Syndrome of kidney failing to receive qi refers to the symptoms of dyspnea and shortness of breath due to asthenia of the kidney qi and its failure to receive qi and direct it to its source. This syndrome is usually caused by consumption of pulmonary qi and impairment of the kidney due to cough in chronic disease; or by consumption of kidney qi due to overstrain; or by congenital deficiency of primordial qi and malnutrition of the kidney; or by asthenia of kidney qi in the aged.

Clinical manifestations:
Dyspnea and shortness of breath, more exhalation and less inhalation, aggravation of dyspnea after movement, low and weak voice, spontaneous sweating, lassitude, aching and weakness of loins and knees, light-colored tongue and weak pulse; or aggravation of dyspnea, profuse cold sweating, cold limbs and cyanotic complexion, floating and large pulse; or shortness of breath and dyspnea, flushed cheeks and dysphoria, vexation, dry mouth and throat, reddish tongue with scanty fluid as well as thin and rapid pulse. Such symptoms are usually seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema, pulmonary heart disease, bronchial asthma, lung cancer and failure of respiratory function, etc.

Analysis of the symptoms:
Dyspnea and shortness of breath, more exhalation and less inhalation and aggravation of dyspnea after movement are caused by asthenia of kidney qi and its failure in receiving qi and directing qi to its source; low and weak voice, spontaneous sweating, lassitude, aching and weakness of loins and knees, light-colored tongue and weak pulse are caused by asthenia of lung and kidney qi, declination of thoracic qi and weakness of defensive qi; aggravation of dyspnea, profuse cold sweating, cold limbs and cyanotic complexion, floating and large pulse are caused by exhaustion of kidney yang and floating of asthenic yang; flushed cheeks and dysphoria, vexation, dry mouth and throat, reddish tongue with scanty fluid as well as thin and rapid pulse are caused by asthenia of kidney qi complicated by consumption of yin fluid and failure of yin to control yang.

Key points for syndrome differentiation:
This syndrome is marked by asthmatic cough, shortness of breath, more exhalation and less inhalation, aggravation of dyspnea after movement and accompanied by asthenia of both lung and kidney qi.