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Many people ask me, what is the most important aspect of health preservation? My answer is four words: balance of Yin and Yang.
Everything in the world can ultimately be divided into two categories: one is Yin, and the other is Yang. Yin and Yang are two opposing energies; one is positive and the other negative, one is left and the other right, one is up and the other down, one is front and the other back, mutually restraining and interdependent. It is precisely because Yin and Yang are opposing yet interdependent that we have heaven and earth, sun and moon, and male and female.
The human body, though complex, ultimately consists of only two types of energy: one is Yin, and the other is Yang. The continuous change of these two energies leads to human life, aging, illness, and death.
The Huangdi Neijing states: “Yin and Yang are the principles of heaven and earth, the framework of all things, the parents of change, the source of life and death, and the abode of the spirit. To treat illness, one must seek the root.” This extensive text of the Huangdi Neijing essentially discusses Yin and Yang.
A person’s life is inseparable from birth, aging, illness, and death. What is birth? Birth is the temporary unification of Yin and Yang energies within the body. What is aging? Aging is the continuous change and decline of Yin and Yang within the body. What is illness? Illness is the imbalance of Yin and Yang energies within the body. What is death? Death is the disintegration of this unified state of Yin and Yang.
What is life? Life is a balanced state formed by the contradictory energies of Yin and Yang, where the positive pole is Yang and the negative pole is Yin. Only with the balance of Yin and Yang can a person exist. The Huangdi Neijing states, “The root of life is based on Yin and Yang.” In the world, heaven above represents Yang, earth below represents Yin, and humans in between pursue the balance of Yin and Yang. Therefore, life is a state of neither high nor low, a balance of Yin and Yang. If this balance is completely disrupted, life will come to an end. What happens after life ends? It is the separation of Yin and Yang. At the crematorium, one can observe this phenomenon of Yin and Yang separation: the Yang energy transforms into wisps of smoke rising to the sky, while the Yin energy becomes ashes buried underground, and a person who once stood under the blue sky and walked on the yellow earth disappears from the world.
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Life is a state of internal stability, which depends on the balance of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are like the two weights on a balance scale; only when they are equal in weight can the scale be balanced. Once Yin and Yang are out of balance, the scale tilts to one side, and balance is disrupted, leading to illness. Therefore, to achieve long-term health, one must constantly maintain the balance of Yin and Yang. What is health preservation? It is the nurturing of Yin and Yang; only with harmonious Yin and Yang can we live a life free from illness.
There are thousands of diseases in the human body, some with names and some without; some are common illnesses, while others are difficult-to-treat conditions. Regardless of how many types of diseases there are or how difficult they are to treat, their pathology is fundamentally the same: it is the imbalance of Yin and Yang. The Yin and Yang of the human body are relatively balanced; if Yin is excessive, Yang energy will be damaged; if Yang is excessive, Yin fluids will be damaged. Thus, the Huangdi Neijing states, “If Yin prevails, Yang will be ill; if Yang prevails, Yin will be ill.”
Yin and Yang are present in every part of the body: the kidneys have kidney Yin and kidney Yang, the liver has liver Yin and liver Yang, the heart has heart Yin and heart Yang, the spleen has spleen Yin and spleen Yang, the stomach has stomach Yin and stomach Yang, the lungs have lung Yin and lung Yang… Each part of the body must maintain the balance of Yin and Yang; once the Yin and Yang of a certain part become unbalanced, that part will develop disease.
The Yin and Yang of the liver must be balanced; if liver Yin is insufficient, the Yang energy of the liver will rise sharply, causing the person to have a flushed face, a headache, and irritability. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is called liver Yang rising, and Western medicine may find elevated blood pressure upon measurement. The Yin and Yang of the lungs, stomach, and kidneys must also be balanced. If the Yang energy of the lungs, stomach, and kidneys is excessive and Yin fluids are insufficient, the person will experience excessive thirst, hunger, and urination, leading to the condition known as “Xiao Ke” (wasting-thirst syndrome).
“Xiao Ke” is also known as the three types of wasting. Yang energy is the fire within the body, while Yin fluids are the water within the body. When Yang energy is excessive, the fire within the body increases, and the water is easily burned away. If the fire in the lungs is excessive, saliva, sweat, tears, and blood are easily evaporated, leading to dry mouth and thirst, which TCM refers to as upper wasting; if the fire in the stomach is excessive, the stomach remains in a state of hyperactivity, and the food consumed is quickly digested, leading to excessive eating and rapid hunger, which TCM refers to as middle wasting; if the fire in the kidneys is excessive, the kidneys become dry and unable to retain water, leading to frequent urination, which TCM refers to as lower wasting. The three types of wasting in TCM often correspond to diabetes in Western medical tests.
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Similarly, if there is insufficient Yang energy in the body, Yin fluids will become excessive. At this point, the entire body is like a weak furnace that cannot vaporize the water in the pot; since the water vapor cannot rise, the person will feel dry mouth and thirst, constantly drinking water. Likewise, if the fire is insufficient, the water vapor cannot rise, and the water consumed will quickly be expelled, which explains why some people feel that the water they drink comes out shortly after; in TCM, this is considered a Yang deficiency type of “Xiao Ke,” which, upon examination by Western medicine, often also indicates diabetes.
The Yin and Yang of the heart must be balanced; if the heart Yang is insufficient, the body will be like a landscape devoid of sunlight, shrouded in gloom, becoming cold and lethargic. At this time, water vapor will overflow, leading to edema, and consequently, the heart’s function will inevitably be affected, potentially resulting in cardiac edema. Western medicine may find that this has progressed to heart disease or even heart failure.
Similarly, if heart Yin is insufficient, it is like a hydraulic machine lacking sufficient lubricating oil to transmit pressure; without enough lubricating oil, the machine will run empty and lack power. In the same way, if heart Yin is insufficient, the body will experience palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, insomnia, and forgetfulness. Western medicine may find that this results in arrhythmia, leading to heart disease.
In summary, from major issues like heart disease and hypertension to minor ailments like colds and fevers, all diseases stem from the imbalance of Yin and Yang. Excessive Yang leads to a short life, excessive Yin leads to illness; when Yin and Yang are out of balance, all diseases arise. Why do some people feel unwell frequently, whether it is a headache or chest tightness and shortness of breath? The reason is the imbalance of Yin and Yang within the body. This is akin to the disruption of ecological balance in a region, leading to either drought or flooding.
How can we avoid these disasters? The national approach is to protect forests and restore ecological balance. Once the ecology is balanced, the earth will enjoy favorable weather. So, how can our bodies achieve favorable conditions?There is only one method: to achieve balance between Yin and Yang in the body. A person with balanced Yin and Yang will be energetic, have a rosy complexion, and be free from illness. Even if viruses attack occasionally, their righteous Qi can quickly expel the viruses. Therefore, only those with balanced Yin and Yang can enjoy health and longevity.
