Self assessment questions chapter 1 Yin & Yang

Question 1

What do the Chinese characters for yin and Yang represent

Answer 1

Yin- Shady side of the hill
Yang- sunny side of the hill

Question 2

Why do you think left pertains to Yang and right to yin

Answer 2

As we face south (in the northern hemisphere) the sun rises (Yang movement) on our left and it sets (yin movement) on our right

Question 3

Why does round pertain to Yang and flat/ square to yin

Answer 3

Heaven is above and is Yang, it is imagined as a round vault. Earth is below and is Yin and can be parcelled out in fields

Question 4

How do Yin and Yang relate to the four Seasons?

Answer 4

Summer/ Spring = Yang
Autumn/ winter = Yin

Question 5

You are by a lake on a very hot day and you observe the vapour rising from the surface of the water. How do you interpret this in terms of yin and Yang?

Answer 5

The water of the lake is yin: The heat of the sun is Yang transforms the yin (water) into a more dispersed, subtle form (Yang) vapour

Question 6

When yang is preponderant, what happens to yin?

Answer 6

Yin decreases

Question 7

When yin is deficient, what happened to yang

Answer 7

Yang is in apparent excess

Question 8

When yin is deficient, what happened to yang

Answer 8

Yang is in apparent excess

Question 9

Explain the relationship between liver- blood and Liver-Qi in terms of yin and Yang

Answer 9

Liver- blood and liver- qi are an example of the yin- Yang opposition of structure- function. Liver- blood is the structure of the liver (yin) and the free flow of liver- qi is it’s function (Yang) the two are interdependent

Question 10

Mention at least five examples of the opposition of yin- Yang in symptomatology

Answer 10

Hot/ cold
Wet/ dry
Rapid/ slow
Restless/ quiet
Excited/ inhibition
Fire/ water
Bright/ dark
Above/ below
Rising/ descending

Question 11

Relate excess of yin/ Yang and deficiency of yin/ Yang to heat and cold (full or empty)

Answer 11

Excess of Yang- Full heat
Excess of Yin- Full cold
Deficiency of Yang- Empty cold
Deficiency of Yin- Empty heat

Question 12

Name the four aspects of the Yin/ Yang relationship

Answer 12

1) Opposition of Yin- Yang
2) Mutual Consumption of Yin- Yang
3) Interdependence or Yin- Yang
4) Inter-transformation of Yin- Yang

Question 13

Divisions of the body Yang

Answer 13

Fu
Trunk and limbs
Back
Above the waist
Head
Posterior- lateral surface
Functions of organs
Qi
Defensive (wei) Qi

Question 14

Divisions of the body Yin

Answer 14

Zang
Zangfu
Front
Below the waist
Body
Interior- medial surface
Structure of organs
Blood/ body fluids
Nutritive (ying) Qi

Question 15

Signs and symptoms of Disease Yang

Answer 15

Acute
Rapid onset
Rapid changes
Restlessness, insomnia
Likes to lie stretched out
Red flushed face
Likes cool
Thirst
Scanty dark urination

Question 16

Signs and symptoms of Yin

Answer 16

Chronic
Gradual onset
Lingering
Sleepiness, listlessness
Likes to curl up
Pale face
Likes heat
No thirst
Profuse pale urination

Question 17

Yang Deficiency symptoms

Answer 17

Chills
Bright white complexion
Lethargy
Weakness
Somnolence (strong desire to sleep)
Sweating on exertion
Cold limbs and body
No thirst
Deep weak pulse
Pale, wet, swollen tongue

Question 18

Yin deficiency symptoms

Answer 18

Feeling of heat in afternoon/ eve
Malar flush (cheek)
Restlessness
Weakness
Insomnia
5- palm heat
Hot limbs and body
Thirst
Floating- empty and rapid pulse
Red, peeled cracked tongue

Question 19

Treatment Yang

Answer 19

Tonify Yang
Eliminate excess Yang

Question 20

Treatment Yin

Answer 20

Tonify Yin
Eliminate excess yin