Yin and Yang

Question 1

Yin & Yang

Answer 1

• Yin and Yang is a Chinese concept of dualism and balance. It describes how opposite forces are distinct but also related and connected to one another.
•Yin Yang theory provides an accessible language for describing:
- The qualities of living beings and their environments.
- Patterns of health and disease.
- The properties of foods and other medicines.

Question 2

Yin Qualities

Answer 2

Cold
Moist
Matter
Contraction
Descending
Nourishing
Water

Question 3

Yang Qualities

Answer 3

Hot
Dry
Energy
Expansion
Rising
Moving
Fire

Question 4

Yin & Yang Imbalance

Answer 4

• Good health is an expression of harmony between Yin and Yang. When out of balance, there is dis-ease.
• If Yin does not cool and nourish the body due to insufficient cooling, hydrating and nourishing foods (green veg, fruit, smoothies, soups), Yang may rise, leading to heat signs such as headaches, red face, nosebleeds, or irritability.
• When Yang does not warm and activate the body due to insufficient warming, drying and moving foods (stews, onion, garlic, spices), there may be signs of cold such as chills, tiredness, lethargy, poor circulation or oedema.

Question 5

Yin Foods

Answer 5

• Yin foods are cooling, hydrating and nourishing. They are used to balance excess heat or dryness or to rebuild a system depleted by exhaustion or illness.
• Cooling yin foods include bitter, leafy greens, watery fruit and veg such as pear, melon, celery.
• Nourishing yin foods include soups, stews, broths, braised meats, dark leafy greens, fruit, yoghurt, honey, oyster, tempeh, nut milks, sesame.

Question 6

Yang Foods

Answer 6

• Yang foods are warming , drying or moving.
They are used to balance excess cold or dampness.
• Warming foods and drinks include soups, stews, dahls, warm porridges, beef, lamb, stir fried or baked food, onion, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, warm water, herbal teas.
• Foods and spices that clear dampness include non gluten grains (dry roast then cook as a side to veg or tea), mushrooms, fennel seed or cinnamon tea, horseradish, black radish, ginger, seeds (mustard, cumin, cardamom , star anise), Szechuan pepper.

Question 7

Excess Yang

Answer 7

Strong signs of heat such as very red face, migraines, rage or high blood pressure.

Question 8

Deficient Yin

Answer 8

When Yin is deficient, Yang is not anchored, leading to moderate signs of heat such as low grade fevers or night sweats.

Question 9

Excess Yin

Answer 9

Strong signs of cold such as a blue tongue or skin, stabbing pains or cramps.

Question 10

Deficient Yang

Answer 10

When Yang doesn’t warm and activate the body, it leads to moderate signs of cold, i.e. diarrhoea, tiredness, lethargy.

Question 11

Excess Yang: Sings and Symptoms

Answer 11

red face
hypertension,
anger 
headaches 
feeling hot
thirst

Question 12

Excess Yang: Tongue

Answer 12

red, possibly with yellow coating.

Question 13

Excess Yang: Aetiolgy

Answer 13

stress
diet
acute inflammation.

Question 14

Excess Yang: Avoid

Answer 14

sugar
alcohol
coffee
black tea
fizzy drinks
red meats,
hot spices
fried or greasy food
onion
garlic
processed foods.

Question 15

Excess Yang: Eat

Answer 15

cooling ‘yin’ foods
bitter greens
watery fruit
melon,

Question 16

Excess Yang: Lifestyle

Answer 16

Avoid stress, Strong exercise, hot yoga (yoga carried out in a hot room).
Consider moderate exercise i.e. walking, gentle yoga, Qi gong (Chinese system of gentle exercises and breathing).

Question 17

Yang Definciency: Signs and symptoms

Answer 17

tired, chilly, pale,
loose stool with undigested food,
frequent pale urination, oedema, low libido, palpitations, lack of appetite.

Question 18

Yang Deficiency: Tongue

Answer 18

pale, swollen , wet

Question 19

Yang Deficiency: Aetiology

Answer 19

chronic illness, old age,

cold raw diet, chronic cold exposure

Question 20

Yang Definciency: Avoid

Answer 20

raw foods, salads, cold drinks, smoothies.

Question 21

Yang Deficiency: Eat

Answer 21

nourishing soups, stews, root veg, pumpkin,

whole grains, spices, warm water, herbal teas.

Question 22

Yang Deficiency: Lifestyle

Answer 22

wrap up warm , avoid cold exposure, stress, overwork.

Take hot baths, use hot water bottles, moderate exercise, such as walking or Qi gong.

Question 23

Excess Yin: Signs and Symptoms

Answer 23

sharp pains, cramps, pale / pale blue complexion,

feeling cold all the time, constipation.

Question 24

Excess Yin: Tongue

Answer 24

blue, possibly with thick white coating.

Question 25

Excess Yin: Aetiology

Answer 25

cold diet or chronic exposure to cold.

Question 26

Excess Yin: Avoid

Answer 26

raw foods, salads, cold drinks, smoothies.

Question 27

Excess Yin: Eat

Answer 27

warming soups, stews, broths, warm

water and herbal teas (e.g. ginger, cinnamon).

