Modern individuals often experience mental strain and late nights, leading to a depletion of Yin energy, akin to the ancient saying “when the oil is exhausted, the lamp goes out.” In this article, Master Luo Dalun discusses what Yin deficiency is and how to recognize if you are affected. With wisdom in your heart, you can achieve health and vitality!
Yin deficiency refers to the pathological phenomenon of the loss of substances such as essence, blood, or body fluids. Since essence, blood, and body fluids are all considered Yin, this condition is termed Yin deficiency. It is commonly seen in patients who have suffered from prolonged illness or heat-related diseases that lead to internal consumption of Yin fluids. In modern society, due to increased mental strain, many office workers experience Yin deficiency. For instance, many people who stay up late are found to have a high incidence of Yin deficiency. I have encountered numerous office workers who go to bed after midnight, and among them, many exhibit signs of Yin deficiency.
On another occasion, I visited a foreign enterprise and found a high proportion of employees with Yin deficiency, likely related to their excessive mental strain.
Additionally, diet can contribute to Yin deficiency. I have seen many women who enjoy spicy hot pot or barbecued food suffer severely from Yin deficiency. This may be acceptable in Sichuan, but consuming such foods in dry Beijing can harm Yin. So, how do we determine if one has Yin deficiency? In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), diagnosis is primarily based on symptoms. There is a saying: “Yin deficiency leads to internal heat.” Due to insufficient body fluids, Yin deficiency cannot control fire, resulting in symptoms such as five hearts feeling hot, afternoon tidal fever, night sweats, flushed cheeks, weight loss, dry mouth and throat, a desire for cold water, yellow urine, dry stools, and a red tongue with little coating. Among these, the five hearts feeling hot refers to the palms and soles feeling warm, even to the extent that one needs to stick their hands out of the covers while sleeping. Some people feel comfortable only when pressing their palms against a cool wall. The five hearts include the four extremities and the heart itself, leading to feelings of restlessness and heat. Afternoon tidal fever is characterized by a rhythmic rise in temperature, typically occurring in the afternoon for those with Yin deficiency, which is a hallmark of Yin deficiency heat.
Night sweats are well-known, occurring during sleep, and in severe cases, can soak the pillow and sheets. Daytime sweating is referred to as spontaneous sweating. Among these symptoms, the most significant is a red tongue with little coating, where the red tongue color is the primary indicator. Additionally, the pulse may be thin and rapid, which may be difficult for some to identify, but it indicates a slightly faster heartbeat than usual.
Yin deficiency can be further categorized into various organ-specific deficiencies. For example, lung Yin deficiency syndrome is characterized by insufficient lung Yin and the internal generation of false heat. This condition often arises from prolonged coughing that injures Yin or from the later stages of heat diseases that damage Yin fluids. The specific manifestations include a dry cough with little or sticky phlegm, dry mouth and throat, weight loss, afternoon tidal fever, five hearts feeling hot, night sweats, flushed cheeks, and in severe cases, blood-streaked phlegm, hoarseness, a red tongue with little moisture, and a thin, rapid pulse.
Heart Yin deficiency presents with insomnia, vivid dreams, palpitations, forgetfulness, restlessness, night sweats, five hearts feeling hot, dry mouth and throat, a red tip of the tongue, little coating, and a thin, rapid pulse. There may also be flushed cheeks, restlessness, and dizziness, indicating symptoms of internal heat.
These conditions are often seen in individuals with chronic liver and kidney insufficiency, true Yin depletion, or those who have not recovered from heat diseases. In modern society, due to high work pressure, excessive thinking can deplete heart blood, leading to heart Yin deficiency. Insufficient Yin blood fails to nourish the heart and calm the spirit, resulting in palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, and forgetfulness. Internal heat from Yin deficiency manifests as night sweats, restlessness, hot palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, a red tip of the tongue, little coating, and a thin, rapid pulse. Flushed cheeks and dizziness are symptoms of internal heat.
Stomach Yin deficiency syndrome refers to the symptoms resulting from insufficient stomach Yin. This often arises from chronic stomach diseases, the later stages of heat diseases where Yin fluids have not recovered, excessive consumption of spicy foods, or emotional distress leading to Qi stagnation that injures stomach Yin. The main manifestations include dull pain in the stomach area, lack of appetite, dry mouth and throat, hard stools, or discomfort in the stomach area, or nausea, a red tongue with little moisture, and a thin, rapid pulse.
