The Department of Nephrology at Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine was established in 1954. It is recognized as a National Traditional Chinese Medicine Nephrology Medical Center, a Key Specialty of the National Health Commission, a Key DisciplineKey Specialty under the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a National Regional TCM Nephrology DiagnosisTreatment Center (Construction Unit), a National Pilot Unit for Integrated Clinical Collaboration in Major Difficult Diseases, a National TCM Advantage Specialty, the Jiangsu Provincial TCM Nephrology Medical Innovation Center, the Jiangsu Provincial TCM Nephrology Quality Control Center,the Chair Unit of the Jiangsu TCM Nephrology Advantage Specialty Alliance. It is also among the first institutions in China to offer mastersdoctoral programs in TCM, as well as a postdoctoral research station. Additionally, the department serves as the Vice Chair Unit of the NephrologyChronic Disease Management Committees of the China Association of Chinese Medicine,the Chair Unit of the NephrologyChronic Disease Management Committees of the Jiangsu Association of Chinese Medicine.

Department Scale

The department currently operates 160 inpatient beds and a hemodialysis center equipped with 62 hemodialysis machines, 6 CRRT machines, and 1 multifunctional hemodialysis unit. It is the largest TCM peritoneal dialysis center in Jiangsu Province, providing annual follow-up care for 380 peritoneal dialysis patients. The department handles over 200,000 outpatient visits and more than 4,600 inpatient discharges annually. Its team comprises 46 medical professionals, including 17 senior chief physicians, 15 associate chief physicians, and 14 intermediatejunior staff. Among them, 31 hold doctoral degrees and 14 hold masters degrees, with 14 masters supervisors and 7 doctoral supervisors. The department boasts a distinguished team featuring a National Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a founding academician of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, national mentors for inheriting TCM clinical expertise, renowned TCM experts of Jiangsu Province, national outstanding TCM clinical talents, Young Qihuang Scholars, Jiangsu Provincial Experts with Outstanding Contributions, leading talents under Jiangsu’s "333" High-Level Talent Development Program, provincial mentors for TCM academic inheritance, and Jiangsu TCM Leading Talents. 

Specialized Diseases DiagnosisTreatment

Founded by Professor Zou Yunxiang, a modern TCM nephrology pioneer, the department inherits the "Tonifying Kidney Vitality" theory proposed by National Master of TCM Professor Zou Yanqin. It has developed the "Kidney ProtectionAging Delay" concept for chronic kidney disease (CKD), identifying "kidney deficiency with dampnessblood stasis" as the core pathogenesis. The treatment principles focus on "tonifying the kidney, clearing dampness, harmonizing collaterals,dispelling turbidity", forming integrated TCM-Western medicine protocols for three major conditions: chronic glomerulonephritis (termed Manshenfeng in TCM), chronic renal failure (Shenlao), and urinary tract infections (Linzheng). These protocols have proven effective in reducing proteinuria in CKD patients, lowering serum creatinineimproving glomerular filtration rate to delay dialysis initiation, and reducing recurrencealleviating symptoms in recurrent urinary tract infections. 

Distinctive Advantages

Leveraging TCM expertise, the department has developed eight proprietary hospital formulations, including: Jiahua Tablets, Jianshen Tablets, and Yishen Qufeng Granules for managing proteinuriahematuria in chronic nephritis;Baoshen Tablets, Suyin Jiedu Granules, and Qixue Hugui Extract to lower creatinineslow renal function decline; Zishen Tongguan Capsules for alleviating urinary tract infection symptomspreventing recurrence; Zhilingjunsi Capsules to enhance immunity in debilitated patients. The department also employs TCM external therapies such as acupoint application, acupressure, moxibustion, salt-partitioned moxibustion, thunder-fire moxibustion,auricular seed embedding, achieving significant clinical efficacy.

AwardsAchievements
The department has ranked first in the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Nephrology Specialty Influence Rankings for two consecutive yearshas long held the title of "Aliyapai Best Research-Oriented Department". It was also named "Nanjing’s Top Hospital Department". Over the years, the team has undertaken over 100 research projects, secured 7 patents, obtained 1 software copyright,received 30+ awards, including the Jiangsu Provincial ScienceTechnology Progress SecondThird Prizes and China Association of Chinese Medicine SecondThird Prizes. In 2022, it was honored as "Jiangsu’s Top Ten Mentor Teams".