Mung beans, mung sprouts, chlorophyll-rich foods, cucumber, tofu, and millet are appropriate, while seaweed, watercress, and plum improve water metabolism. Fresh cold-pressed flax oil and extracted oils of borage, evening primrose, or black currant seeds significantly improve Liver Yin.
Full Answer
What foods are good to balance the yin and Yang?
Yogurt is considered especially cooling and yin nourishing. Other foods: beef bone marrow broth, fish oil, raw honey, and olive oil. A Licensed Acupuncturist and East Asian Medicine practitioner can prescribe specific herbs to balance the yin and yang of your body.
How do you treat yin deficiency?
Here are some general and specific tips to help you if you’re experiencing Yin Deficiency as diagnosed by your Chinese Medicine practitioner. • Include a large variety of foods in the diet. • Live on a mainly vegetarian diet of light, simple foods. • Eat largely whole, unprocessed foods. • Chew and swallow slowly.
What are Yin-Yang foods and why are they important?
It is believed that we absorb yin (cold) or yang (hot) energy from the foods we eat—and that medical conditions are manifestations of these yin-yang imbalances. What this means: We can heal ourselves by correcting our imbalances with the appropriate yin-yang foods.
What does yin and Yang mean in nutrition?
Yin (which tends to be more feminine) and yang (which tends to be more masculine) represent the dynamic balance of opposing forces. And getting nutrients from food without upsetting this balance is very important.
What is a yin food?
Generally speaking, foods that have a higher water content are considered cool, or yin, whereas foods that have a higher energy content, particularly from fat, are considered warm, or yang.
What foods are good for yin deficiency?
Yin deficiency A person who is deficient in Yin energy may experience night sweats, dream-disturbed sleep, sweaty hands and feet. Some foods that support Yin are artichokes, black beans, eggs, honey, kidney beans, mango, pork, watermelon, and zucchini. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugar.
How do you treat yin deficiency?
Treatment for yin tonification Drink thin fluids – water, herbal tea, clear soups and watery fruits. Some added salt in food (health permitting) to retain water. Some raw foods, especially vegetables (not in the evenings) to cool the body. Tonify Kidney yin – point K 7 or K 10.
What are the symptoms of yin deficiency?
Yin Deficiency Signs & Symptoms:Dryness: such as dry throat, dry cough, dry lips, dry eyes, dry mouth.Thirst with desire to drink in small sips.Low grade fever.Feeling hot, especially in the afternoon.Hot palms, soles and chest.Red face, especially the cheeks.Constipation with dry stools.Insomnia.More items...•
How do I improve my yin?
Strengthen your yin with healthy lifestyle choices.Practice moderate exercise like tai qi, walking, swimming, hatha yoga, and restorative yoga (avoid “hot” yoga which can further deplete the yin).Practice meditation, guided imagery, mindfulness, or chi gong. ... Go to bed by 10:30 in order to restore yin.
How do you grow yin?
Here are a few tips to help you nourish your yin energy:Work hard, rest hard. It is important that you give your body and mind enough rest and downtime for the amount of activity you do. ... Nourish yourself with clean, whole foods on a daily basis. ... Spend time in nature without technology. ... Give your mind a break.
What is yin in the body?
The two primary substances of the human body, Qi and blood, are also described in terms of Yin and Yang. Blood is Yin in nature: fluid, nourishing, moistening, substantial. Qi is Yang in nature: vital, active, energetic, etheric. Imbalance of yin and yang accounts for the development and emergence of all disease.
What are yin tonics?
Yin tonics affect body fluids and provide moisture in conditions of dryness. They are often combined with other herbs to guide them to their target. They are sweet and cool in their nature. Blood tonics are yin in nature and can tonify many organ systems within the overall cycle.
What is Stomach yin?
Stomach Yin is considered to be the pot that holds the ingested foods. It is also involved in allowing the body to extract nourishment from the food. To prevent Yin deficiency it is best to consume fresh foods that are slightly cooked.
What is yin fluid?
As a substance in the body, fluids like blood, lymph, and deeper tissues like bone are yin. Within Chinese Medicine, the substances “jing” and “nutritive Qi” are also considered yin.
How do I nourish my Liver yin?
A diagnosis of Liver Yin deficiency means that this aspect of the Liver organ network is compromised. To address this, a diet that is nutrient rich and building is recommended. In general it is best to eat foods that are lightly cooked to ensure that nutrients are preserved and are more readily digested and absorbed.
Is the Liver yin or yang?
yin organAs a zàng, the Liver is considered to be a yin organ. Its associated yang organ is the Gallbladder. Both Liver and Gallbladder are attributed to the Wood element.
What are some examples of Yin?
Examples of every day foods that can be used to build yin, include: Fruit smoothies with honey and banana or a fruit salad. Fish dishes with coconut milk. Omelettes with cheese. Asparagus and egg salads with sesame seeds. Tacos made with Kidney beans and topped with a small amount of cheese.
What are yin and yang?
In Chinese philosophy , yin and yang describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.
What does yin mean in physics?
