Health Knowledge
Nine Typical Symptoms of Yin Deficiency
How Many Do You Have?
Health Tips
Yin deficiency typically manifests in several ways. If you have the following nine symptoms, it indicates that you are likely experiencing Yin deficiency. Check how many you have.
Nine Symptoms
Five Hearts Heat
Five hearts heat refers to the sensation of heat in the palms, soles, and chest. Especially at night, the palms and soles feel as if they are on fire, and one prefers to keep their hands and feet outside the covers. This is a typical symptom of Yin deficiency, caused by excessive internal heat due to Yin deficiency, insufficient heart blood, or external heat damaging Yin, leading to internal heat.
Dry Mouth and Thirst
Dry mouth and thirst, with a dry throat, especially at night, where drinking water does not significantly relieve the dry mouth. This is due to excessive internal heat and significant loss of Yin fluids, making it difficult to meet the body’s needs.
Afternoon Irritability
Every afternoon around three or four o’clock, one feels irritable, easily impulsive, and has flushed cheeks. This is also a manifestation of Yin deficiency. From 1 to 4 PM is when Yang energy is at its peak; if the Yin energy in the body is insufficient to restrain the Yang energy, the virtual Yang rises, causing one to appear overly “excited”.
Night Sweats
Night sweats are often caused by Yin deficiency. When the essence and Qi stored in the body are insufficient, or when internal heat from Yin deficiency forces sweat to leak out, it leads to night sweats.
Red Tongue, No Coating
Or Thin Coating
Signals of Yin deficiency include a red tongue, a smooth tongue surface, little or no coating, dryness in the mouth, or peeling of the tongue coating, commonly referred to as “geographic tongue”.
Dry Eyes
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is believed that “the liver opens to the eyes”. The eyes primarily rely on the nourishment of liver Yin blood. If there is a deficiency of Yin fluids in the liver and kidneys, it can lead to dry eyes, and in severe cases, sensitivity to light, frequent blinking, and red veins in the eyes.
Weight Loss
The spleen and stomach govern the muscles and limbs, the lungs govern the skin and hair, the liver governs the tendons, and the kidneys govern water. If the spleen, lungs, liver, and kidneys are all Yin deficient, symptoms such as weight loss and dry skin may occur. If weight loss is accompanied by symptoms like tidal fever, night sweats, dry mouth and thirst, dry skin, hard stools, and short red urine, this indicates Yin deficiency.
Constipation
Dry mouth and thirst, with a dry throat, especially at night, where drinking water does not significantly relieve the dry mouth. This is due to excessive internal heat and significant loss of Yin fluids, making it difficult to meet the body’s needs.
Dry, Brittle Hair and Hair Loss
The liver stores blood, and hair is nourished by blood. If the liver and kidneys are insufficient, leading to a deficiency of Yin blood, the hair cannot be nourished, resulting in dry, brittle hair and hair loss.
Author: Liu Yuzuo
Source: Shenyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(Shenyang Health Supervision Institute)
Editor: Qiu Wei, Bai Bing
Proofreader: Chen Zeming
Initial Review: Liu Jun
Final Review: Cui Le Wen