In modern society, spleen Yin deficiency syndrome is particularly important, indicating insufficient spleen Yin fluids, leading to poor nourishment and weak transformation. This often results from external heat illnesses, Yin fluid depletion, or inherent Yin deficiency, emotional distress leading to Qi stagnation that injures Yin fluids, excessive consumption of spicy foods, or the inappropriate use of warming and drying substances. Based on my observations, the excessive use of hormones in the rearing of meat animals may lead to many meat-loving individuals, especially children, suffering from spleen Yin deficiency, as these hormones are heat-inducing and can harm Yin.
The manifestations of spleen Yin deficiency include reduced appetite, a preference for meat, bland taste, post-meal bloating, weight loss, fatigue, dry lips, bright red lips, five hearts feeling hot, hard stools, short and red urine, a red tongue with dry thin coating or no coating, and a thin, rapid pulse. Such children are often very active, some unable to stay still, and may have a volatile temper.
Liver Yin deficiency syndrome refers to the loss of Yin fluids, leading to the liver losing its moistening function, failing to control Yang, and causing internal heat disturbance, primarily manifested by dizziness, dry eyes, rib pain, and restlessness. This is also known as liver heat deficiency syndrome. Specific manifestations of liver Yin deficiency include dizziness, dry eyes, reduced vision, or dull pain in the ribs, facial heat or flushed cheeks, or twitching of the hands and feet, dry mouth and throat, five hearts feeling hot, tidal fever and night sweats, a red tongue with little coating, a thin, rapid pulse, and an irritable temperament.
Kidney Yin deficiency syndrome indicates insufficient kidney Yin fluids, leading to weakened nourishing and moistening functions. This often results from inherent Yin deficiency, prolonged illness harming the kidneys, excessive sexual activity, heat diseases injuring Yin, or the excessive use of warming and drying substances. Clinical manifestations include dizziness, tinnitus, weakness in the lower back and knees, hair loss, loose teeth, insomnia with vivid dreams, tidal fever and night sweats, five hearts feeling hot, dry throat and flushed cheeks, a red tongue with little moisture, and a thin, rapid pulse. In men, there may be nocturnal emissions, while women may experience scanty or absent menstruation.
So, how should individuals with Yin deficiency adjust their condition? First, dietary control is essential. Those with a Yin deficiency constitution should consume more cooling and nourishing foods, favoring sweet, cool, moistening, and Yin-nourishing foods, as well as fresh vegetables and moistening fruits. They should avoid spicy and stimulating foods, warming and drying foods, fried or roasted items, hot and fiery foods, and foods high in fat.
Here are some recommended foods for individuals with Yin deficiency:
Duck meat: Nourishes Yin and supports the stomach. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica: “Nourishes Yin and eliminates steaming.” The famous Qing Dynasty physician Wang Mengying noted in Dietary Records of Suixi Residence that duck meat “nourishes the Yin of the five organs, clears the heat of deficiency, and nourishes the stomach and generates fluids.” It is commonly believed that duck is the ideal nourishing food for those with Yin deficiency. Recently, I reviewed the dietary records of Emperor Qianlong and found that he frequently consumed duck dishes, almost daily. He lived to be eighty-nine years old, the longest-lived emperor in history, and his attention to dietary health was likely a significant factor.
Pork (skin): Pork has the effect of nourishing Yin and moistening dryness. The Qing Dynasty physician Wang Mengying observed that blacksmiths working with iron were exceptionally dry and hot, yet remained healthy. When he inquired about their secret, they revealed they drank broth made from lean pork, leading him to understand the nourishing properties of pork. He stated: “Pork nourishes kidney fluids, replenishes stomach juices, nourishes liver Yin, moistens the skin, and alleviates thirst.” The Compendium of Materia Medica states: “Pork has a rich flavor, moistens the intestines and stomach, generates body fluids, and benefits the skin.” Therefore, it is particularly suitable for those with Yin deficiency, with pork skin being even more effective. Zhang Zhongjing created the Pork Skin Decoction to benefit the throat and moisten dryness, which is the beginning of this concept.
Eggs: They not only benefit Qi and nourish blood but also have the effect of nourishing Yin and moistening dryness, whether from the egg white or yolk. In the past, some Yin-nourishing herbal formulas would include an egg after cooking, as TCM believes the egg yolk has Yin-nourishing properties.
