CHINESE MEDICINE THEORY  These symbols visually represent progressions and interactions of Yin and 3 Core Theories Yang. 1. Yin and Yang 2. The Five Elements 3. Qi

These concepts permeate Chinese philosophy and medical theory and form the foundation for the whole of Traditional Chinese (& East Asian) Medicine.

East vs. West  Western Philosophy: a statement can be true, or can be false, but never both.  Eastern Philosophy: a statement can be true, false, both, or somewhere in between. Every false statement has an element of truth, and vice versa.

YIN AND YANG

Yin 隂

Character indicates ‘hill’ and ‘cloud’, or ‘the shady side of the hill’.  Yin –Yang theory developed from Yang 陽 observations of natural phenomenon, Character indicates ‘sun’, ‘over the horizon’, particularly the cyclic progression of day and ‘rays of light’, or ‘the sunny side of the and night. hill’.  “Yin and Yang are two stages of a cyclical movement, one constantly “Yin-Yang theory is based on the changing into the other, such as the day philosophical construct of two polar giving way to night and vice versa” (GM) complements, call Yin and Yang. These complementary opposites are neither Yang Yin forces nor material entities. Nor are they mythical concepts that transcend Light Darkness rationality. Rather, they are convenient Sun Moon labels used to describe how things function Brightness Shade in relation to each other and the universe.” Activity Rest (Kaptchuk; The Web that Has No Weaver) Heaven Earth Round Flat Trigrams from Book of Changes Time Space  Also known as Yi Jing or I Ching East West  A solid line represents Yang South North  A broken line represents Yin Left Right

 Yang  Day  Activity/Light/Sun  Yin  Night  Rest/Darkness/Moon  When 3 of these symbols are stacked,  Yang  Sun  Heaven  Round there are 8 possible combinations,  Heaven  Calendar  Time known as the 8 trigrams.  Earth  Farmland  Flat/Space  Sun rises in East  Yang  Left (Chinese used a compass facing South)  Sun sets in the West  Yin  Right

 Every phenomenon has both a Yin and a  “The alternation of Yin and Yang is the Yang aspect, and every aspect can be motive force of change and further divided into Yin and Yang development” (GM) aspects, ad infinitum.  Every phenomenon is Yin or Yang  Yang  Day  Summer (Yang within relative to some other phenomenon. Yang)  Yang contains the seed of Yin, and Yin  Yin  Night  Winter (Yin within Yin) the seed of Yang.  Spring (Yang within Yin)  Autumn (Yin within Yang) 2. Interdependence: Yin and Yang are rooted in each other  One cannot exist without the other. Yin-Yang States of Density  Yin and Yang are mutually engendering:  Yang symbolizes more immaterial. each requires the other for sustenance,  Yin symbolizes more material. conceptually and physically.  For example water is Yin, and steam is Yang; or wood is Yin, and fire is Yang. 3. Mutual Consuming: Yin and Yang  Yang  fire  counterbalance each other dispersion/transformation  Yin and Yang are constantly in flux,  Yin  water  condensation forming a dynamic balance.  A deficiency of one naturally leads to an Yang Yin excess of the other. Immaterial Material  An excess of one will weaken the other. Produces Energy Produces Form  There are 4 possible states of imbalance: Generates Grows 1. Excess Yin 2. Excess Yang Non-Substantial Substantial 3. Deficient Yin Energy Matter 4. Deficient Yang Expansion Contraction  This counterbalancing functions as a Rising Descending treatment also: heat is treated with cold, Above Below excess is treated by draining, etc… Fire Water

YIN – YANG RELATIONSHIP

4. Intertransformation: Yin and Yang are The Four Aspects of the Yin-Yang mutually convertible Relationship  Yin and Yang can transform into one 1. Opposition another in certain circumstances. 2. Interdependence  Transformation between Yin and Yang 3. Mutual Consuming requires certain conditions and a certain 4. Intertransformation amount of time.

