Functions of Yin & Yang Flashcards
Functions of Yin
Cools: yin cools the body, therefore an even temperature is maintained when the yin and yang is in harmony
Nourishes: in the form of Ying Qi, supplies the nourishment to the meridians
Provides Rest: When this nature is in balance with the yang, it enables us to use our energy better, recover easily from fatigue and preserve a good quality of life for a long time. When this nature is not in harmony, hyperactivity will exist and stagnation can develop.
The Functions of Yang
Warms: Warms the body
Transforms: All transformation of energy relies on yang. This is usually provided by its nature to warm.
Protects: This nature is to defend the body against external pathogens. This is provided by its nature to warm.
Moves: Body fluids and blood are dependent on the movement of Yang Qi.
Holds: Even though the nature of yang is to move, yang also has the nature to hold blood, body fluids and organs in their proper place.
What are the 5 aspects of yin/yang relationship
- opposition
- interdependence
- inter-consuming-supporting
- inter-transforming
- infinite divisibility
What are some examples of opposition of yin and yang in nature? In medicine?
Yin/Yang in Nature
- water/fire
- darkness/light
- moon/sun
- matter/energy
- material/immaterial
Yin/Yang in Medicine
- interior/exterior
- cold/excess
- deficiency/excess
- chronic/acute
What are some examples of Yin/yang interdependence
Yin/Yang
- yin corresponds to nutrient substance and yang to functional activites.
- without structure (yin), the function (yang) could not perform
- yin organs depend on the yang organs to produce qi and blood and the yang organs depend on yin for their nourishment deriving from blood and essence
What are some examples of yin/yang mutual consuming
Excess yin: excess cold (interior or exterior) in the body consumes the yang, especially SP yang.
Excess Yang: Excess heat (exterior/interior) consumes the body fluids and leads to dryness
Consumption of Yang: the decrease of yang energy leads to symptoms of a relative excess yin, such as feelings of cold and chills.
Consumption of Yin: the decrease of yin leads to symptoms of relative excess yang, such as feelings of heat
What are some examples of inter-transformation
- day turns into night
- exterior cold (yin) can invade the body and after time can easily change into heat
What are some examples of infinite divisibilty
temperature can be divided into cold (yin) and hot (yang) but cold can be divided further into icy cold (yin) and moderately cold (yang)
5 Element Correspondence- Wood
Yin- Liver Yang- Gallbladder Color- Green Flourishes/Manifests- Nails Sense Organ- eyes Tissues dominated- ligaments, tendons, tissues, sinews Emotion- Jealousy Smell- Rancid (cheese) Flavor- Sour & Acid Climate- Windy Season- Spring
5 Element Correspondence- Fire
Yin- Heart Yang- Small Intestine Color- Red Flourishes- Complexion Sense Organ- Tongue Tissues- Blood & BV Emotion- Joy Smell- Burnt Flavor- Bitter Climate- hot Season- summer
5 Element Correspondence- Earth
Yin- Spleen Yang- Stomach Color- yellow Flourishes- lips Sense- Mouth Tissues- Muscles Emotion- Pensiveness Smell- fragrant flavor- sweet climate- moisture season- indian summer
5 Element Correspondence- Metal
Yin- Lung Yang- Large Intestine Color- White Flourishes- body hair Sense- nose tissue- skin emotion- worry smell- rotten (rotten) flavor- spicy climate- dryness season- autumn
5 Element Correspondence- Water
Yin-kidney Yang- Bladder Color- black Flourishes- head hair Sense organ- ears Tissues- bones/marrow emotion- fear smell- putrid flavor- salty climate- cold and wet season- winter
Mother/ Son/ Promotion/ Shen Cycle
Earth (mother of metal, son of fire), Metal (mother of water and son of earth), Water (mother of wood and son of metal), wood (mother of fire and son of water), Fire (mother of earth and son of wood)
Disharmony of production promotion cycle
the elements don’t promote or support one another because its weak (due to genetics, lifestyle, diet, emotions)
Counteracting Cycle
(Opposite Star formation)
- always pathological if occurs
- Each element is counteracted and humiliated
Control/ Ko Cycle
(Star formation)
- interacts - normal
- over acts- pathological
Functions/ Side Effects of taste- SOUR
Sour- generates fluids and Yin; astringent and can control perspiration and diarrhea
- Side effect: makes phlegm worse
Functions/ Side Effects of taste- BITTER
Clears Heat, sedates and hardens; clears damp heat and it subdues rebellious QI
Side Effects: Injures SP, injures Yin
Functions/Side Effects of taste- SWEET
Tonifies, balances, and moderates; used to tonify deficiency and to stop pain
Side Effects: Creates dampness
Functions/ Side Effects of taste- Spicy
Scatters; used to expel pathogenic factors
Side Effects: Injures Yin
Functions/ Side Effects of taste- Salty
Flows downwards, softens hardness; used to treat constipation and swelling
Side Effects: injures fluids
Sour Precautions
Goes to nerves and Liver
- upsets liver
- should use sparingly if has chronic pain or if SP is diseased
Bitter Precautions
Goes to the bones and HT
- should be avoided in bone diseases and if the Lung is diseased