TCM Theory: Yin and Yang

4 Aspects of Yin-Yang

• Opposition: everything has two aspects that oppose

• Interdependence: one cannot exist without its pair

• Mutual consumption: Yin and Yang consume each other (quantitative change)

• Intertransformation: Yin and Yang turns into each other (qualitative change)

• (*Infinite divisibility: Yin and Yang can be further divided into Yin and Yang)

Pathological Changes in Body

• Excess Cold (excess Yin): preponderance of Yin injures Yang

• Excess Heat (excess Yang): preponderance of Yang injures Yin 

• Deficiency Cold (deficiency Yang): weakness of Yang leads to preponderance of Yin

• Deficiency Heat (deficiency Yin): weakness of Yin leads to preponderance of Yang

• (*Good health is achieved when there is a balance of Yin and Yang)

We can say that the nature of the Yin-Yang theory is binary and relative. Next, we are going to talk about the theory of the 5 elements, which is more about categorization and association. If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered, please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@tcmexplained.com. 

Below are more examples of Yin and Yang ;) Until next time. 

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* The content is provided only for education purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

References

1. Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.

2. Kaptchuk, Ted J. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000.

3. Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.