Many patients often mention that they are born with various constitutions, such as many believing they have dampness in their bodies, or female patients feeling that they have a cold uterus by nature. Therefore, understanding that different constitutions correspond to different health maintenance methods is crucial for everyone’s daily life.
Causes of Formation
The Yin deficiency constitution is mostly due to the deficiency of Yin fluids. On one hand, the nourishing, moistening, and calming functions of Yin fluids are diminished; on the other hand, Yin deficiency cannot restrain the rising Yang Qi, leading to a relative excess of Yang Qi, thus forming a state of internal heat due to Yin deficiency and Yang excess. There are many causes of Yin deficiency, mainly including: Yang pathogenic factors damaging Yin fluids; excessive mental strain leading to the depletion of Yin blood; and chronic illness resulting in insufficient essence and blood, or the depletion of seminal fluids.
Health Maintenance Methods for Yin Deficiency Constitution
Individuals with a Yin deficiency constitution often experience internal heat and are prone to heat pathogens, commonly presenting with symptoms such as sore throat, insomnia, constipation, irritability, and acid reflux. The key to health maintenance for those with a Yin deficiency constitution lies in nourishing Yin and clearing heat, as well as nourishing the liver and kidneys. Among the five organs, the liver stores blood, and the kidneys store essence, thus focusing on nourishing the liver and kidneys is essential. Common foods that can improve Yin deficiency constitution include:
Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi): Neutral in nature and sweet in flavor, they have the function of nourishing Yin and promoting longevity, especially beneficial for symptoms of kidney and liver Yin deficiency such as soreness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, or for lung Yin deficiency conditions like tuberculosis with night sweats, and cough due to deficiency, as well as diabetes with Yin deficiency and thirst.
Donkey-hide Gel (Ejiao): Neutral in nature and sweet in flavor, it can both nourish blood and nourish Yin. As stated in the Compendium of Materia Medica: “Ejiao primarily serves to nourish blood and fluids. For those with insufficient Yin, it is supplemented with its sweet flavor, Ejiao’s sweetness nourishes Yin blood.” It is especially suitable for individuals with lung and kidney Yin deficiency.
Additionally, individuals with a Yin deficiency constitution should also consume foods such as oyster meat, shark meat, mare’s milk, goat’s milk, yogurt, clams, frog meat, tendons, tofu, spinach, green vegetables, yellow sprouts, yam, white fungus, mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, straw mushrooms, pleurotus mushrooms, sago, glutinous rice, black fungus, tomatoes, goji tops, mung bean sprouts, sugarcane, sour plum soup, grapes, lilies, boiled peanuts, oranges, tangerines, pomelos, strawberries, figs, bananas, watermelons, honey, royal jelly, sesame, both southern and northern ginseng, rehmannia, and he shou wu (Fo-Ti).
