function, one of our all time best tonics for reversing low vitality, poor immunity to illness and depression, chronic aches, and for improving heart and kidney function.

Blood pressure measures the pressure that blood exerts against the walls of blood vessels as it flows through the body. High blood pressure approx. (above 120/70) exerts a stronger pressure against the walls of blood vessels. Low blood pressure (below around 120/70) with symptoms such as dizziness can occur because blood volume is reduced from dehydration, injury or for other reasons. Blood presses too lightly against the blood vessel walls. For example, 90/60 where  the 90 is the pressure the blood has entering the heart and 60 is the pressure it exerts against the walls of blood vessels when leaving the heart. Without other symptoms, this could be considered normal pressure for some people.

Common symptoms of low blood pressure include chills, fatigue, spaciness, poor memory, insomnia, and dizziness especially when rising from lying supine. It can be chronic resulting from a weakening illness such as chronic diarrhea or the result of an acute illness, infection, or injury with blood loss.

Ginseng and other qi tonics and heart tonics that strengthen the heart muscle can help regulate blood pressure–therefore energy, memory, hearing, etc–because they improve the functioning of the heart and circulation. Qi tonics do not necessarily reduce cholesterol by themselves, but can be combined with astringent or cleansing herbs to do so. Here is an example.

A week ago, I had bone marrow taken from my sacrum area in order to use the stem cells for medical use. My bone marrow was mixed with my blood taken from the arm. After they were whirled in a centrifuge to gather platelets and stem cells, this was re-injected into my damaged hip joints in order to treat acute arthritic damage. It worked fine. After a day of painkiller to ease the injection sites, I could move with more ease and less pain. Minimal bruising and swelling occurred and I felt fine.

Gradually, by the third day after the procedure, my heart began to hurt and I felt weak. My blood pressure had dropped to 115/48 — way too low. I did not faint, a common sign of low blood pressure. But I started taking heart qi tonic herbs that I have written about this week at the website: dan shen, also B12, and two warming spices cinnamon and clove because my hands and feet were like ice. I added a couple of heart herbs arjuna, guggul and hawthorn berry which strengthen the heart muscle.  A week after the injections, my blood pressure today is greatly improved 108/66, which is close to my normal 110/70.

I know something about herbs and acupuncture so can feel more confident than most people when injury, surgery, or other mishaps occur. I know the signs of chronic heart failure and stimulated the acupuncture points at the ankle and wrist with a laser. My energy, mood and circulation revived. It started me thinking: Other people should know about these tonics so they can avoid weakening side-effects of injury, surgery and the like. Too many people die because of anesthesia during and after surgery. Blood pressure should be monitored carefully before and after surgery.

Long term for improved quality of life, the qi and blood tonics widely used in Asian medicine and available in health food stores can help prevent signs of weakness and aging by keeping circulation and organ vitality primed. I checked a local Vitamin Shoppe, one of my favorite sources of quality, reasonably priced herbs, but their “energy” section was a bit lacking. I saw guarana – nothing more than herbal caffeine. (I’ll take Cafe Cubano, thank you.) and some vitamins. We need to see more ashwagandha, rhodiola and other forms of supportive ginsengs made more widely available.