Let us first know a bit about the yin-yang concept before diving into the details of yin deficiency and foods for yin deficiency. Just like rationalism being the basis for Western medicine, yin-yang forms the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM in short. In Chinese philosophy, yin is the word used for something dark possessing features such as hard, cold, negative, and feminine. The word yang is an antonym of yin, which means the sunny or positive side of something. Both these words were made to define the notion that everything we see and feel in nature consists of two paradoxical energies or phases. For example, a 24-hour period is completed by 12 hours day and 12 hours night. Thus, the day can be represented by yin and the night by yang.
Although this concept originated in ancient Chinese literature, it incorporated into Chinese medicine with time. In terms of Chinese medicine, every paradoxical pair which is definable in terms of the human body can be represented as yin and yang.1
This article aims to focus primarily on explaining yin deficiency and the diet used in yin deficiency.
What Is Yin Deficiency?
Yin and yang are thought to be mutually interdependent while being opposite in nature. One cannot exist without the other. Excess or deficiency of any one leads to ailments. As yin is something that epitomizes coldness, yin deficiency occurs due to the result of prolonged stress levels that outbalance the time we spend at rest. Simply put, the absence of cooling or relaxing influence of yin causes yin deficiency.2
Overwork is one of the leading causes of empty yin. It is due to the fact that overwork leads to stress, and prolonged stress results in yin deficiency. Yin deficiency causes chronic illnesses like:
- Sweaty nights
- Nightmares
- Hot flashes
- Abnormal periods in women
- Dry skin, nails, hair
- Excessive thirsts3
Another way to utter yin deficiency is to talk about excess yang in life.
Yin Deficiency in Other Body Areas
Yin deficiency doesn’t necessarily involve the symptoms mentioned above as yin deficiency can occur in specific body organs such as:
- Deficiency of Kidney Yin
- Deficiency of Lung Yin
- Deficient Heart Yin
- Deficient Stomach Yin
Whenever any specific part of the body or organ becomes so much stressed due to work overload or any pathological strain, it is said to have a yin deficiency in TCM. They are thus treated according to the affected area and the underlying cause behind the yin deficiency. Moreover, many herbs and foods for yin deficiency also help in healing.
Determination of Yin Deficiency
So how can you check and determine whether you’re suffering from yin deficiency or not? This is quite simple. Make two columns on a piece of paper, naming one of them as yin and the other as yang. Write all the yin and yang activities in the respective columns. If yang outweighs yin, it means you’re living a stressful life without having proper diet and foods for yin deficiency. It is noteworthy that your yang activities are all those that keep you running all day long while yin activities, such as sleeping, relaxing, meditation, and playing, help restore your energy.
Yin Deficiency Diet
All the natural and wholesome foods are thought to be uplifting yin. These include:
- Animal products such as butter, broths, meat, milk, and eggs, etc. Meat is considered best for replenishing empty yin and should be used as the main component of a meal.
- Plant-based foods such as cereals, nuts, beans, beets, leaves, grapes, strawberries, banana, watermelon, and other juicy fruits
Generally speaking, if you are deficient in your yin, you must consider obtaining those food items that create a feeling of fullness and refresh the mind. Moreover, remember that yin is also the fluid aspect of your body and so you must intake more fluid and watery meals which help heal more quickly.4
A Bit on TCM
TCM is an acronym for Traditional Chinese Medicine. TCM was developed thousands of years ago, which involves various mind and body procedures along with herbal remedies to cure health problems. This type of therapy has changed a little over time and is still done in many countries.
The primary goal of TCM is to obtain and maintain a balance between yin and yang.5Treatment options of TCM include:
- Moxibustion – burning of herbal leaves to generate smoke near the body.6
- Acupuncture – insertion of very thin needles through the skin on specific targeted body points to treat pain7
- Cupping – warmed glass jars are used to create suction on certain body parts.8
- Chinese massage – a specific form of massage used by Chinese massage therapists
- Herbal remedies – extracts of herbal plants are used to treat maladies.
- Concentration exercises – increase the concentration and focus of a person in various activities.9
Role of Tomato in TCM
TCM For Lung Health
Lungs are vital for a person to live as they function to obtain fresh oxygen from the air. As they are in direct contact with the environment, they are in contact with many pathological microorganisms and thus can suffer from many different diseases that can result in breathing problems such as dyspnea. Therefore, you must take care of your lungs by using such foods that nourish lung health. These include:
- American Ginseng root
- Astragalus
- Cordyceps mushroom
- Schisandra
Moreover, several TCM therapies are there if you suffer from lung diseases like interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, and asthma, etc.
A research study was done to know the efficacy of TCM in treating interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. The results were quite astonishing because when the patients were given Chinese herbal medicine extract in 300ml water, lung function was improved and disease progression was reversed.10
Another research study proved the traditional Chinese herbal formula San-Huang Gu-Ben Zhi-Ke (SHGBZK) to be efficient and best in treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).11
Summer Heat TCM
So how TCM helps someone experiencing symptoms of summer heat syndrome? Summer heat TCM focuses on cooling the body parts of summer heat syndrome patients by several herbal medicines and foods. These include:
- Mint and Chrysanthemum Tea: Both mint and chrysanthemum are categorized as cool, acrid herbs which help in relieving headache and remove the heat out of the body. They are also beneficial for liver health.
