What is Equiguard?

Equiguard® is a herbal formula that focuses on maintaining healthy kidney and urinary function by supporting kidney yang and consolidating kidney essence. Our kidneys will then have adequate yang energy to support the yang energy of all other body organs which can help prevent other health disharmonies due to kidney yang or kidney qi deficiency.

What are the Signs of Kidney Yang or Qi Deficiency?

• Frequent, clear and (white or very light yellow) urination
• Urinating at night
• Dribbling after urination
• Pale tongue
• Sinking and weak pulse
• Occasional ringing in the ear
• Occasional dizziness
• General fear of cold
• Cold limbs
• White coating on tongue
• Pulse at the third (Cubit) position is particularly weak
• Soreness and weakness in lower back and knee

Who Should Take This Product?

Individuals who are concerned about their kidney and urinary health and who need to support their kidney yang and kidney essence are suitable to take Equiguard®. Equiguard can be used on a periodic basis to maintain adequate kidney yang and kidney qi. It can be stopped once kidney yang and kidney qi are replenished and restarted when the kidney yang and qi stores become depleted. In this way, kidney and urinary balance is maintained on a healthy level.

Urinary Health

In Western physiology, urine is considered a fluid and a dissolved substance excreted by the kidneys. An analysis of an urine sample can provide a good picture of the functioning of the body. By measuring urine volume, concentration, creatinine, urea and proteins, we understand how well the kidneys are functioning. By measuring the pH, sodium, potassium, and calcium, we also have a general idea about our whole body’s fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a more holistic interpretation of urine is taken. The quantity, frequency, color and the feeling during urination reflects how healthy our yin yang balance is (i.e. the degree of hotness and coldness present in our body). An excess of heat or cold on our bodies can cause serious health problems.

• When there is extra heat, the urine will appear dark yellow and be urinated for a short amount of time. In more severe heat situations, individuals may experience painful urination.
• When there is too much coldness, the urine appears colorless with frequent, long and clear urinations. In some situations, individuals may also experience excessive nighttime urination.

Kidney Yang Deficiency or Kidney Qi Deficiency

Takes place when frequent, long, clear and white (close to colorless) urination persists for a considerable period of time. (Except when we drink a lot of water or when the weather is cold, in which case the urine will soon return to normal.)

Kidney Yanh is consider "life fire" in the body

It is the foundation of yang qi for all other organs. It provides energy, power and warmth for the body’s physiological activities and functions and empowers the various qi transformations in the body. One of them is the qi transformation of fluids, the formation of urine, and it is powered by the kidney yang. The normal outflow of urine requires a healthy balance of kidney yang energy and kidney qi regulates the optimal outflow of urine. This is referred to as “control of the opening and closing of the gate.” The gate requires kidney qi to “open” it to allow the optimal amount of urine to be discharged, and to “consolidate” to keep the gate closed when there is no urge to urinatie. Inadequate gate opening or closing will lead to serious health problems.

A Deeper Meaning of Urinary Health: Kidney Health

In TCM, urinary health encompasses the theory of kidney health. The kidneys are thought to be the roots of our primordial life. Urination is ruled by the kidneys and is summarized as the “kidneys rule water”, and thus has a very close connection with kidney health.

The kidneys belong to the water element in the Five Elements Theory. They possess life nourishing properties and were interpreted as the organs that “rule growth, development and reproduction” in TCM. The fact that our aging cycle is governed by the growth and decline of kidney qi requires an abundance of kidney qi to maintain a healthy aging process, and avoid premature aging and a decline in other organ functions.

“Kidney essence” is an essential fundamental substance for promoting life activities in the body. It comprises the functions of kidney yang and kidney yin. Kidney yang is mainly responsible for promoting the warming, exercising, exciting and qi transformation functions, while kidney yin is mainly responsible for promoting nourishing, calming, forming, yang and heat inhibiting functions. Kidney yang is known as the “root of yang qi” as kidney yin is known as the “root of yin qi.” Kidney disharmony will affect the functions of all other organs.

To preserve “kidney essence” — Maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet, feeling tranquil, peaceful and contented as well as getting adequate rest and sleep are all part of a healthy life style. Our essence is naturally consumed with age, but an unhealthy lifestyle and external factors can accelerate the consumption of kidney essence.

Formula Rationale

To get the most benefit from Equiguard™, individuals should make sure this supplement fits with their own yin yang balance. Kidney yang should be supported in a gradual manner to prevent health disharmonies. These herbs are carefully chosen and formulated to promote and maintain kidney yang harmony. Healthy kidney function allows for a smoother aging process and optimal urinary health

• Epimedium: The monarch herb and main ingredient. Mild warm nature coupled with its pungent and sweet taste, supports kidney yang in a moderate and gentle way. Also strengthens tendons and bones.
• Morinda root and Bauchee seed: Invigorate and strengthen kidney yang. Bauchee seed also consolidates kidney essence and reduces excessive urination.
• Cherokee rose fruit, Chinese raspberry fruit and Chinese dodder seed: Consolidate kidney essence for the production of kidney yang qi; Cherokee rose fruit and Chinese raspberry fruit are astringent in taste and good for reducing excessive urination.
• Privet fruit: Invigorates both liver and kidney yin. Assist with production of kidney yang.
• Schisandra fruit: Astringes the lungs and nourishes the kidneys, helps to consolidate kidney essence.
• Astragalus root: Supports qi, which also helps to replenish yang qi in the body.