Yin and Yang

Basic concept of Yin-YangYin 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 meaningYang sunbrightness in Chinese

Yin moondimness

b. Extending meaningThrough 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.

YangWarmLightYinCoolDim

Categorization of Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang are based on the nature of water and fireWater and fire act as the symbols of Yin and Yang.

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.

ExampleA 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. 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

SignificanceThe Yin-Yang theory is an important constituent of the theoretical system of TCM and runs through every aspect of the system. It is used to explain physiology and pathology of the body and to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The basic content of Yin-Yang theoryYin and Yang are divisibleYin and Yang are inseparable

1. Yin and Yang are divisible YinYin/Yang. Yin Yang Yin/Yang.Yin-Yang Yin Yin/Yang. Yang Yang Yin/Yang.

Example

2. Yin and Yang are inseparableYin and Yang are opposed to and 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 it's the same the other way round. If there is no down, which way is up?

Relationship between Yin and YangThe unity and opposition between Yin and Yang Interdependence between Yin and YangTransformation between Yin and Yang

1.The unity and opposition between Yin and YangThe 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.

For example The human being is made of men and women.Man pertain to YangWoman pertain to YinTwo opposite aspects in one thing.

The unity is the outcome of mutual opposition and restriction between Yin and Yang. For example, 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 thatthe normal physiological functions of the human body result from the opposite and unity 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.

2.Interdependence between Yin and Yang At the same time, Yin and Yang are opposed to and 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 functionsEssential 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 material, basis of functional activity of Yang"Yang" refers to functional activity.

The substance and function are interdependent and inseparable.This is no substance without function and no function without substance.

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 YangIn 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 ChinaThere are four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, winter.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.

The Application of The Yin-Yang TheoryThe 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 locationsthe 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 Fu organs travel in back parts of body, therefore, they are Yang.

Furthermore, each of the Zang-Fu organs can be re-divided into Yin and Yang.As for five Zang organs, the heart and lungs, lying above, correspond to Yang, While the liver, spleen and kidney, lying below, correspond to Yin.

Within each of the Zang-Fu organs, there are Yin and Yang aspects, such as heart-Yin and heart-Yang, kidney-Yin and kidney-Yang, stomach-Yin and stomach-Yang, 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. 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.

3. Explain the Pathological Changes TCM considers that the imbalance between Yin and Yang is one of the basic pathogenesis of a disease.

more concreteYang excess leads to heat syndromeYang pathogenic factors cause the diseaseYin excess causes cold syndrome. Yin pathogenic factors cause the disease

Yang deficiency lead to the excess of Yin and results in cold syndromeDeficiency of Yang Qi Yin deficiency lead to the excess of Yang and causes heat syndrome. Deficiency of Yin essence

a. Excess of YinMean that Yin is higher than its normal level.Produces cold syndromeMain symptom: feeling chills, limbs cold, lassitude.

b. Excess of YangMean that Yang is higher than its normal level.Produces heat syndromeMain symptom: aversion to heat, thirst, desire for cold fluid, irritability, constipation, yellow urination, hyperfunction.

c. Deficiency of YinMean that Yin is lower than its normal level.lead to the excess of Yang and results in heat syndrome and deficiency syndrome.Main symptom: aversion to heat, thirst, desire for cold fluid, irritability, constipation.

d. Deficiency of YangMean that Yang is lower than its normal level.lead to the excess of Yin and results in cold syndrome and deficiency syndrome.Main symptom: feeling chills, limbs cold, lassitude, hypofunction.

4. Serve as the Guide to Treatment To the excess of Yang, purge YangTo the excess of Yin, purge YinFor the deficiency of Yang, reinforce YangFor the deficiency of Yin, reinforce Yinpurgereinforce

In order to redress the balance between Yin and Yang.

Review 1.Concept of Yin and YangOriginal meaningExtending meaning2. Relationship between Yin and YangThe unity and opposition between Yin and YangInterdependence between Yin and YangTransformation between Yin and Yang

3.The basic content of Yin-Yang theoryYin and Yang are divisibleYin and Yang are inseparable4. The Application of The Yin-Yang TheoryExplain the tissues and structure of the human bodyExplain the Physiological Functions of the Human BodyExplain the Pathological ChangesServe as the Guide to Treatment

Difference between the excess of Yang and the deficiency of YinCommon: Heat syndromeDifference: excess of Yang:+ excess syndrome, forceful pulse, absolutely heat syndromedeficiency of Yin:+ deficiency syndrome, weak pulse, relative heat syndrome

At first, connotations were quite simple, referring to the two opposite sides of an object. The side facing the sun is Yang and the reverse side is Yin-,,,..character['krikt] deviate['di:vieit] motive['mutiv]