It is said that “nine out of ten people are deficient.” Modern life is fast-paced, with high work pressure and irregular schedules. Over time, this can lead to an imbalance of Yin and Yang in the body, resulting in conditions such as Yin deficiency, Yang deficiency, or even both Yin and Yang deficiency.
Yin deficiency should be nourished, and Yang deficiency should be warmed. So, when both Yin and Yang are deficient, should we nourish Yin first or warm Yang first?
If you have this doubt, let’s explore some solutions together with Wei Yi Jun.
1
What are the manifestations of Yang deficiency, Yin deficiency, and both Yin and Yang deficiency?
Yang deficiency
Yang transforms Qi, while Yin forms substance. Yang deficiency refers to the decline of Yang Qi function in the body, leading to insufficient warmth, hence Yang deficiency results in cold.
Manifestations: Yang deficiency typically presents as sensitivity to cold, cold extremities, lack of energy, and susceptibility to colds.
Yin deficiency
Yin deficiency refers to the insufficiency of tangible substances such as essence, blood, and Yin fluids in the body. Yin fluids play a nourishing role, so Yin deficiency leads to internal heat.
Manifestations: Insufficient Yin fluids often present as heat sensations in the palms and soles (five hearts), tidal fever, weight loss, night sweats, dry throat, and easy irritability.
Both Yin and Yang deficiency
In fact, the constitution of both Yin and Yang deficiency is more common.
Because Yin damage affects Yang, and Yang damage affects Yin. Excessive consumption of Yin fluids can harm Yang Qi, and prolonged Yang deficiency can also damage Yin fluids.
Manifestations: Both Yin and Yang deficiency often present as sensitivity to both cold and heat. Consuming slightly more cold foods can lead to symptoms like diarrhea and stomach pain, while consuming warming foods can lead to symptoms of heat and dryness.
Yin governs water, while Yang governs fire. The state of both Yin and Yang deficiency is akin to cooking rice with insufficient water and fire; the rice will not cook properly.
In such cases, we can first “add water” to nourish Yin, and then “add firewood” to warm Yang. When both water and firewood are just right, the rice can be cooked successfully.
2
First Nourish Yin
Try making these 2 soups
Shashen (Radix Glehniae) and Yuzhu (Polygonatum) Duck Soup
Ingredients: 15g Shashen, 10g Yuzhu, 1 duck, 5 slices of ginger, 3g dried tangerine peel, salt to taste.
Method: First, wash and soak Shashen and Yuzhu in water. Blanch the duck until half-cooked. Then add Shashen, Yuzhu, ginger, and dried tangerine peel, and simmer on low heat for one hour. Finally, add salt to taste.
Effects: Nourishes Yin, moistens the lungs, and generates fluids. Suitable for those with symptoms of dryness in the nasopharynx, irritability, thirst, and constipation.
Snow Pear and Luo Han Guo Soup
Ingredients: 1 Luo Han Guo, 2 snow pears, 10g white fungus, rock sugar to taste.
Method: Remove the shell from the Luo Han Guo, keeping the flesh. Soak the white fungus in warm water until soft, removing the hard roots. Cut the snow pears into pieces and place them with the white fungus in a pot, adding appropriate water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat for 3 minutes, add the Luo Han Guo, and let it steep for 5 minutes before adding rock sugar.
Effects: Clears heat, moistens the lungs, nourishes Yin, and generates fluids. Suitable for those with symptoms of hoarseness, dry and cracked lips, and dry cough without phlegm.
In addition to these two medicinal soups, you can also eat more foods that nourish Yin and moisten dryness, such as lily, lotus seeds, honey, kelp, and spinach.
Additionally, it is important to drink more water to alleviate symptoms such as dry skin, brittle hair, chapped lips, and constipation.
3
Then Warm Yang
You can regularly moxibust these 4 points
01 Shenque Point (CV8)
This point is located at the center of the navel. When operating, you can fill the navel with salt, place ginger slices on top, and finally place moxa cones.
“This point is at the navel, which is the connection of pre-natal essence and post-natal Qi, where the original Qi always resides.”
Therefore, moxibustion at this point has the effect of nourishing the root and reinforcing original Qi, warming and supplementing Yang Qi.
02 Guanyuan Point (CV4)
This point is located 3 inches below the navel, which is about 4 fingerbreadths from Shenque.
“Guanyuan is the intersection of Yin and Yang Qi in the body,” and its indications are mostly for deficiency syndromes, such as cold extremities, kidney deficiency with frequent urination, and irregular menstruation.
03 Qihai Point (CV6)
This point is located 1.5 inches below the navel, at the midpoint between Shenque and Guanyuan.
“This point is where the great Qi converges, like rivers flowing into the sea, hence the name ‘Qihai'”; therefore, moxibustion at this point has the effect of warming and supplementing the Yang Qi of the whole body.
04 Mingmen Point (GV4)
This point is located in the lower back, in the depression below the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra, along the midline.
This point is located between the two kidneys and is known as the “Gate of Life”; therefore, moxibustion at this point has the effect of warming and supplementing kidney Yang.
When Yin and Yang are in harmony, they support and generate each other. Once the balance of Yin and Yang is disrupted, it can lead to conditions of Yin deficiency, Yang deficiency, or both, resulting in various diseases.
If your body shows symptoms of both Yin and Yang deficiency, we can adjust by first “adding water” to nourish Yin, and then “adding firewood” to warm Yang. You might also try making a nourishing soup for yourself and performing moxibustion on various acupoints, which can significantly improve your condition.
References:
[1] Liu Shasha, Liang Baihui, Chen Yan. Overview of the Characteristics of Yin Deficiency and Yang Deficiency [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2018: 29-32.
[2] Liu Cheng. What is Yin Deficiency and Yang Deficiency [J]. Elderly Education: Senior University, 2017: 61.
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