Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy based on the Theory of “Strengthening the Governor of Water to Restrain the Effulgence of Yang”

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy originates from deficiency of both qi and yin; over time, yin depletion damages yang, giving rise to a pathogenesis characterized by root deficiency with branch excess and disharmony between yin and yang. Guided by the theory of “strengthening the governor of water to restrain the effulgence of yang,” this paper proposes a comprehensive therapeutic strategy that includes warming and tonifying kidney yang, cultivating and consolidating genuine yin, subduing and containing floating yang, and promoting blood circulation to remove stasis. Meanwhile, modern clinical parameters (such as urinary protein and eGFR) are incorporated to evaluate treatment outcomes. The therapeutic principle of “interdependence of yin and yang, and coordination between kidney water and kidney yang” is put forward, offering new perspectives for individualized management of diabetic nephropathy and for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine interventions.