- Watermelon: You would be aware that watermelon contains a nutritious cooling fluid that replenishes the body fluids and electrolytes when consumed. Eat watermelon as far as you can to refresh yourself and prevent summer heat symptoms.13
- Other fruits and vegetables: Several other fruits and vegetables such as luffa gourd, cucumber, bitter cucumber, peach, and pear, etc. are used by TCM practitioners to clear summer heat. These natural foods increase the person’s qi as well as help boost the yin.14
TCM Helps Those Who Can’t Sleep
Insomnia or inability to sleep properly is a condition suffered by many people all around the world. The underlying factors contributing to the development of insomnia in TCM are:
- Liver heat
- Heart qi deficiency
- Heart fire
- Deficiency of spleen qi
Following Chinese foods help the person sleep well by enhancing qi and coping yin deficiency:
- Gluey millet
- Chinese yam
- Jujubes
- Lotus seeds
- Lily bulb
- Wolfberry (Goji)
Although allopathic medicine advises the use of brain depressant drugs for sleep problems, the Chinese use therapeutic techniques that relax the brain and provide insomniacs the best time to sleep by TCM knowledge.
The following remedies are applied to treat persons with insomnia:
- Use of natural sedative herbs: Herbs are such as Semen ziziphispinosae (suanzao ren)15, Semen platycladi (bai zi ren), and Radix Polygalae (yuan zhi)16, etc. are used as ingredients in tea to induce sedation in insomniacs.
- Massage: Chinese massage, also known as Tui Na, has been shown to be helpful in relaxing the body and mind. Whenever a person gets a massage, circulation to the brain improves, which ultimately causes the person to sleep and relax. Moreover, it also lowers the back pain.17
Medicinal Herbs for Blood Building
Chinese medicine practitioners believe that a person with low blood volumes has a deficiency in yin. Blood deficiency is the primary cause of making a person tired and worn out because of the inability to get proper nutrients. Thus, several herbal extracts and foods for yin deficiency are used that nourish the blood. The Chinese believe that possession of strong blood equals possession of good health. The medicinal herbs for blood building are:
- Deer Antler
- Astragalus Root
- Reishi Mushroom
- Longan Fruit
- Goji Berries
- He Shou Wu Root
- Dang Gui
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The Bottom Line
Traditional Chinese medicine has been used for many years for treating various maladies and has been in practice for thousands of years and potentially relieves a person from chronic pain and stiffness. If you want to experience the benefits of TCM and want to know more about foods for yin deficiency, you should consult a Chinese medicine practitioner.
Related Reading
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- [TCM Concept] How emotions affect major 5 organs
- What Is It Like To Use Acupuncture For Bronchitis
References
- Hu, Q. et al. End-to-End syndrome differentiation of Yin deficiency and Yang deficiency in traditional Chinese medicine. Comput. Methods Programs Biomed.174, 9–15 (2019).
- Yin Deficiency – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/yin-deficiency.
- Yin Deficiency: Reserves are Empty – Acupuncture Points. https://www.acupuncture-points.org/yin-deficiency.html.
- Heal Yourself With Food: Food Therapy For Yin Deficiency | Stick Out Your Tongue. https://stickoutyourtongue.org/2014/11/12/heal-yourself-with-food-food-therapy-for-yin-deficiency/.
- Chinese Medicine | Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/chinese-medicine.
- Deng, H. & Shen, X. The mechanism of moxibustion: Ancient theory and modern research. Evidence-based Complement. Altern. Med.2013, (2013).
- Kawakita, K. & Okada, K. Acupuncture therapy: Mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety: A potential intervention for psychogenic disorders? BioPsychoSocial Medicine vol. 8 4 (2014).
- Al-Bedah, A. M. N. et al. The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine vol. 9 90–97 (2019).
- How to Improve Concentration and Sharpen Your Attention at Work. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-improve-concentration.html.
- Chen, M.-J., Yang, G.-L., Ding, Y.-X. & Tong, Z.-Q. Efficacy of TCM therapy of tonifying lung–kidneyʼs Qi-deficiency in a case of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Medicine (Baltimore).98, e15140 (2019).
- Zu, Y., Li, D., Lei, X. & Zhang, H. Effects of the Chinese herbal formula San-Huang Gu-Ben Zhi-Ke treatment on stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Trials20, 647 (2019).
- Summer Heat Syndrome: Five Ways to Stay Cool! – Daoist Traditions College. https://daoisttraditions.edu/stay-cool/.
- Summer heat remedies from Traditional Chinese Medicine. https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/heal/summer-heat-remedies-from-traditional-chinese-medicine.
- Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office. https://www.cmro.gov.hk/html/eng/health_info/pamphlet/Health_Preservation_in_Four_Seasons.html.
- Chen, C. J., Li, M., Wang, X. li, Fang, F. F. & Ling, C. Q. Effect of Sour Date (Semen ziziphi spinosae) Seed Extract on Treating Insomnia and Anxiety. in Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention 1037–1043 (Elsevier Inc., 2011). doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-375688-6.10123-9.
- Shin, I. J. et al. Preclinical evidence of rapid-onset antidepressant-like effect in radix polygalae extract. PLoS One9, (2014).
- Yang, M. et al. Effectiveness of Chinese massage therapy (Tui Na) for chronic low back pain: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials15, (2014).
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