“Yin toxins” are like household waste that needs to be cleaned up promptly; similarly, the waste produced in the human body should not be allowed to accumulate.We usually refer to harmful substances generated by the body’s metabolism as “toxins.”As people reach middle age, they gradually enter a phase of increasing Yin and declining Yang, which is a normal change in the body. With the gradual increase of Yin Qi, the body also accumulates many toxins, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are referred to as “Yin toxins.” Once toxins accumulate excessively in the body, they can lead to various diseases.According to the different methods of elimination, the body mainly has eight types of toxins: Qi toxins, sweat toxins, retained stool, urine toxins, water toxins, fat toxins, phlegm toxins, and blood toxins.Eliminating Yin toxins is essential to restore Yang Qi!Only by expelling Yin toxins from the body early can we replenish Yang Qi and prolong life. What are the harms of Yin toxins to the body? How can we eliminate the eight major Yin toxins? Today, let’s explore the methods of detoxification together!1. Qi ToxinsQi toxins can originate from “external” or “internal” sources. External sources usually refer to the polluted air we inhale; a person breathes in over 1000 liters of air into the lungs daily, and many harmful energies enter the body along with it.Internal sources refer to the waste gases produced after normal respiration.Qi toxins exist in the lungs. TCM believes that “the lungs govern Qi” and “the kidneys govern the reception of Qi.” Individuals with Qi toxins often have poor lung and kidney function, typically exhibiting strong body odors, such as bad breath or sweat odor.
Typical manifestations of Qi toxins include dizziness and foul breath. Long-term accumulation can lead to respiratory diseases such as cough, pneumonia, and even lung cancer.How to expel Qi toxins?Deep breathing, inhaling fresh air and exhaling stale air, can help cleanse the lungs. This can be done during exercise or indoors by opening windows, ensuring at least once in the morning and evening. For example, early in the morning, stand on the balcony, stretch your limbs while practicing deep breathing.If there are mountains or rivers nearby, shouting at them in the morning can help clear the Qi in the lungs.Note: When practicing deep breathing, choose a fresh air environment and avoid smog and other air pollution. Additionally, consuming lung-nourishing foods such as pears and lilies can be beneficial.2. Sweat ToxinsThe tiny sweat pores of the body can also expel a lot of waste. However, if sweat cannot be expelled smoothly and accumulates in the body, it can turn into a type of toxin.Typical manifestations of sweat toxins include foul-smelling sweat even when not exercising and maintaining body cleanliness. Long-term accumulation can lead to joint pain, rheumatism, and metabolic system diseases.How to expel sweat toxins?It is not necessary to sweat profusely every day, but maintaining a certain amount of sweating is essential. The preferred method to induce sweating is exercise, such as swimming, running, Tai Chi, or standing meditation.Drinking hot porridge, tea, or soup can also promote sweating, and consuming spicy foods can help the body expel sweat. Foods like Job’s tears have the effect of dispelling dampness and opening the sweat pores, so they can be consumed more often.Note: The hotter the weather, the more likely sweat toxins accumulate, so it is especially important to ensure adequate sweating. In hot weather, using a hot towel to wipe the body, taking hot baths, or drinking ginger and brown sugar soup can help detoxify.3. Retained StoolThe Han Dynasty book “Lunheng” states, “To achieve longevity, the intestines must be kept clear; to avoid death, the intestines must be free of residue,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining smooth bowel movements.Stool can carry away over 60% of the body’s toxins. If bowel movements are not timely, it may lead to enteritis or even colon cancer.Typical manifestations of retained stool include bad breath, skin eruptions, and heat symptoms; long-term accumulation can lead to enteritis and even colon cancer and other intestinal diseases.How to expel retained stool?According to TCM meridian theory, the time from 5 AM to 7 AM is when the large intestine meridian is “on duty.” If bowel movements occur during this time, the effect is best, keeping the brain clear throughout the day. The later the time, the more toxins accumulate.Therefore, it is recommended to drink a glass of water on an empty stomach every morning and develop a habit of having a bowel movement early in the morning.If there is no bowel movement at this time, one can massage the Tianshu point (located 2 inches beside the navel, lying on the back, in the middle abdomen, at the width of three fingers from the navel to the left and right, is the Tianshu point).If constipated, one should eat more foods rich in dietary fiber, such as vegetables, oats, and whole grain bread.