1. Opposition: Yin and Yang are divisible but inseparable YIN – YANG AND THE BODY  The interior provides nourishment to the body.  Each body structure or surface can be categorized as Yin or Yang (of course, Above & Below the Waist: this is always relative).  Above the waist pertains to Yang and below the waist to Yin. Yang Yin  This is often used in assessing skin Superior (above Inferior (below diseases. waist) waist) Exterior Inferior Lateral & Medial: Posterior/Back Anterior/Frong  Yang channels flow on the lateral Lateral Medial surfaces of the body, while Yin channels Head Body flow on the medial surfaces. Function Structure Skin and Muscles Organs Yin & Yang Organs: Qi Blood and Body  The 12 primary ( Chinese) internal Fluids organs are divided into Yin and Yang Defensive Qi Nutritive Qi categories.  Yang organs are ‘hollow’ and have the Back & Front: function of transforming, digesting, and  The back is where Yang channels and excreting. energy flow.  Yin organs are ‘solid’ and have the  Yang channels protect the body from function of storing. external pathogens, can be used to  Yang organs are constantly active, and strengthen Yang, strengthen resistance communicate with the exterior. to external pathogens, and treat  Yin organs store vital substances (Qi, pathogens that have already invaded Blood, Body Fluids, Essence – week 3). the body.  The front is where Yin channels and Yin Yang energy flow. Lung Large Intestine  Yin channels are used to nourish and Spleen Stomach tonify Yin. Heart Small Intestine Kidney Bladder Head & Body: Pericardium Triple Heater  The head is where the Yang channels Liver Gallbladder either begin or end.  Yang channels meet and flow into each Function & Structure: other on the head.  Every organ, both Yin and Yang, has  Yang energy (in excess, like heat & fire) within it both Yin and Yang aspects. tends to rise to the head  red face and  Structure and substance are more Yin, eyes. while function and physiology are more  The head is easily affected by Yang Yang. pathogens like heat and wind.  The substances, such as Blood, Essence,  The body is relatively more Yin, and or Fluids contained within an organ more easily affected by Yin pathogens pertain to Yin, while the movement and like Cold and Damp. processing of those substances relates to Yang. Exterior & Interior:  The relationship between an organ’s  The skin and muscles are exterior and structure and function illustrates the pertain to Yang. mutual engendering of Yin and Yang.  The exterior protects the body from For example: the function of the Spleen external pathogens. is to extract Qi from food, this Qi is used  Internal organs are interior and pertain to form Blood, and Blood is the to Yin. substance that nourishes the structure  Water is a Yin element and functions by of the Spleen. moistening and cooling the organs and tissues. Qi & Blood:  Fire and water interact continuously,  Qi has Yang functions of warming, creating a balance of their functions. protecting, transforming, and raising.  Excess fire tends to flow upwards,  Blood has Yin functions of nourishing manifesting in the upper body as and moistening. headaches, red eyes, red face, or thirst.  Excess water tends to flow downwards, Defensive Qi & Nutritive Qi: and manifests in the lower body as  Defensive Qi circulates in the exterior edema, excessive urination, or (skin & muscles), protects and warms incontinence. the body, and is more Yang.  Nutritive Qi circulates in the interior Heat & Cold: (organs), nourishes the body, and is  Heat manifests as redness and a feeling more Yin. of warmth.  Cold manifests as paleness (or cyanosis) YIN – YANG APPLICATIONS IN and a feeling of cold. MEDICINE Restless & Quiet: Opposition:  Yang is active and can manifest as  Yin and Yang qualities are also found in excess movement, such as restlessness, symptoms and are guides in clinical agitation, and insomnia. practice.  Yin is still and can manifest as quiet behavior, immobility, and sleepiness.

