Kidneys play crucial roles in the body. In traditional Eastern medicine, kidneys are considered the "root of life." Therefore, when the body experiences abnormalities, the kidneys often show warning signs. However, chronic kidney failure is a silent disease; it often presents no symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms appear, the condition is usually advanced, making treatment difficult and less effective.

Herbalist Do Minh Tuan, from the Traditional Southern Medicine Association of Vietnam, states that healthy kidneys contribute to a resilient body, a clear mind, and strong hair. Conversely, if kidney energy depletes without timely replenishment, overall health will decline rapidly.

The herbalist highlights 6 typical signs to help recognize kidney conditions early:

**Lower back pain, tired knees: Signals from the lumbar region**

The lower back is considered the "domain of the kidneys." When kidneys are weak, the lower back often experiences dull pain, accompanied by tired knees and weak limbs. Individuals quickly feel fatigued and short of breath, even after standing for a long time or performing light walking.

**Urinary disorders: Frequent nighttime and overall urination**

When kidney energy weakens, the ability to retain water and control excretion is affected. Patients often wake up to urinate multiple times at night; the urine volume each time is not large, but they consistently feel that the bladder has not fully emptied.

For healthy individuals, the frequency of nighttime urination is 0-1 time per night. Weak kidneys lose their ability to concentrate urine, leading to frequent nighttime urination. Frequent urination is defined as urinating more than 10 times during the day and more than three times at night. If this condition persists, patients should consult a urology specialist. The doctor will order blood tests, urinalysis, and a urinary system ultrasound to screen for the underlying cause.

Abnormal urine, often noticeable in the evening, such as foamy urine (proteinuria), dark color, or blood, signals potential glomerular damage.

**Dry, brittle, prematurely gray, and easily broken hair**

Dry, brittle, split-end, excessive hair loss, or premature graying at a young age clearly reflects diminished kidney energy. However, these symptoms can also indicate other medical conditions.

**Tinnitus, blurred vision, dizziness**

When kidney energy declines, the ears may experience intermittent or continuous tinnitus, and hearing may not be as clear as before. Many people frequently experience blurred vision and dizziness due to insufficient yin blood nourishing the head area.

**Body sensitive to cold, icy cold hands and feet**

Weak kidney yang prevents the body's internal warmth from circulating to warm the body. Even when the weather is not very cold, individuals with depleted kidney energy constantly feel sensitive to cold, crave warmth, and their hands and feet are always icy cold, lacking energy.

**Restless sleep, body weakness**

Damaged kidney energy directly affects mental faculties. Patients find it difficult to fall asleep, experience restless sleep, frequently startle awake, and wake up feeling sluggish and tired as if they haven't rested. Over time, this can lead to memory loss and mental decline.

Avoiding looking at the clock when waking up in the middle of the night can help reduce stress from insomnia, making it easier to fall back asleep. *AI-generated image.*

Many people often mistake symptoms such as back pain, hair loss, or nighttime urination as signs of aging or simple fatigue. The best approach is to undergo regular health check-ups and kidney disease screenings at least once a year. It is crucial to avoid self-treating with methods circulating online.

Additionally, adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential, including: eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water, avoiding salty foods, limiting fast food and excessive alcohol consumption, and saying "no" to tobacco. Exercise daily according to individual health conditions. Thoroughly treat acute conditions such as respiratory infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.

Thuy An