TCM I: Yin and Yang

Question 1

Yin and Yang

Answer 1

Yin and Yang in Chinese medicine is a concept of dualism, describing how opposite forces are related to one another and may give rise to each other.
* Most people in the west know the famous Taiji (supreme ultimate) symbol, which is a representation of the Yin / Yang concept
* The Chinese character for Yin describes the shady part of the hill, whilst Yang describes the sunny part

Question 2

Example of Yin / Yang associated / Quality words

Answer 2

Imagine you are climbing a high hill on a sunny day. What words would you use to describe what is going on around you?
e.g. bright, sunny, warm, movement, heat, rising / ascending (Yang associated / quality words)

Imagine that you have reached to the top of the hill at dusk and you spend a night on the top of the hill. What words would use to describe what is going on around you now?
e.g. Dark, moist, cool / cold, moon, stars, still, calm (Yin associated / quality words)

Question 3

Yin words

Answer 3

Yin:
* Cold
* Wet
* Matter
* Contraction
* Descending
* Below
* Quiet
* Stasis
* Night-time
* Water

Question 4

Yang words

Answer 4

Yang:
* Hot
* Dry
* Energy
* Expansion
* Rising
* Above
* Loud
* Movement
* Daytime
* Fire

Question 5

Symbol

Answer 5

The dark part of the symbol represent Yin and the white part Yang. The curved line separating the two represents their interplay. The small circles represent the presence of one in the other
* Nothing is purely Yin or purely Yang. Four example, walking is Yang compared to sitting, but it is Yin compared to running.
* Yin and Yang transform into one another. Night follows day, spring follows winter, rest follows activity

Question 6

Activity (Yang) and physical form (Yin) relationship

Answer 6

In the body, activity (Yang) Is nourished by the physical form (Yin) and the physical form is created and maintained by the activity of the body.
This also translates into physiology. For example:

• Yin: Blood and lymph: Yang: Circulation of blood and lymph
• Yin: Mucus: Yang: Production & expectoration
• Yin: Hormones: Yang: Metabolic response to hormonal signals
• Yin: Nutrient substances: Yang: Metabolism, activities of digestion

Question 7

Balance

Answer 7

Good health is an expression of harmony between Yin and Yang. When out of balance, there is disease

• If Yin does not cool and nourish the body, then Yang may rise, leading to heat signs such as headaches, red-faced, nose bleeds, or irritability
• When Yang does not warm and activate Yin, there may be cold limbs, chills, tiredness, lethargy, Poor blood circulation or oedema.

Question 8

Yin and Yang and the human body

Answer 8

Yin and Yang are relational concepts. They provide us with a language to describe the parts of the human body in relation to each other.

Question 9

Yin: The human body

Answer 9

• Front
• Body
• Interior organs
• Below waist
• Anterior, medial
• Structure
• Blood, body fluids
• ‘Solid’ organs (more vital - e.g. heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, digestive system, pericardial)
• Conservation (storing things)

Question 10

Yang: The human body

Answer 10

• Back
• Head
• Skin, muscles
• Above waist
• Posterior, lateral
• Function
• Qi (‘Energy’)
• ‘Hollow’ Organs (less vital e.g. small intestine, bladder, gallbladder, stomach, large intestine)
• Transformation (moving things through)