1. Dietary Regulation for Yang Deficiency Constitution
Individuals with a Yang deficiency constitution should focus on warming and tonifying the Spleen and Kidney Yang Qi through their diet. They should consume sweet and warm foods while avoiding spicy, raw, and hard-to-digest items. Additionally, nutritional balance is essential, with a variety of foods; meals should be regular and not overly restrictive; binge eating is strictly prohibited.
Suitable foods include: chestnuts, shrimp, olives, apples, pork spine bones, and radishes.
When supplementing for Yang deficiency, the principles of light and warming tonification should be followed. Foods rich in iron, such as pig liver, pig blood, lean meat, dairy products, legumes, rice, apples, and leafy green vegetables, should be consumed. Drinking tea can help replenish folic acid and vitamin B12, which is beneficial for the treatment of megaloblastic anemia. However, those with iron deficiency anemia should avoid tea, as it hinders the absorption of iron. Consuming acidic foods can aid in iron absorption. Salty foods such as legumes, chestnuts, pork, pig kidneys, shrimp, and cuttlefish can be stewed with a small amount of warming spices like cinnamon and star anise. Acidic foods include hawthorn, cheese, olives, and apples. Hawthorn can be used to make soup or stew meat, helping to relieve greasiness and moisten dryness in autumn. For those with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency, it is advisable to eat some radish and green vegetables after a large meal to prevent internal heat from deficiency.
2. The Most Suitable Chinese Medicine for Yang Deficiency Constitution is Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig)
The classic formula is Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction), which contains five ingredients: Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Shao Yao (Peony), Gan Cao (Licorice), Da Zao (Jujube), and Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger). Although it seems simple, it is one of the most classic prescriptions in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Additionally, formulas such as Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang (Astragalus and Cinnamon Twig Five Ingredient Decoction), Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction), Dang Gui Si Ni Tang (Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities), Wen Jing Tang (Warm the Menses Decoction), Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction), and Ba Wei Di Huang Wan (Eight Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) can also be selected based on the situation.
3. Dietary Therapy Recommendations for Yang Deficiency Constitution: Ginger and Brown Sugar Drink, Dang Gui and Ginger Lamb Soup
For Yang deficiency constitution, prepare 30g of ginger, decoct it, and mix it with brown sugar to drink, which has the effect of warming the stomach and dispelling cold.
For the Dang Gui and Ginger Lamb Soup, use 20g of Dang Gui (Tangkuei) and 30g of ginger, wash them clean, soak them in water until soft, and slice them for later use. Take 500g of lamb, remove the sinews, briefly blanch it in boiling water to remove blood, then slice it for later use. Place Dang Gui, ginger, and lamb in a clay pot, add water, cooking wine, and salt, bring to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam, then simmer on low heat until the lamb is tender. This is a famous formula from the Han Dynasty by Zhang Zhongjing, which can warm the middle, nourish the blood, dispel cold, and relieve pain.
4. Yang Deficiency Constitution and the Importance of Keeping Warm
Regardless of whether the weather is cold or hot, it is essential to maintain warmth throughout the year. Keeping certain key areas warm is very important, such as the chest and abdomen, waist, knees, and shoulders. Women should avoid wearing crop tops or very short skirts for the sake of beauty, especially in winter when short skirts should be avoided. Additionally, it is best to cover with a light blanket while sleeping in summer for better health.
Main Symptoms of Yang Deficiency
1. Yang Deficiency Manifestations: Aversion to Cold and Cold Extremities
The main symptoms of Yang deficiency include aversion to cold and cold extremities. Yang Qi is like the sun in nature; when Yang Qi is insufficient, the internal environment will be in a “cold” state. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that aversion to cold is primarily caused by Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency.
2. Yang Deficiency Manifestations: Incomplete Digestion
Incomplete digestion refers to the presence of undigested food in the stool, commonly known as poor digestion.
3. Yang Deficiency Manifestations: Lack of Vitality
Insufficient Yang Qi leads to a decline in cellular life activities, resulting in lethargy and lack of movement. If Yang Qi is extremely weak, it cannot maintain normal Qi and blood circulation, leading to symptoms of fatigue during the day and restlessness and difficulty sleeping at night. If insomnia is accompanied by cold extremities, it indicates severe Yang deficiency.
4. Yang Deficiency Manifestations: Cold Uterus and Dysmenorrhea
Menstrual irregularities, severe dysmenorrhea, delayed menstruation, scanty menstrual flow, dark-colored blood, or excessive bleeding, and cold uterus. Some women may experience miscarriage or fetal arrest after pregnancy.
Most of the female estrogen is produced by the uterus and ovaries; therefore, women with Yang deficiency constitution are prone to conditions such as uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and endometriosis, and they may also appear fatigued and have a pale complexion.
If you are very sensitive to cold and often have cold extremities, you may have a Yang deficiency constitution. It is important to pay attention to physical exercise, keep warm, and consume warming foods regularly.
Causes of Yang Deficiency Constitution
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that Yang deficiency constitution is greatly related to daily habits and external factors. Additionally, excessive indulgence in life can also lead to Yang deficiency constitution. Below are some summarized causes of Yang deficiency constitution.
1. Pregnant women consuming excessive cold foods before and after childbirth can affect the fetus’s constitution and health.
2. In childhood, excessive use of antibiotics or consuming large amounts of heat-clearing and detoxifying medications, as well as drinking large amounts of cold beverages, watermelon, and herbal teas, can induce Yang deficiency constitution.
3. Unrestrained sexual activity. Some individuals have strong sexual desires and engage in frequent, unrestrained activities.
4. Aging. As one ages, bodily functions gradually decline, which is also a cause of Yang deficiency constitution.
5. Poor dietary habits, picky eating, or insufficient nutrition or lack of certain nutrients.
Understanding the causes of Yang deficiency constitution, in addition to the above, lack of exercise, poor physical constitution, low immunity, and environmental factors can also affect the body’s constitution, leading to Yang deficiency constitution.