When I consult with a new patient I find it helpful to explain Yin Yang Theory so they can better understand the diagnosis based on Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) which includes acupuncture.
This symbol represents natural balance – two opposites coming together in harmony. On the left is Yang – rising and accumulating towards the top. On the right is Yin – sinking and settling towards the bottom. It looks like two fish chasing each other’s tail. The dot in the white-yang represents a seed of the black-yin that is growing and equally so for the white dot in the black-yin. These two forces oppose each other, depend on each other, transform into each other, and cannot exist without each other.
We can use this symbol as a method to categorize things when looking for balance. To understand this better lets add items to these categories. Let’s compare fire and water – two naturally opposite forces that are easy to understand. Fire belongs in the Yang category and Water belongs in the Yin. Fire has Yang characteristics – it rises, it’s hot, it’s insubstantial, it’s moving and consuming. Water has Yin characteristics – it sinks, it’s cooling, it’s more substantial than fire, when it reaches the bottom it is still and it nourishes.
Using the analogy of boiling water – we place the water over the fire right? This is common sense. This is natural because fire rises and water sinks. This is an idea of integration – wellness and life. When the fire is above the water this is an idea of separation – disease and death. If the fire is in excess the water boils down too rapidly. If the fire is deficient the water takes too long to boil. Conversely if the water is in excess the fire is not strong enough to bring the water to boil efficiently. If the water is deficient it will boil to rapidly. 4 scenarios of imbalance based on 2 opposite forces.
You might ask, “how does this symbol relate to health and the body”? Good question by the way! The mind, emotions, spirit and energy are of Yang in nature. The physical body, blood, hormones, bones, organs, marrow and so on are of Yin in nature. It is generally accepted that we as people are more Yang in nature. For example, If you sleep (yin) 8 hours a day you are awake and more active (yang). If you sit around all doing eating and watching TV you are more inactive (yin). The goal is to find balance in activity and rest, eating, thinking, work, lifestyle and so on.
Examples of diagnosing are rudimentary at this level and are much more advanced when taking on an in-depth study of acupuncture and TOM, but for example, fatigue could be diagnosed as yang deficiency. Being over-weight could be diagnosed as excess Yin. Menopause – women often experiencing more heat signs of sweating and hot flashes could be diagnosed with a yin deficiency. The cooling properties of yin substances in the body such as hormones are in a deficient state. A high fever could be diagnosed as an excess yang condition.
An example of a lifestyle suggestion based on a Yin Yang diagnoses: A person who can’t sleep, thin-body type, tends to feel warm, hot flashes, highly stressful work schedule – wants to know what sort of exercises she can do to stay healthy? Currently she is jogging and doing aerobics but is not enjoying them very much. Suggestion: Meditation, Tai Chi, Qigong – something that is more mindful and relaxing. This patient is yin deficient. The fire in her life is in excess. She needs to cool the consuming-fires down and allow the nourishing aspects of her body to rejuvenate. Perhaps this is why she is not enjoying her exercises because they may do more harm than good for now. As her body strengthens other exercises may be explored as well. Most people are stressed out (fire) in our society so to counter this fire-like stress you need something that is rejuvenating of a yin nature like making sure you get good quality sleep or practicing meditation that is centering, rooting and relaxing. This will take the body out of a catabolic state of breaking down and allow the body to be nourished.
I love talking about Yin Yang theory because of its natural way to make so much sense out of the world around us. Stay tuned for more articles on this subject.
