Warming Yang is the primary method for modern sub-health recovery.
—— A discussion on sub-health recovery from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
By Liu Gengcheng, TCM Consultant, China 4050 Health Public Welfare Project Office
Outline:
What is sub-health?
What causes the differences in constitution between modern and ancient people?
Summary of symptoms of Yang deficiency in sub-health according to TCM
Main methods for sub-health recovery and adjustment
What is sub-health?
Human health is not merely a binary state of health and disease; there exists a third state. This third state refers to a condition where a person, although not ill, has diminished bodily functions, poor resistance, and adaptability, making them susceptible to illness. This state is termed sub-health.
Sub-health is a critical state. Individuals in a sub-health state may not have a clear disease but experience a decline in mental vitality and adaptability. If this state is not corrected in a timely manner, it can easily lead to psychosomatic diseases. Sub-health refers to a state that is neither healthy nor diseased, a suboptimal health state that lies between health and disease, hence also referred to as “sub-health,” “third state,” “intermediate state,” “transitional state,” or “gray state.” The World Health Organization defines a state without organic lesions but with some functional changes as the “third state,” which in China is referred to as “sub-health state.”
In modern society, the population in a state of disease or health is relatively small; most people are in a sub-health state. The symptoms of sub-health are diverse, but from the perspective of TCM theory, sub-health can generally be divided into two types: Yin deficiency and Yang deficiency. From clinical observations, modern so-called sub-healthy individuals often exhibit characteristics such as palpitations, insomnia with vivid dreams; spontaneous sweating, night sweats, cold limbs, frequent colds, pale complexion, weakness in limbs, unstable emotions, indigestion, blurred vision, etc. These characteristics, according to TCM classification, mostly fall under the category of Yang deficiency. In other words, modern sub-healthy individuals are primarily in the Yang deficiency category.
According to traditional TCM theory and referencing historical medical cases, ancient people had both Yang and Yin deficient populations, which should be a normal phenomenon. However, why do modern people predominantly exhibit Yang deficiency while Yin deficiency is rare?
To understand this, we must examine the differences in living environments and states between ancient and modern people.
What causes the differences in constitution between modern and ancient people?
Yang deficiency refers to insufficient Yang Qi. Yang Qi represents the various physiological functions and energy of the body. Yin deficiency refers to insufficient Yin Qi, which represents the nutritional and material foundation of the body.
Ancient people, limited by production technology and scientific levels, lived in a relatively simple and primitive environment. In contrast, modern people, due to advancements in production technology and science, have greatly improved living conditions and standards. However, this improvement has not brought health; rather, it has pushed people towards sub-health and disease states. Below, I will briefly explain the differences in constitution between modern and ancient people from the perspectives of Yang Qi and Yin Qi.
Differences in Yang Qi maintenance between ancient and modern people:
1. Ancient people engaged in more physical labor, while modern people engage in less. According to TCM theory, movement generates Yang, so exercise helps to promote Yang Qi.
2. Ancient people participated in more outdoor activities, working from sunrise to sunset, receiving more sunlight; modern people, especially urban dwellers and office workers, have less outdoor activity and often avoid sunlight, with women frequently using umbrellas to shield from the sun. Sunlight exposure is a highly effective way to generate Yang Qi.
3. Ancient people endured high temperatures in summer, while modern people have air conditioning and fans, and refrigerators provide cold food year-round. Air conditioning and fans cool the body externally, while cold food cools the body internally. These lifestyle factors have become significant contributors to the damage of modern Yang Qi.
The above points illustrate that ancient people generally had stronger Yang Qi, while modern people tend to have weaker Yang Qi.
In terms of acquiring Yin Qi, there are also significant differences between ancient and modern people:
1. Ancient people had lower production technology, leading to food shortages and generally insufficient nutrition; modern people, due to improved production technology, have abundant food, even leading to nutritional excess.
2. Ancient people consumed low-nutrition food but engaged in a lot of physical activity, resulting in greater nutritional loss; modern people consume high-nutrition food but do not engage in sufficient physical activity, leading to less nutritional consumption.
The above two points indicate that ancient people were more prone to Yin deficiency, while modern people often have abundant Yin Qi.
Of course, many other factors contribute to changes in constitution, such as environmental pollution, excessive pesticide residues in food, overuse of antibiotics and Western medicine, liberal sexual attitudes leading to excessive sexual activity, and increased late-night activities.
Thus, ancient people’s constitutions often included both Yin and Yang deficient individuals. However, modern people predominantly exhibit Yang deficiency, with clinical cases being numerous, while Yin deficiency is rare and exceptional. The renowned contemporary TCM practitioner Li Ke has even stated: “I have never seen a Yin deficient patient; they are all Yang deficient!”