Yang Yin Dry & Wet: Fire Water  Yang, as the warming quality, is Heat Cold associated with dryness. Restless Quiet  Dryness of the eyes, throat, or skin Agitation Depression indicate excess Yang (or deficient Yin). Dry Wet  Yin is associated with wetness. Excess Deficient  Watery eyes, runny nose, and wet skin Hard Soft conditions indicate excess Yin (or Excitement Inhibition deficient Yang). Rapid Slow Non-substantial Substantial Excitement & Inhibition: Transformation Conservation  Excess Yang is associated with hyperactivity, such as rapid heartbeat. Fire & Water:  Excess Yin is associated with  Balance between Fire and Water is hypoactivity, such as slow heartbeat. essential to smooth functioning of the body’s processes. Rapid & Slow:  Fire is associated with the Heart, which  When a person has excess Yang, their houses the mind. movements and speech are rapid.  As a Yang element, fire provides  A person with excess Yin will have slow warmth to the organs and the ‘spark’ to movements. fuel physiological processes.  Yang pathogens move quickly,  Fire is also associated with the Ming appearing and changing rapidly. Men (Gate of Life) fire, which is  Yin diseases move slowly and change associated with the Kidneys. gradually.  Water is associated with the Kidneys.

Substantial & Non-Substantial:  Yang is active and responsible for movement and flow of energy.  When Yang is insufficient, or Yin excess, Qi and fluids fail to move then become stagnant.  Stagnation over time leads to substantial masses or growths. Yin Excess Transformation & Conservation: An excess of Yin overwhelms Yang leading  Yin organs are associated with to symptoms of cold, dampness, etc… conservation and storage, Yang organs are associated with transformation and Yang Excess change. An excess of Yang overwhelms Yin and consumes body fluids leading to symptoms Symptoms According to Yin – Yang of heat, dryness, etc… Yang Yin Yin Deficiency Acute Chronic An insufficiency of Yin allows Yang to grow Rapid Onset Gradual Onset out of proportion. Although there is a Rapid Changes Slow Changes normal quantity of Yang, it is relatively Heat Cold excess. This causes symptoms of Heat. Restlessness Listlessness This must be treated by nourishing Yin and Throws Off Covers Likes to be Covered clearing deficiency Heat. By increasing the Likes to Lie Likes to Curl Up Yin, the Yang will naturally come back into Stretched balance. Hot Limbs & Body Cold Limbs & Body Red Face Pale Face Yang Deficiency Loud Voice Quiet Voice An insufficiency of Yang allows Yin to grow Coarse Breathing Shallow Breathing out of proportion. This causes symptoms of Cold and watery symptoms. Thirst No Thirst Scanty-Dark Pale-Profuse Urination Urination Constipation Loose Stools Red Tongue Pale Tongue Strong Pulse Weak Pulse

Balanced Health:  When Yin and Yang are in balance, they are parts of an inseparable whole.  It is only when Yin or Yang are out of balance that their individual qualities become distinguishable.  Symptoms are a sign of imbalances of Yin – Yang; a lack of symptoms is a sign of balance of Yin-Yang.

YANG-TYPE CONDITIONS

Yin Deficiency Yang Excess Principle Symptoms Mild, afternoon fever High fever Night Sweats Feeling hot all day 5 heat/palm heat Hot all over Thirsty with desire for small sips Thirsty for lots of cold drinks Dry mouth & throat at night Constant dry mouth & throat Complexion Red cheeks/ Malar flush Whole face red Tongue Red tongue w/ little coat or peeled Red tongue w/ yellow coat Pulse Rapid, thin, empty pulse Rapid, full pulse

YIN-TYPE CONDITIONS

Yang Deficiency Yin Excess Principle Symptoms Feeling cold Feeling cold Dull pain, relieved w/ pressure Sharp pain, aggravated w/ pressure No thirst Desire for warm drinks Listless, apathetic Complexion Pale-dull Bright white or bluish Tongue Pale tongue, swollen Pale tongue w/ thick slimy coat Pulse Slow, deep, weak Full, deep, tight