Treatment of Refractory Nephrotic Syndrome in Children from the Perspective of

Zhenhua YUAN; Pan WANG; Jingjing WU; Mingyang CAI; Shuang XU; Yingying JIANG; Yatong ZHANG; Xiaoyu LIU; Yuhang NIU; Xilin CHEN; Xianqing REN

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Treatment of Refractory Nephrotic Syndrome in Children from the Perspective of "Cold Qi Generates Turbidity"

VernacularTitle:从“寒气生浊”论治儿童难治性肾病综合征
Author: Zhenhua YUAN ¹ ; Pan WANG ¹ ; Jingjing WU ¹ ; Mingyang CAI ¹ ; Shuang XU ¹ ; Yingying JIANG ¹ ; Yatong ZHANG ¹ ; Xiaoyu LIU ¹ ; Yuhang NIU ¹ ; Xilin CHEN ¹ ; Xianqing REN ¹
Author Information

1. Children's Hospital，The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine，Zhengzhou，450003
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: refractory nephrotic syndrome; cold qi generates turbidity; warming yang and eliminating turbidity; children
From: Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(20):2236-2239
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Based on the theory of "cold qi generates turbidity" described in the Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）， together with the physiological characteristics of children， who are considered to have an inherent insufficiency of the lung， spleen， and kidney， and the clinical features of recurrent refractory nephrotic syndrome （RNS）， this article proposes that the pathogenesis of RNS in children is characterized by yang deficiency with internal cold， turbidity arising from cold， latent turbidity transforming into toxin， activation by newly contracted pathogens， and turbid toxins damaging the collaterals. The core pathogenesis is identified as yang deficiency， turbidity coagulation， and collateral damage. Accordingly， the general treatment principle is warming yang and eliminating turbidity， with coordination of three methods including warming yang to strengthen the body's foundation， promoting yang to relieve constraint， and raising yang while replenishing qi. Zhenwu Decoction （真武汤） is employed as the basic prescription with modification according to syndrome differentiation， to achieve an effect eliminating turbidity and arresting leakage， restoring kidney function by unblocking the collaterals， and consolidating recovery to prevent relapse.