In fact, for Chinese people, the differences in constitution between modern and ancient individuals did not occur long ago; they have emerged only in the past two to three decades. This is because China’s economy has only seen significant development in the last two to three decades, food scarcity has ended, and refrigerators and air conditioning have begun to enter households. Two to three decades ago, the living environment and conditions of Chinese people were essentially no different from those of ancient times, so their constitutions were also similar.
In summary, in the past two to three decades, modern people’s constitutions have significantly changed, showing a prevalence of Yang deficiency and a rarity of Yin deficiency. However, since this change has only recently occurred and has never happened before, the TCM community has not fully recognized this issue theoretically. Therefore, most TCM practitioners are not aware of this clear change and have not made adequate theoretical and clinical preparations. This has led to the current situation where TCM efficacy is generally poor.
Main symptoms of Yang deficiency constitution
Symptoms of Yang deficiency constitution are numerous and varied. To provide a clearer and more intuitive impression, I will list 100 common symptoms for reference.
1. Pale complexion, pale lips, pale eyelids, and excessive clear saliva.
2. Dull complexion, dark color without luster; darkened forehead with facial swelling.
3. Lack of thirst, prefers warm drinks.
4. Pale red or pale white tongue, enlarged tongue with tooth marks, white and slippery coating; thick and greasy coating.
5. Yellow greasy coating, but slippery, tongue body is floating and pale.
6. Fine, weak, slow, and choppy pulse; or rapid but weak, or floating and scattered, or hollow, etc.
7. Cyanotic complexion, dark face. Dull yellow and dark complexion.
8. Excessive facial oiliness, noticeable dirt, leading to skin lesions in multiple areas.
9. Dark, purple lips, dry and cracked, but without obvious heat signs.
10. Frequent acne, but not red, swollen, or painful. Recurring but often solitary, especially around the mouth and jaw.
11. Frequent subcutaneous lumps and nodules, painful upon pressure, but no obvious protrusions or redness on the surface.
12. Dark circles under the eyes, swollen eyelids upon waking.
13. Pale gums, or frequent bleeding.
14. Sparse, yellow, dry hair. Frequent hair loss.
15. Hair easily becomes oily. Oily the day after washing, but without a strong odor.
16. Frequent headaches and dizziness.
17. Sudden dizziness upon standing up after squatting for a long time or after intense exercise.
18. Frequent colds. Symptoms include fear of cold, fear of wind, nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, cough, pale saliva, clear and thin phlegm, spontaneous sweating.
19. Allergic rhinitis. Symptoms similar to the previous point. Sneezing continuously upon waking every morning. Symptoms may improve slightly after eating and moving. Severe cases may not improve.
20. Facial spots, various pigmentation, freckles, etc. Lipomas and papillomas are common.
21. Frequent oral ulcers, recurring. The lesions are white or light red, with no significant swelling.
22. Dry mouth, purple tongue, but prefers to rinse with water rather than swallow.
23. Chronic pharyngitis, laryngitis, recurring. No significant fever during episodes.
24. Frequent facial paralysis, stiff neck, etc. Neck pain, especially at the back of the neck, pulling at the back of the head.
25. Frequent shoulder pain, worsened by wind and cold.
26. Knots and hard lumps can be felt in the back and shoulders, with significant pain upon pressure.
27. Obesity with weak, pale muscles, fatigue.
28. Easily feels chest tightness, especially in cold weather. The back feels icy, often seen in older individuals.
29. Shortness of breath, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and wheezing. Pressure feels comfortable.
30. Rapid or slow heartbeat, but pulse is weak.
31. Soreness in the back, waist, and knees, worsened by cold.
32. Excessive oiliness on the back, frequent acne, recurring without healing.
33. Poor appetite, picky eating, prone to bloating, stomach pain, acid reflux, vomiting, etc.
34. Small food intake. Or large food intake, but prone to diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, etc. after meals.
35. Eating cold foods like raw fruits or drinking cold beverages easily leads to diarrhea or stomach discomfort.
36. Frequently drinks cold water and eats cold food, regardless of summer or winter. But without obvious diarrhea or gastrointestinal discomfort. In fact, cold pathogens can damage other organs, leading to phlegm, obesity, dark complexion, swelling, lower back and knee pain, varicose veins, etc.
37. Liver and spleen enlargement, ascites, cholecystitis, stones, various digestive and urinary system diseases, presenting with fatigue, cold intolerance, and lack of heat signs.
38. Irregular menstruation, including excessive or insufficient flow, early or late onset, prolonged or shortened periods, but with pale, thin, or dark blood with clots.
