Kidney Yang deficiency affects many aspects of health including core energy, sexual energy, lower back strength, knee strength, hair and reproduction. 'Yang' refers to the heat and energetic Qi of our bodies in Chinese medicine. Many who are Kidney deficient have a drop in energy in the afternoon around 3 PM. Anxiety, panic attacks and fear are also signs of Kidney deficiency. Kidney Yang deficiency could also be marked by cold feet and hands, and general coldness of the body.

Kidney Yang Tonics are best used with signs of depletion, and coldness in the body. Kidney deficiency and adrenal exhaustion with deficient heat signs, such as hot flashes, constant thirst, or night sweats are better addressed with Kidney Yin Tonic herbs. The two formulas can be used together at half strength each when there are signs of both Kidney Yin Deficiency and Kidney Yang Deficiency. It is helpful to understand the Chinese medical concept of Yin and Yang.

Kidney Yang is the basis of all Yang in the body, and while you can have Yang Deficiency in any organ system of the body, it is generally related to a root Kidney Deficiency. Qi (Chi) is a Yang substance, and you can often raise your Yang Energy in the body utilizing Qi Tonics. In TCM it is often said that the Kidney Organ System "never suffers from excesses, only deficiencies"; therefore, Kidney heat signs are typically deficient type heat and not true excesses.