YIN AND YANG

Basic concept of Yin-Yang

Yin and Yang are the underlying principles of Chinese philosophy and medicine. Good health is believed to come from a balance of Yin and Yang. What is meaning of Yin and Yang? Generally speaking, Yin and Yang refer to two opposite aspects of interrelated things or phenomena in the nature world.

a. Original meaning
Yang sunbrightness in Chinese Yin moondimness

b. Extending meaning
Through agelong observation of nature, Ancient Chinese people come to understand that all phenomena in the universe may be ascribed to Yin-Yang, And founded the theory of Yin-Yang.

Yang Warm Light

Upward Top

Yin Cool Dim

hidden
Exposed Bottom Downward

Categorization of Yin and Yang

Phenomena Aspect Direction Temperature Brightness Position Space Time Season Weight State of motion Yin Inside (Lower) Downward (Inward) Cold (Cool) Dim (Dark) Hidden Earth Night Autumn, Winter Heavy Relative stasis Internal bones Parts of body Sinew Zang organs Sex Female Yang Surface (Upper) Upward (Outward) Hot (Warm) Light Exposed Heaven Day Spring, Summer Light Evident motion Surface skin Body hair Fu organs male

Yin and Yang are based on the nature of water and fire
those with the basic nature of fire (such as heat, motion, brightness, upward, and outward directions, excitement) pertain to Yang; those with the basic nature of water (such as coldness, stillness, dimness, downward and inward directions, inhibition) pertain to Yin. Water and fire act as the symbols of Yin and Yang.

Example
1. 2.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. A 35 year old female complains of having no energy, when not working she sleeps most of the time. she feels cold often and is uncomfortably sensitive to cool environments. her skin appears damp and damp foods make her sleepy. she feels dull emotionally and intellectually. her posture is poor with shoulders that slope forward giving the appearance of a caved-in chest. when she speaks only her lips move. she has been having less contact with her friends, preferring to be alone.

Does She Fit Yin or Yang?

1) stillness 2) cool/cold 3) moist 4) passive 5) inward Yin

Relationship between Yin and Yang

l.The unity and opposition between Yin and Yang 2.Interdependence between Yin and Yang 3.Transformation between Yin and Yang

1.The unity and opposition between Yin and Yang

The opposition between Yin and Yang is meant that all things or phenomena in nature have two opposite aspectsYin and Yang, such as heaven and earth, ascending and descending, day and night, heat and cold. The former is Yang and the latter is Yin in every pair above.

The unity is the outcome of mutual opposition and restriction between Yin and Yang. For example, One day is the outcome of mutual opposition between daytime and nighttime Without opposition, there would be no unity; It is only through this kind of opposition and restriction that the dynamic balance can be established.

TCM believes that

the normal physiological functions of the human body result from the opposite and unified relationship between Yin and Yang. Both of them are always in a state of dynamic balance.

If, for any reason, the relative balance is destroyed, there is bound to be excess or deficiency of Yin or Yang, and then a disease will arise. As is stated in Essential Question (the famous classic book about TCM), "Yin in excess causing Yang disease, while Yang in excess leading to Yin disease."

2.Interdependence between Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang are opposed to and at the same time, depend on each other. Neither can exist in isolation without its opponent's existence. In other words, without Yin there would be no Yang, and without Yang there would be no Yin.

Substances and functions

Essential Question says: "Yin in the interior is the basis
for Yang; while Yang in the exterior is the activity for Yin." "Yin" refers to the materialbasis of functional activity of Yang and "Yang" refers to functional activity. The substance and function are interdependent and inseparable. This is no substance without function and no function without substance.

Normal

Nutrient (Yin)

Dynamic Balance

Functional Qi (Yang)

Abnormal
However, when the interdependent relationships between substances and functions are abnormal, life activities will be broken, thus bringing about dissociation of Yin and Yang.

3.Transformation between Yin and Yang

In given conditions, either Yin or Yang may transform into its opposite side, Yin may be transformed into Yang, Yang may be transformed into Yin. In China, there are four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, winter. And spring, summer belong to Yang, while autumn, winter belong to Yin. When the winter transfer into spring, the character of season changed too, from Yin to Yang.

Essential Question states: "Extreme Yin gives rise to Yang, while extreme Yang gives rise to Yin." "Extreme cold brings on heat, while extreme heat brings on cold". This is termed "Things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme."

The Application of The Yin-Yang Theory The Yin-Yang theory permeates all aspects of the theoretical system of TCM. The theory is used to explain the organic structure, physiological function and pathological changes of the human body. It also serves as a principle to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment.