Question 28

Excess Yin: Lifestyle

Answer 28

always stay warm, hot baths, hot water bottles.

Question 29

Yin Deficiency: Signs and symptoms

Answer 29

low grade fever, dry throat at night, night sweats, weight loss, malar flush.

Question 30

Yin Deficiency: Tongue

Answer 30

red , cracked, dry

Question 31

Yin Deficiency: Aetiology

Answer 31

chronic illness, prolonged overwork, old age, anaemia.

Question 32

Yin Deficiency: Avoid

Answer 32

sugar, alcohol, coffee, hot spices, fried food, onion, garlic.

Question 33

Yin Deficiency: Eat

Answer 33

yin nourishing foods such as soups, stews, broths, braised meats, dark leafy greens, fruit, yoghurt, honey, oyster, nut milks, sesame.

Question 34

Yin Deficiency: Lifestyle

Answer 34

sleep more , seek stillness.

Avoid strong exercise or excessive sexual activity.

Question 35

Yin and Yang

Answer 35

• The Yin and Yang concept is the core of Chinese medicine.
• A healthy meal should achieve a balance of yin and yang.
• Yin and Yang are opposites, but not in absolute terms. Nothing is entirely Yin or Yang. E.g. raw foods are yin when compared to warm stews, but yang compared to ice cream
• Generally, foods are either more:
• YIN cool , contracting, cooling in property) or
• YANG warm , expanding, warming in property)

Question 36

Yin Foods

Answer 36

The following are considered ‘Yin foods’:
• Cold and cooling foods.
• Plant foods in general. Foods with low calorific value such as fruit, green vegetables, seaweed.
• Wet or sweet foods are more yin.
• Refined foods are more yin, whilst also having less Qi.
• Raw food is generally more yin and better tolerated in the summer.
• Foods that grow in the spring & summer are generally cooling (yin) in quality and, therefore, should be eaten in season
. The nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, bell peppers) and sweet tropical fruit are particularly yin.

Question 37

Yang Foods

Answer 37

The following are consider ‘Yang foods’:
• Warm and warming foods.
• Foods with a higher calorific value including red meats. Meats, in general, are more yang than plant foods.
• Chocolate, tea, coffee and alcohol.
• Black pepper, ginger, chilli, onion, garlic.
• Most root vegetables are warming (yang) in quality and good to be eaten during autumn and winter.
• Fresh food has more yang energy, which also enhances the Qi , whereas processed or stale food has more yin energy (and weakens the Qi).

Question 38

Yin and Yang: Noodles

Answer 38

• Noodles can sit in either category, according to whether they are made from rice or wheat.
• Rice grows in water so it is more yin ; wheat ripens in the sun so it is more yang than rice.
• As a general rule of thumb foods which are cool or naturally sweet are more yin.

Question 39

Yin and Yang Relativity

Answer 39

• ‘Relativity’ is an important concept with Yin & Yang
• Although fish is generally considered ‘ yin’, it is not yin in relation to more ‘yin’ foods like raw vegetables.
• In comparison to raw vegetables, fish is ‘yang’
• Foods in the same family (e.g. fruit) can be more or less yang/yin sweeter is usually more yin . Bitter fruit can be less yin
• Different texts can give you different groupings of yin/yang for particular foods/drinks. Wine is considered yin by some and yang by others. The initial effects of wine can be warming/heating ‘yang’ but excessive use can create problems associated with excessive yin depression, numbness, lethargy, phlegm.

Question 40

Yang conditions

Answer 40

• Caused by excess of animal products, hot spices or alcohol;
• e.g. acne, high blood pressure, migraines.

Question 41

Yin Conditions

Answer 41

• Caused by excess of sugar, raw foods or not enough food;

* e.g. lethargy, anaemia, feeling cold.

Question 42

Hot (Yang) Foods

Answer 42

Lamb

Red Chilli

Question 43

Warm (Yang) Foods

Answer 43

Beef 
Duck
Ginger
Green Pepper
Onion
Peach
Lychee
Walnuts
Peanuts
Sunflower and Sesame seeds

Question 44

Neutral

Answer 44

Chicken
Pork
Carrot
Cauliflower
Yam
Pineapple
Grapes
Brown rice
White rice

Question 45

Cool (Yin)

Answer 45

Crab
Prawns
Broccoli
Cabbage
Celery
Apple
Orange
Pear
Mango
Almonds
Coconut
Wheat flour

Question 46

Cold (Yin)

Answer 46

Fish
Mung beans
Sprouts
Cucumber
Bananas
Watermelon

Question 47

Yin and Yang: Cooking

Answer 47

Cooking methods will alter the yin or yang nature of produce.
• Water has a cooling influence . So heating foods by steaming or boiling will not add ‘yang’ properties to foods as much as cooking by fire, baking or roasting , which will make foods hotter or more ‘
• Fish is generally considered cold (yin) as it spends much time in water. So it is usually cooked with ginger (yang) to warm up the dish & give it balance
• Juicing, blending, grinding and other processing generally increases the yin of foods.