Pears: They have the effects of generating fluids, moistening dryness, and clearing heat, making them ideal for lung Yin deficiency or those with Yin injury after heat diseases. The Compendium of Materia Medica states: “The cooked ones nourish the Yin of the five organs.” The Chongqing Tang Essays states: “For warm and dry diseases, and for Yin deficiency with fiery heat, the juice is effective immediately.” In old Beijing, there is a dessert made from autumn pears, which is prepared with some Yin-nourishing herbs, providing a moistening effect. Generally, supermarkets in northern China sell this, and regardless of the season, it can be consumed for Yin deficiency.
Mulberries: They have the function of nourishing Yin and replenishing blood, particularly beneficial for nourishing liver and kidney Yin. The famous Ming Dynasty physician Miao Xiyong wrote in the Shennong’s Materia Medica that they are “a medicine for cooling blood, replenishing blood, and benefiting Yin,” and also stated, “Thirst due to internal heat and insufficient body fluids can be alleviated by generating fluids, benefiting the five organs due to their Yin-nourishing properties.” They are especially suitable for those with liver and kidney Yin deficiency who experience thirst, dim vision, and tinnitus. Recently, while traveling by plane, I was pleasantly surprised to find mulberry juice among the beverages offered, as during their season, they are abundant and delicious, but difficult to find out of season. The production of juice helps preserve them.
Goji berries: They have the function of nourishing Yin and benefiting essence, especially for those with kidney and liver Yin deficiency who experience weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, or those with lung Yin deficiency experiencing tidal fever, night sweats, or cough due to deficiency. During the Republic of China, the famous physician Zhang Xichun experienced thirst every night and placed a bowl of water by his bedside. In the morning, he found that he had drunk most of it. Later, he began eating goji berries before bed, which surprisingly alleviated his thirst, demonstrating their nourishing and moistening effects.
Bird’s nest: It is neutral in nature, sweet in taste, and has the function of nourishing Qi and Yin, particularly benefiting lung Yin, making it an excellent nourishing food. For those with Yin deficiency, especially lung Yin deficiency, such as tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary atrophy, or chronic bronchitis, it is most suitable. The Qing Dynasty physician Zhang Lu stated it can “regulate and nourish deficiency and treat cough with red phlegm.” Wu Yiluo said: “Bird’s nest greatly nourishes lung Yin, replenishing and clearing.” The Compendium of Materia Medica also records it as “greatly nourishing original Qi, moistening the lungs, and nourishing Yin.” Nowadays, there is much debate about bird’s nest, especially regarding modern scientific analyses of its simple composition and lack of nutrition. Coupled with counterfeiting, it has almost lost its former glory. However, this is unnecessary; bird’s nest is an excellent food-medicine product, and this is indisputable. I noted in the dietary records of Emperor Qianlong that he frequently consumed bird’s nest dishes, often with duck, indicating that the imperial physicians would not frequently use something without value.
Recently, a close friend gifted me a box of bird’s nest drink, which I gave to my mother. That day, she asked me why her skin looked so radiant and smooth. After much consideration, I realized it was due to the bird’s nest drink, as there were no other significant dietary changes. This demonstrates the nourishing effects of bird’s nest. As for the issue of counterfeiting, it is a societal problem in China, unrelated to the bird’s nest itself.
White fungus: It has the effects of nourishing Yin, supporting the stomach, and generating fluids. White fungus is rich in nutrients and is a commonly used nourishing food, especially suitable for those with lung and stomach Yin deficiency.
Donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao): It can both nourish blood and nourish Yin. The Compendium of Materia Medica states: “Ejiao primarily serves to nourish blood and fluids. For those with insufficient Yin, it replenishes with flavor; Ejiao’s sweetness nourishes Yin blood.” It is particularly suitable for those with lung and kidney Yin deficiency. I have previously discussed the effects of Ejiao in earlier blog posts, which you can refer to.
In summary, if you identify with the symptoms of Yin deficiency discussed, you can consult a nearby TCM practitioner for analysis. Yin deficiency is relatively easy to diagnose, and if confirmed, a small prescription using Sheng Di (Rehmannia), Sha Shen (Glehnia), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon) and other Yin-nourishing ingredients can be used to make soup or drinks. Consuming two to three cups a day can lead to significant improvement within a week or two, without requiring a long duration. However, maintaining good lifestyle habits is even more crucial, such as avoiding late nights, reducing spicy foods, and minimizing mental strain, as these are the true foundations for ensuring our health.