Steaming potatoes until soft, mashing them, and mixing with sophora honey or jujube honey can be consumed together; honey has the effect of clearing heat and promoting bowel movements, making it a strong combination.4. Urine ToxinsMost toxins in the body need to be detoxified by the liver and excreted by the kidneys, making the kidneys the most important detoxification organs in the body, filtering out toxins from the blood and excreting them through urine.The accumulation of urine toxins may stem from insufficient kidney function, insufficient water intake, or excessive toxin intake.Typical manifestations of urine toxins include dizziness and difficulty urinating; long-term accumulation can lead to urinary system inflammation, gout, and skin allergies.How to expel urine toxins?Between 5 PM and 7 PM before dinner, one can drink a glass of water on an empty stomach. During this time, the kidney meridian is “on duty,” and drinking a glass of water can help mobilize kidney Qi and assist in cleansing the kidneys and bladder, preventing urinary system stones.One can also massage the Yongquan point (the depression at the front of the foot) and the Sanyinjiao point (3 inches above the inner ankle), and tap the Shenshu point (located at the waist, below the second lumbar vertebra, two finger widths to the left and right).It is advisable to limit the intake of foods with a lot of additives, ensure adequate daily water intake, and eat more fruits and vegetables.5. Water ToxinsAmong Yin toxins, water toxins are the most severe, often caused by weakened kidney function.People over 40 should pay attention to whether they exhibit characteristics of water toxins; for instance, if they wake up with swollen lower eyelids or ankles, it is likely due to water retention.Typical manifestations of water toxins include bags under the eyes, a moist tongue surface; double chins, cold stomach; a clear sound when tapping the abdomen; a small belly, lower body obesity, and thick legs.How to expel water toxins?If caused by kidney issues, warming the kidneys is necessary to enhance the body’s Qi transformation ability.If there are no problems with the kidneys or heart, it indicates that Qi and blood are not flowing smoothly, requiring more exercise. In terms of diet, consuming foods like loofah and winter melon can help eliminate dampness.6. Fat ToxinsWith the abundance of material life, people today consume rich and fatty foods, which in TCM is often considered the cause of fat toxins.Especially when people eat a lot and exercise little, it is easy to accumulate fat toxins. Individuals with fat toxins are generally overweight, have excess fat, and often consume alcohol, meat, and fried foods, which can severely harm the liver.Typical manifestations of fat toxins include dizziness and drowsiness. Long-term accumulation can lead to abnormal blood lipids.How to expel fat toxins?To eliminate fat toxins, one should reduce meat and oil intake, maintaining a light diet, and eat more onions, hawthorn, black fungus, cucumbers, cabbage, and various whole grains.To prevent high blood lipids, one can drink 0.5-1 gram of Sanqi mixed with water in the morning or at noon, which has health benefits.Additionally, massaging the Fenglong point (located on the outer side of the lower leg, 8 inches above the outer ankle, one inch outside the tibia) can help digest and reduce fat.7. Phlegm ToxinsMany people wake up in the morning feeling phlegm in their throats, and some may cough up phlegm throughout the day.This is a manifestation of phlegm toxin accumulation, possibly caused by long-term smoking, improper diet, or poor lung function.Typical manifestations of phlegm toxins include excessive and thick phlegm. Long-term accumulation can lead to cough, difficulty breathing, and epilepsy.How to expel phlegm toxins?First, if the bronchial tubes are not functioning well and there is excessive phlegm, one can drink Erchen Decoction to treat it, which includes 10 grams each of Poria, Banxia, and Chenpi, and 6 grams of Licorice, boiled in water to drink; after 7 days, the phlegm should dissolve.
Second, in daily diet, one can eat more radishes, lilies, almonds, tremella, pears (especially snow pears), winter melons, figs, seaweed, and Luo Han Guo, which help clear heat and resolve phlegm, aiding in moistening dryness and expelling phlegm.In particular, daikon radish helps to replenish Qi and resolve phlegm, having a dual effect of replenishing and smoothing, so it is recommended to shred it, add vinegar, and eat a little every day.Third, drinking 3-10 grams of Licorice soaked in water also has effects of calming cough and expelling phlegm.8. Blood ToxinsEating too diversely and chaotically, and consuming too many food additives can lead to the accumulation of blood toxins in the body, especially in individuals with poor liver detoxification function.In summer, people often enjoy street food, which can easily lead to blood toxins. Excessive alcohol consumption increases the alcohol content in the blood, which may lead to ethanol poisoning, also falling under the category of blood toxins.
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