Concepts of Health
Ying & Yang

TCM is a holistic system that sees health as the balance between Yin and Yang, and it has helped keep many healthy by diagnosing and preventing afflictions. The concept of Yin and Yang represents the two forces in the universe which is also mirrored in our bodies.

While Yin has been personified as passive, cool and calm. Yang is seen as active, warm and moving in nature. As such, ‘heatiness’ sets in when there is a relative excess of Yang over Yin. Although Yin and Yang are the two extremes of the spectrum, the 2 forces are interdependent. For this reason, they must be in balance if good health is to be enjoyed.

Since the Yin/Yang relationship is dynamic and ever changing, under certain conditions, Yin may change into Yang – and vice versa. So when these forces are in harmony, there is a balance; there is optimum health. And above all, optimum health also contributes to beauty. Being in a constant balance, Yin and Yang are constantly adjusting to the levels of one other. However, outside influences may cause the levels of one to either become significantly greater or lesser than the other.

Yin and Yang can also be used interchangeably between ‘Cold’ and ‘Heat’ respectively. For instance, Yin Deficiency can also be considered Cold Deficiency. With the lack of Yin in the body, false heat signs or symptoms of ‘heatiness’ can appear. Furthermore, Yin deficiency will create a situation where Yang is in excess of Yin, and this will attribute to the ‘heatiness’ symptom, which in fact means the body is not in a state of excess heat. So it is through this mutual relationship – consuming and supporting – that brings about the different possibilities shown on the chart on your right. The good news is, the balance can be restored by ‘tonifying’ whichever that is deficient and reducing the one that is excessive.