Scottish Institute of Reflexology
KIDNEYS
Kidney Related Snippets of Information
Kidneys as food
If prepared properly, animal kidneys can be nutritious and pleasant tasting with veal kidneys and lamb kidneys being particularly prized for their tenderness and flavour.
Nephrology
The medical study of the kidneys and it’s diseases. (nephro is from the Ancient Greek word nephros; renal meaning related to the kidney is from Latin rēnēs, meaning kidneys).
The Kidney
The nephron is the basic functional unit of the kidney. There are more than a million within the cortex and medulla of each adult kidney. Together, the kidneys make up approx 0.5% of a person's total body weight. It is possible for humans to live normally with just one kidney, as one has more functioning renal tissue than is needed to survive, possibly due to the nature of the prehistoric human diet.
Dialysis
An artificial life support treatment, Dialysis may be used for very ill patients who have suddenly lost their kidney function (acute renal failure) or for patients who have permanently lost their kidney function (end stage renal failure) since the 1940’s. When healthy, the kidneys remove waste products from the blood and excess fluid in the form of urine. Dialysis treatments duplicate both of these functions.
Kidney Transplants
In 1954 the first transplants were done between identical twins, to eliminate any problems of an immune reaction. Few kidney transplants were performed, until the routine use of medications to prevent and treat acute rejection were introduced in 1964. The kidney is the easiest organ to transplant, tissue-typing is simple, the organ is relatively easy to remove and implant, live donors can be used, and in the event of failure, kidney dialysis was available.
Shape, size and function
If you've ever seen a kidney bean, then you have a pretty good idea what the kidneys actually look like and they’re about the size of a computer mouse. The kidneys are always busy; they even make some of their own hormones such as those that tell the body to make more red blood cells.
Filtration
In twenty four hours, your kidneys filter around one hundred and fifty litres of blood and produce roughly one point five litres of urine.
Kidney Stones
Did you know that your chances of developing a kidney stone in your lifetime are one in ten.
The Kidney as the Root of the Body
In Chinese Medicine, the kidney is considered the most important organ in the body. Physiologically, it is the key organ involved in purifying the blood and eliminating toxins from the body by means of urination. It is also, the rejuvenating recycling source of the body.
Kidney Beans
Kidney beans pick up flavours well, making them ideal for marinating or adding to stews. When cooking them with tomatoes or tomato sauce, it is usually better to precook the beans, otherwise the acids in the tomato may prevent the beans from softening and so require longer cooking time. They are an excellent source of iron, magnesium and folic acid.
Tongue-kidney link
If your tongue is peeling combined with symptoms such as night sweats or anxiety attacks, you could have a problem with your kidneys.