39. Frequent dysmenorrhea, with acute, chronic, severe, dull, distending, or stabbing pain.
40. Amenorrhea is very common, leading to infertility.
41. Frequent metrorrhagia. However, more often it is prolonged menstrual flow or intermenstrual bleeding. Metrorrhagia is less common but still significant.
42. Menstruation occurs every two to three months, consistently. Menstrual blood is either thin, dark, or with clots.
43. Increased vaginal discharge, clear and thin, or thick and foul-smelling, or mixed with five colors, filthy and foul-smelling.
44. Various discomfort symptoms during menstruation, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chest tightness, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, poor appetite, susceptibility to colds, easy to develop heat symptoms, easy to have gum bleeding, purpura, extreme emotional instability, cold pain in the lower back and abdomen, cold hands and feet, temporary deafness or worsening of existing symptoms.
45. Couples with normal sexual activity who wish to conceive but are infertile without obvious discomfort should consider that one or both partners may have a cold constitution.
46. Pregnant women with extreme pregnancy reactions, severe morning sickness, should first consider that the pregnant woman has a cold deficiency constitution.
47. Pregnant women without other obvious discomfort or external influences, experiencing multiple miscarriages or habitual abortion.
48. During pregnancy, significant fatigue, loss of appetite, anemia, edema, palpitations, insomnia, diarrhea, cold intolerance, swollen eyelids, gum bleeding, athlete’s foot, and exacerbation of skin diseases, etc.
49. Insufficient milk supply during breastfeeding, or thin milk. Prolonged weaning period, unable to stop.
50. Long after weaning, even years later, still producing milk, with scant menstruation or other menstrual irregularities.
51. Insufficient breast development, early sagging, atrophy.
52. Mammary gland hyperplasia, nodules, etc., but with Qi deficiency, fatigue, and no heat signs.
53. Uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, etc., presenting with insufficient appetite, fatigue, and pale complexion with weak pulse.
54. Uterine prolapse, vaginal prolapse, gastric prolapse, and other significant prolapse symptoms.
55. Diminished female libido, slow arousal, or rarely experiencing orgasm.
56. Male impotence, premature ejaculation, weak erection. No morning erection.
57. Significant fatigue after sexual activity, insomnia, lack of energy the next day, or excessive excitement, easily catching colds or diarrhea, etc.
58. Frequent nocturnal emissions, even daily. Semen is thin and watery.
59. Moist and cold scrotum. Skin has inflammatory lesions, ringworm, or skin growths.
60. Abdominal obesity, leg obesity, lower limb obesity or edema, with pitting upon pressure.
61. Frequent urination, pale urine, or increased frequency, or urinary incontinence, or incomplete urination, or cloudy urine, etc. When going out, one focuses on public restrooms, entering one after another, essentially acting as a sanitation inspector.
62. Soft stools, three to five times a day, or even more than ten times.
63. Watery stools, undigested food; or sticky, foul-smelling; using multiple pieces of toilet paper, never feeling clean.
64. Frequent constipation, not having a bowel movement for three to five days, but without significant pain. Stools are hard at first, then loose. Although hard, they are not foul-smelling, or slightly fishy.
65. Urine may be yellow, but without burning or stinging sensations in the urethra. Stools may be hard, but without burning sensations in the anus.
66. Hemorrhoids recurring, but bleeding is slightly dark, and stools are not burning.
67. Persistent moisture around the anus. Persistent cold and damp feeling in the vulva.
68. Itching and dampness in the genital area. May have inflammatory ulcers or various growths, white or slightly red and swollen.
69. Cold hands and feet, even cold feet above the knees, cold hands above the elbows. Worse in summer, more severe in winter.
70. On rainy days or in low temperatures, hands and feet feel numb and swollen.
71. Prone to athlete’s foot, foot rot, and Hong Kong foot in summer.
72. Feet excessively dry, skin rough, even cracking, especially severe in winter.
73. Feels a chill rising from the feet, spreading upwards. Prone to cold feet in winter.
74. Palms easily sweat, peeling, blistering, ulcerating, and oozing.
75. Palms cracked, bleeding, peeling, with a red hue. But without obvious heat signs, even with significant Qi and blood deficiency.
76. Hot hands and feet, especially at night, needing to extend them outside the covers to sleep, or feeling irritable and unable to sleep. If the tongue is not red, mouth not dry, body not hot, and pulse not weak, it is not Yin deficiency but rather an internal cold prevailing over Yang externally.
77. Coldness in the lower back, cold abdomen, especially in the lower abdomen.
78. In cold weather or when exposed to cold wind, cold pain in the lower back and abdomen, discomfort in the stomach, gurgling sounds, diarrhea, etc.
