While many people have heard the term yin-yang or know its famous symbol, few understand what yin-yang truly is. In Chinese philosophy, Yin-yang describes the notion that everything in nature consists of two paradoxical phases or energies.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of Yin and Yang serves as the foundation for understanding health. At Dejia Harmony we believe in the power of maintaining Yin and Yang balance to achieve health and wellness, and a life in balance. In this blog, we will explore yin-yang and how being Yin deficient or Yang deficient can impact your health.
What are Yin and Yang?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Yin and Yang are concepts that represent two opposite but complementary forces that shape everything in the universe, including human health.
In the body, Yin is related to structure, substance, body fluids, and the cooling functions. Yin represents aspects and essences such as:
- Cold
- Darkness
- inward and downward direction
- Passivity
- Femininity
- Rest
- Nourishment
- Storage of energy.
On the other hand, Yang is related to metabolic processes, warmth, and functional activity. Yang represents:
- Heat
- Light
- upward and outward movement
- Activity
- Masculinity
- Function
- Transformation
- Expenditure of energy
These two forces are mutually dependent, constantly changing, and balancing each other. In terms of health, TCM views diseases as a disharmony or imbalance between Yin and Yang. TCM practitioners aim to restore this balance through methods like acupuncture, herbal therapy, tai chi, qi gong, and diet.
What Happens if You Have Too Much Yin?
An excess of Yin can result from various factors such as lifestyle, diet, lack of physical activity, and environmental conditions.
Leading a sedentary lifestyle, eating an excess of “cold” or “Yin” foods (like dairy products, raw foods, and sweet foods), and exposure to cold environments or climates can contribute to an overabundance of Yin.
When a person has too much Yin, they might exhibit the following signs:
- Cold symptoms, like feelings of cold, a preference for warmth, cold hands and feet, and a pale complexion.
- Physical sluggishness signs include fatigue, lethargy, slow metabolism, weight gain, and slow movements.
- Emotional withdrawal, including feelings of depression, introversion, and passivity.
- Fluid retention like edema, bloating, and puffiness because Yin is associated with fluids.
- Digestive issues including poor appetite, a feeling of fullness, loose stools, or diarrhea.
- Slowed body functions like slow heart rate, low blood pressure, and hypoactive reflexes.
Too much Yin can lead to a state of ’empty cold,’ which means that the cold symptoms are due to a deficiency of the body’s Yang (or warming) energy. Signs of this state can include feeling cold but having a preference for drinking cold liquids, a pale face, cold limbs, and clear urine.
What Happens if You Have Too Much Yang?
As with Yin, Yang balance can be affected by lifestyle factors like diet, stress, lack of rest, and environmental influences.
For example, leading a high-stress lifestyle with constant activity and little rest can lead to excessive Yang. Consumption of certain foods can also contribute to Yang excess, especially those classified as “hot” foods like red meat, spicy food, and alcohol.
Exposure to consistently hot weather can also lead to an increase in Yang energy in the body, as well as emotional stressors like anger, frustration, or intense excitement. When a person has too much Yang, they might exhibit the following:
- Heat symptoms like feeling hot, excessive thirst, sweating, fever, and a flushed face.
- Emotional agitation which can look like Anger, restlessness, hyperactivity, anxiety, or irritability.
- Sleep problems like difficulty falling asleep, restless sleep, or vivid and active dreams can be associated with too much Yang.
- Unpleasant physical symptoms like high blood pressure, constipation, dry mouth, or nosebleeds.
- Accelerated body functions including rapid heartbeat, hyperactive reflexes, or sudden weight loss.
It’s believed that an overabundance of Yang can eventually deplete the body’s Yin energy, leading to a state of ’empty heat’ or ‘false heat,’ which can cause symptoms like night sweats, feeling hot in the afternoon or evening, dry throat or mouth, and other heat signs but with an underlying deficiency condition.
Balancing Yin and Yang With Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), if a person’s Yin energy is deficient and leading to an imbalance of Yin and Yang, several strategies can be implemented to increase Yin and restore balance:
Dietary Choices Can Help to Balance Yin and Yang
Certain foods are believed to nourish Yin and Yang due to their unique properties. Yin-nourishing food examples, believed to be “cooling” foods, include:
- Kidney beans
- Black sesame
- Tofu
- Mung beans
- Watermelon
- Bananas
- Certain seafood varieties like clams and oysters
It’s also recommended to Yin energy by staying hydrated with water and herbal teas. On the other hand, nourishing Yang energy requires “warming” foods. Warming foods include:
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Cinnamon
- Onions.
- Chicken
- Lamb
- Beef
It’s important to prioritize cooked foods over raw options – cooked foods are easier to digest, helping to promote and preserve yang energy. Adding warming spices like black pepper, cayenne, and turmeric to cooked foods further nourishes yang energy
How Lifestyle and Activity Level Affect Yin and Yang
Rest, relaxation, and getting adequate sleep are essential for nourishing Yin. TCM often advises avoiding excessive activity, especially during the hottest parts of the day, and cultivating calm, cooling, and introspective activities, such as meditation and gentle forms of yoga or tai chi.
To support Yang energy, it’s usually recommended to avoid cold temperatures and keep your body warm. Getting adequate sleep helps the body to naturally rejuvenate and build energy. Managing stress is also important for nourishing Yang, as excessive stress can deplete Yang energy.
In TCM, Herbal Medicine Can Encourage Yin and Yang Balance
Herbal formulas are a great way to encourage balance between Yin and Yang. Formulas for general wellness, like the Aqua Herbal Wellness Water, work with your body to promote and maintain optimal health and balance. TCM practitioners may sometimes recommend specific herbs or blends depending on your Yin and Yang balance, and which you need to support or reduce.
Promoting Yin and Yang Balance with Acupuncture
Specific acupuncture points are believed to help nourish Yin and Yang. For example, Kidney and Spleen points are often used to address excesses or deficiencies and promote balance.
Balancing Yin and Yang with Dejia Harmony
It’s important to note that everyone has a unique balance of Yin and Yang, and achieving optimal health is about finding and maintaining your individual balance, rather than achieving an absolute state. Dejia Harmony offers medicinal herbal blends, respiratory detox supplements, retreats, and resources to help you balance your vital energies and help you feel your best.
