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Yin deficiency is a term familiar to many; it is a concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that contrasts with Yang deficiency, referring to the pathological phenomenon of deficiency in essence, blood, or body fluids. Since essence, blood, and body fluids are all classified as Yin, this condition is termed Yin deficiency. It is commonly seen in patients who have suffered from prolonged illness or heat-related diseases that lead to the depletion of Yin fluids.
At this point, a new question arises: what manifestations are associated with Yin deficiency?
The manifestations of Yin deficiency are quite numerous, including common symptoms such as five-center heat (五心烦热), afternoon tidal fever, night sweats, flushed cheeks, weight loss, red tongue with little coating, etc. However, did you know that when certain symptoms of Yin deficiency appear, they should not be ignored, as they may indicate the presence of cancer in the body?
(The kidneys generate body fluids and Yin fluids; when the body is deficient in fluids, it leads to excessive fire, phlegm obstruction, and subsequent stasis.)
First, Lung Yin Deficiency.
Common manifestations of Lung Yin deficiency include dry cough without phlegm, or scanty and sticky phlegm, dryness of the mouth and throat, weight loss, afternoon tidal fever, five-center heat, night sweats, flushed cheeks, and in severe cases, blood-streaked phlegm, hoarseness, red tongue with little fluid, and thin rapid pulse.
What diseases can lead to Lung Yin deficiency?
Conditions such as chronic bronchitis, chronic pharyngitis, and pulmonary tuberculosis can lead to Lung Yin deficiency. If lung cancer is present, symptoms of Lung Yin deficiency may also appear, and they will worsen as the disease progresses.
If persistent symptoms of Lung Yin deficiency occur, it is essential to be vigilant. In TCM, Lung Yin deficiency is an intangible condition, and regular check-ups, including chest X-rays or low-dose CT scans, are necessary to rule out early lung cancer.
Second, Stomach Yin Deficiency.
Common manifestations of Stomach Yin deficiency include dull pain in the stomach area, lack of appetite, dryness of the mouth and throat, dry stools, or a feeling of fullness in the stomach, or dry retching, red tongue with little fluid, and thin rapid pulse.
Diseases that can cause Stomach Yin deficiency include peptic ulcers and chronic gastritis, and it may also be a sign of stomach cancer.
If your symptoms align closely with those of Stomach Yin deficiency and you have consulted a TCM practitioner, the best course of action is to undergo a gastroscopy. This procedure can not only detect peptic ulcers and gastritis but also clarify early-stage stomach cancer. After obtaining the results, targeted TCM treatment may yield better outcomes.
Third, Liver Yin Deficiency.
Symptoms of Liver Yin deficiency include dizziness, dry eyes, reduced vision, or dull pain in the hypochondrium, facial flushing or redness in the cheeks, or twitching of the hands and feet, dryness of the mouth and throat, five-center heat, tidal fever, night sweats, red tongue with little coating, and thin rapid pulse.
Common diseases that can lead to Liver Yin deficiency include viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and potentially liver cancer.
The progression from viral hepatitis to liver cirrhosis to liver cancer is almost a trilogy of liver cancer development. Therefore, if symptoms of Liver Yin deficiency persist, it is crucial to pay attention and regularly undergo liver ultrasound, alpha-fetoprotein tests, viral tests, and liver function tests.
Fourth, Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Manifestations of Kidney Yin deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus, soreness in the lower back and knees, insomnia with vivid dreams, tidal fever, night sweats, five-center heat, dryness of the throat and flushed cheeks, red tongue with little fluid, and thin rapid pulse. In men, it may also present with nocturnal emissions, while in women, it may manifest as scanty menstruation or amenorrhea.
There are numerous diseases that can lead to Kidney Yin deficiency, such as chronic nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and chronic renal failure.
Kidney cancer may also present with some symptoms of Kidney Yin deficiency.
Many people believe that when Yin deficiency occurs, dietary supplementation is necessary, such as consuming more nourishing foods. It is advisable to eat sweet, cool, moistening foods that nourish Yin, fresh vegetables, and foods high in fiber and vitamins, as well as foods rich in high-quality protein.
While dietary supplementation is important, developing a habit of regular health check-ups is equally crucial. Simply knowing the symptoms of Yin deficiency is not enough; if the underlying causes of Yin deficiency can be identified in a timely manner, treatment can be more targeted.
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