Yin and Yang

The world of polarity

The theory of Yin and Yang is several thousand years old and is seen as the so-called basic framework of the entire TCM. One can say Yin and Yang form the foundation on which every diagnosis of a TCM doctor is built. All diseases that plague us or could plague us are also divided into Yin and Yang.

Yin and Yang" Explanation Video

The polarity of the world

Like many things in Chinese medicine discovered through empirical means, the yin-yang theory was born from observation of nature. It is the description of reality that tries to explain the conditions, outside and inside our body. Yin and Yang are supposed to make reality easier for us to grasp and explain.

Yin and Yang refer to the opposite poles that exist in the world and probably in the entire universe. To make this clear to you, I would like to give a few examples: Day and night, up and down, left and right, heat and cold, lightness and darkness, man and woman, plus and minus poles. But also on the emotional level you can find examples like: Joy and depression, boredom and excitement, contentment and dissatisfaction.

In our world, there is a counterpart to everything. Being aware of this would often be an advantage. Especially when things are going badly for us, we could trust that things will get better again. Yin and Yang say that for everything in the universe there is an opposite pole, a counterpart. The symbol of Yin and Yang, the so-called Taijitu, clarifies this polarity. It is composed of 2 different parts.

Taking a closer look at this symbol, one can read a few interesting laws of yin and yang. The color black, which represents the Yin principle, and the color white, which represents the Yang principle, symbolize this duality. Yin and Yang flow into each other and there is no distinctive separation, as is usually the case in our thinking. At its peak, yang reverses and becomes yin, as well as the sun reaches its peak at noon, from then on it decreases again and night becomes more present. At midnight, everything turns around again.

It is this constant flow between yin and yang that makes life possible in the first place, Eastern culture is convinced. Everything flows "Pantha Rhei", said the ancient Greeks, meaning that everything in life is constantly changing and transforming. As already mentioned, Yin and Yang says that there are certain cycles that repeat themselves. Day and night, summer and winter, heat and cold, etc. Knowing these cycles is also very important on a physical level. Only when Yin and Yang are balanced in the body, we are healthy and vital and a balance can be maintained. If one of the two poles is stronger, various problems arise.

In the yin-yang symbol it can also still be seen that yang is contained in yin and vice versa. Transferred to woman and man, this means that every man has female parts and every woman has male parts.

The great path is very simple, but people love the detours.

Sayings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Dsi

Now what is the imbalance between yin and yang?

 

A person is healthy when yin and yang are in harmony. That is, both the yin of the body, that is, blood and bodily fluids, and the yang, that is, qi and heat, are in balance. An emptiness of yang leads to an abundance of ying in the long run and vice versa. This creates an energetic imbalance.

On the physical level, as already mentioned, yang stands for energy and warmth and yin for the tangible such as blood, bodily fluids, skin, bones, hair. We need both to be healthy.
 
I have already mentioned the principle that health results from a free and unhindered flow of energy. Now this principle is further extended, as Yin and Yang must also be in a balanced relationship. The following 4 imbalances are relatively common in practice:

  • Yang deficiency:  This arises from a Qi deficiency that has existed for a long time. Here, the person is typically sensitive to cold, because the heat function in the body is too weak. The therapy must, in this case, strengthen the Yang in the body. This can be achieved with the help of herbs, acupressure, exercise and qigong. The appropriate herbal formula is "Qi Build-up" by Dr. Weidinger, No.14.
  • Yin deficiency: Yin deficiency arises from blood deficiency. Due to the fact that the cooling principle of Yin is too weak, heat arises. However, this heat is called "empty heat" in TCM, because it arises from a deficiency. In contrast, yang fullness is a real heat, because in this case there is really too much yang. The therapy here must strengthen the yin again. This is basically something relatively difficult. Herbs are needed for this and, above all, a great deal of patience. Because a Yin deficiency takes years to cure! The herbal recipe "Women Blood Mixture" by Dr. Weidinger, No. 18 is suitable for this. Or the "Rhemannia Mixture," No. 19.
  • Yang Fullness: This is a condition where too much heat has been generated in the body. Either from the outside, from sunstroke for example, as often happens in hot countries. This shows up in a yang fullness. Typically this is a hot head and a bright red face, you sweat and can feel dizzy, even faint. Alternatively, the fullness comes from within due to internal heat. This can occur with excessive consumption of high-proof alcohol, or too much grilled or other heating foods. This condition must be cooled with herbs and acupuncture. The herbal recipe "Moist Heat Module" by Dr. Weidinger, No. 13 is suitable for this purpose.
  • Yin Fullness: This is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the body. There is too much yin. Problems arise such as mucus or cysts form. The therapy here has the task of draining out the excess fluid, or phlegm. At the same time, the Yang should be strengthened.