79. Chronic diarrhea, even passing undigested food residues.
80. Morning diarrhea. At five or six o’clock, before getting up, abdominal pain, rushing to the toilet for immediate relief. This is a typical case of “five o’clock diarrhea.”
81. Cold and sore knees and lower limbs, arthritis worsened by cold.
82. Varicose veins in the lower limbs, purple and swollen like ropes, worsened by prolonged standing or exposure to cold and dampness.
83. Skin is dark, sallow, pale, lacking luster, or damp.
84. Obvious spontaneous sweating. Either all over, or on the head and face, or on hands and feet, with coldness after sweating.
85. Skin is damp, itchy, prone to eczema, sweat spots, warts, and various skin diseases.
86. Night sweats, but without obvious heat signs, pale mouth, and lack of thirst.
87. Skin is particularly tender, sensitive, and painful with slight scratching, or showing obvious scratches that do not fade for a long time.
88. Skin is particularly dry, rough, peeling, and prone to various skin diseases, various lumps, warts, and even psoriasis and vitiligo.
89. Skin color is dark purple, easily developing unexplained bruises.
90. Poor memory, prone to forgetfulness; slow reaction, poor comprehension, poor academic performance. Easily irritable.
91. Palpitations, timidity, easily nervous and panicky at unexpected events, trembling all over, sluggish brain.
92. Prefers quiet, enjoys solitude. Cannot tolerate noise, easily irritated, dizzy in noisy environments, sensitive to noise.
93. Small appetite but overweight. Commonly referred to as the type that gains weight just by drinking cold water.
94. Dislikes exercise, easily breathless and sweating, with intolerable palpitations.
95. Frequent insomnia with vivid dreams, unable to sleep at night, lacking energy during the day.
96. Red complexion, heat intolerance, irritability, palpitations, and if the pulse is weak, it is also Yang deficiency.
97. A series of Western medical diseases such as hypertension, hypotension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, coronary heart disease, angina, diabetes, various cancers, etc., presenting with fatigue, cold intolerance, and worsening symptoms in cold weather.
98. Wounds heal slowly, with prolonged healing and purulent discharge resembling clear water.
99. Body aches, but pain is not localized. Vague pain, alleviated after full-body massage.
100. The entire body feels cold. Or the body is hot but not elevated. Or the head, face, and limbs are hot, with internal heat, inflammation recurring without healing. However, below the waist presents cold signs.
Main methods for adjusting Yang deficiency constitution
The principle for adjusting Yang deficiency constitution is simple: to supplement Yang Qi, referred to as warming Yang. It can be said that warming Yang is the fundamental principle for adjusting Yang deficiency constitution and the basic method for modern sub-health recovery. There are many specific methods to supplement Yang Qi. Below are 20 simple suggestions for reference.
1. Drink hot water, eat hot meals; avoid cold water, cold drinks, and cold food.
2. Eat warming foods: scallions, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, pepper, fennel, leeks, lamb, etc.
3. Sunbathe.
4. Engage in regular outdoor exercise, moderate, with slight sweating, but avoid excessive sweating.
5. Soak feet in hot water.
6. Dress warmly.
7. Avoid air conditioning and fans.
8. Moxibustion. Key acupuncture points: Shenque, Guanyuan, Qihai, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Taixi, Yongquan, Zhongwan, Shenyuan, Mingmen, Yaoyangguan, Dazhui.
9. Massage. Ren meridian, Du meridian, Bladder meridian, Spleen meridian, etc.
10. Acupuncture. Fire needle.
11. Fire dragon moxibustion.
12. Hot compress.
13. Hot poultice.
14. Take Chinese patent medicine.
15. Take decoctions.
16. Avoid staying up late.
17. Moderately drink some white wine or fruit wine, avoiding beer.
18. Drink warm medicinal wine brewed with warming herbs.
19. Frequently eat hot pot, mildly spicy.
20. For those with excessive Yin and insufficient Yang, warm Yang and guide heat downward. Moxibustion, foot soaking, acupuncture, and using warming foods like cinnamon, garlic, and scallions to apply to the soles of the feet.
Conclusion:
Although from the perspective of Western medicine, modern diseases are numerous and varied, from the perspective of TCM, any disease absolutely falls within the realm of Yin and Yang. Regarding modern people’s constitution, the new fact of rare Yin deficiency and rampant Yang deficiency means that although the symptoms of sub-health are complex and varied, most are fundamentally due to Yang deficiency. Therefore, in the recovery and adjustment process, as long as we grasp the fundamental pathogenesis of Yang deficiency and adhere to the fundamental principle of warming Yang, the recovery of most sub-healthy individuals can be optimistically anticipated.