1. Explain the tissues and structure of the human body

The human body is an integrated whole. All its tissues and structures are organically connected and may be classified as two opposite aspectsYin and Yang. That is why Essential Question states,"Man, having a form, can not deviate from Yin and Yang."

As for anatomical locations

the upper part of the body is Yang and the lower part is Yin; the exterior is Yang and the interior is Yin; the back is Yang and the abdomen is Yin;

As for Zang-Fu organs(viscera)

The meridians of Zang organs travel in front parts of body, therefore, they are Yin; While the meridians of Zang organs travel in back parts of body, therefore, they are Yang. Furthermore, each of the Zang- or Fu-organs can be re-divided into Yin and Yang. For example, heart-Yin and heart-Yang, kidneyYin and kidney-Yang, stomach-Yin and stomachYang, etc.

All of them are opposite pairs. Thus, in line with the Yin-Yang theory, the unity and opposites between Yin and Yang exist in the upper and lower, internal and external, front and back parts of the human body, and within all the internal organs as well.

2. Explain the Physiological Functions of the

Human Body The Yin-Yang theory believes that the normal life activities of the human body result from the harmonious relationship of the unity and opposites between Yin and Yang. Take the relationship between function and matter for example, function pertains to Yang while matter pertains to Yin.

Physiological activities of the body are based on matter. Without matter, there would be no sustentation for function activities. And functional activities are the motive power for producing matter. Without functional activities, the metabolism of matter would not be performed.

In this way, Yin and Yang within the human body depend on each other for existence. If Yin and Yang cannot complement each other and become separated from each other, life will come to an end. So Essential Question says: "The balance of Yin and Yang makes the vitality well-conserved; the divorce of Yin and Yang makes essence-Qi exhausted."

3. Explain the Pathological Changes

TCM considers that the imbalance between Yin and Yang is one of the basic pathogenesis of a disease. The occurrence and development of disease are relate to the conditions of both the health Qi and pathogenic factors. The nature of both the health Qi and pathogenic factors can be classified according to the nature of Yin and Yang.

Health Qi and Pathogenic factors

Health Qi refers to the structure and functions of the whole organism including body resistance against diseases; Pathogenic factors generally refer to various agents that lead to diseases.

more concrete
1. Yang excess leads to heat syndrome, 2. Yin excess causes cold syndrome. 3. Yang deficiency lead to the excess of Yin and results in cold syndrome; 4. Yin deficiency lead to the excess of Yang and causes heat syndrome.

a. Excess of Yin
Mean that Yin is higher than its normal level. Produces cold syndrome Main symptom: feeling chills, limbs cold, lassitude, hypofunction.
70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% normal excess of Yin Yin Yang

b. Excess of Yang
Mean that Yang is higher than its normal level. Produces heat syndrome Main symptom: aversion to heat, thirst, desire for cold fluid, irritability, constipation, yellow urination, hyperfunction.
70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% normal excess of Yang Yin Yang

c. Deficiency of Yin
Mean that Yin is lower than its normal level. lead to the excess of Yang and results in heat syndrome Main symptom: aversion to heat, thirst, desire for cold fluid, irritability, constipation.
50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

Yin Yang

normal

d. Deficiency of Yang
Mean that Yang is lower than its normal level. lead to the excess of Yin and results in cold syndrome Main symptom: feeling chills, limbs cold, lassitude, hypofunction.
50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

Yin Yang

normal

4. Serve as the Guide to Treatment

To the excess of Yang, purging Yang To the excess of Yin, purging Yin For the deficiency of Yang, reinforcing Yang For the deficiency of Yin, reinforcing Yin In order to redress the balance between Yin and Yang.
70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% normal deficiency Yin Yang

purge

reinforce

Review
1.Concept of Yin and Yang Original meaning Extending meaning 2. Relationship between Yin and Yang The unity and opposition between Yin and Yang Interdependence between Yin and Yang Transformation between Yin and Yang 3. The Application of The Yin-Yang Theory Explain the tissues and structure of the human body Explain the Physiological Functions of the Human Body Explain the Pathological Changes Serve as the Guide to Treatment

Difference between the excess of

Yang and the deficiency of Yin

Common: Heat syndrome Difference: excess of Yang:+ excess syndrome, forceful pulse, absolutely heat syndrome deficiency of Yin:+ deficiency syndrome, weak pulse, relative heat syndrome
70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% normal 1 2