Pathology of the Kidney
Kidneys failing to absorb Qi
Kidney Qi Deficiency prevents the absorption of Lung Qi (air breathed in). It can be considered as a sub-category of Kidney Yang Deficiency. The Kidneys must be able to absorb the Qi that is sent downwards by the Lungs. If the Kidney Yang is too weak to absorb the Qi, it will rebel and stagnate in the Lungs. If the Lungs are too weak to send Qi downwards, the Kidneys are weakened.

Cardinal symptoms Symptoms of Kidney Yang Deficiency, plus these additional symptoms: Labored inhalation, incontinence with cough, shortness of breath on exertion, face edema.
TCM Information Symptoms, causes, treatment tips, root and branch, point-combination

Pathogenesis of selected symptoms
Cold extremities Cold extremities originate because the warming function of Yang is decreased. Shortness of breath on exertion Shortness of breath on exertion originates because the Kidneys fails to absorb and hold the Qi in the lower body, and the Qi flows upward and stagnates in the Lungs and thorax. Labored inhalation Labored inhalation originates because the Kidneys govern inhalation. Copious urine, incontinence with cough Copious urine and incontinence when coughing originates because the Yang of the Kidney is deficient and the transformation of the Body Fluids is not balanced. Urine is abundant, cough is causing additional pressure and the body is not able to hold the urine due to Deficiency. Spontaneous sweating Spontaneous sweating originates because the Defense-Wei-Qi, which is governed by the Lungs is affected by the Yang Deficiency. The Lung Qi is not able to regulate the pores and sweating is no longer controlled. Face edema Edema in the face originate because the transformation of the Body Fluids is unbalanced due to Kidney Yang Deficiency. Excess water accumulates and affects the face.