Yin represents the energy that is responsible for moistening and cooling bodily functions. When this energy is depleted your body begins to show signs of “heating up”. This is not a true heat such as a fever, but rather a lack of the moistening and cooling functions that are necessary to maintain a healthy balance.
What are the physical manifestations of the duality symbolized by yin and yang?
Many tangible dualities (such as light and dark, fire and water, expanding and contracting) are thought of as physical manifestations of the duality symbolized by yin and yang.
Do men have yin or yang?
Women are more yin, while men are more yang – for example yin is all of the fluids in the body for women (breast milk, menstruation, vaginal discharge/lubricant) – men don’t have this. Men do have some yin qualities, as well as women having some yang qualities.
What foods balance yin and yang?
Yang foods (hot): Cayenne pepper, dried ginger, soybean oil, cinnamon, black pepper, chili powder, horseradish, lamb, trout and whole green or red peppers.
What is yin in TCM?
TCM categorizes foods as cold, cooling, neutral, warming and hot. As explained above, yin is related to cold foods and yang to hot foods.
What foods are considered neutral?
Neutral foods include apricots, figs, pineapple, beets, cabbage, carrots, olives, pumpkin, string beans, yams, eggs, oats, almonds, peas, peanuts, rice, beef, oysters, pork, whitefish, salmon, sardines, herring and saffron. If you are interested in learning more about how yin-yang foods can help you, speak to a holistic practitioner who can take ...
Can you gain equilibrium by eating yin yang?
Hence, by adjusting your diet you can regain equilibrium. Using yin-yang foods to gain equilibrium is not an exact science. There is no one percentage or quantity of yin-yang foods to eat. Instead, the patient is told to focus on mainly eating foods that support his yin/yang needs.
Does TCM mean hot or cold?
Did you know that in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it’s not just the nutrients in a food but also the “hot” and “cold” of certain foods that can make you feel better? And it has nothing to do with the temperature at which they are served!
Is yin hot or cold?
Easy ways to think about it: Yin is to yang as night is to day…quiet is to busy…and cold is to hot. It is believed that we absorb yin ( cold) or yang (hot) energy from the foods we eat—and that medical conditions are manifestations of these yin-yang imbalances.
Why is Yin important for kidneys?
Kidney Yin: supplies Yin to the whole body (especially important for Heart, Liver and Lung Yin), so it's imperative to eat foods that support your kidneys. Nourishing Kidney Yin helps to reduce stress, support renewal, augments fluid metabolism, and promotes proper growth and development of the body.
What is the liver yin?
This means that the Liver Yin is related to the joints and tendons such as the Achilles and also the Ilio-Tibial (IT) Band. Mung beans, mung sprouts, chlorophyll-rich foods, cucumber, tofu, and millet are appropriate, while seaweed, watercress, and plum improve water metabolism.
What is Yin in a baby?
Yin includes your Jing (Pre-Heaven Essence) which is donated by the parents and nourishes your baby at every stage in the womb, and is your 'battery pack' for your whole life. So it's really important to conserve your Jing. Yin also includes your Blood - another precious substance.
What is Yin deficiency?
It has functions of nourishing, moistening and cooling the body. But it's more than that. Yin includes your Jing (Pre-Heaven Essence) which is donated by the parents and nourishes your baby at every stage in the womb, and is your 'battery pack' for your whole life. So it's really important to conserve your Jing. Yin also includes your Blood - another precious substance. When the body's Yin is deficient, the Yin cannot properly anchor the Yang - so the body heats up and this heat rises up toward the head. This can cause various symptoms including headache and feeling of heat, night sweats, etc.
What are the factors that can deplete the body's Yin?
Common factors that can deplete the body’s Yin include: stress, hot-natured spices (e.g., black pepper, garlic, chilli peppers, cinnamon, clove), warming foods, alcohol and coffee.
Can dairy be added to diet?
However, if you've also been diagnosed with Dryness then more good quality dairy can be added to your diet if your digestion can manage this properly. Spleen Qi Deficiency means that your digestion is not working effectively to take the nutrients from food and deliver them to the cells.
Can Yin build up spleen?
Yin building foods can create further congestion of Spleen function if eaten in excess. This has a follow on effect to stagnate Qi (energy) flow. So both Yin and Yang are affected. So for best results, eat moderate quantities of these Yin building foods. I say this from experience.
What are some examples of yin foods?
Examples of yin foods include millet, milk, beets and bananas. Boiling, poaching and steaming increase yin in foods. White foods often provide strong sources of yin.
What are some of the most yin foods?
These extremely yin foods include salty soups, oysters, clams and other shellfish.
What is yin yang?
The yin yang concept applies to all things, including food. In Chinese medicine, yin or yang food treats energy imbalances and provides ordinary nutrition. Diets stronger in yang energy contribute to sexual health in men, while yin diets support the sexual energies of women.
What are some foods that are YANG?
The proper balance of yang keeps the mind alert and the body strong and healthy. Foods strong in the yang force include beef, shrimp, kidneys and liver. According to Cornell University, the cooking method also affects the yang quality of the food.
What is the taste of earth foods?
The sweet taste of earth foods marks them as important regulators of bodily functions and overall stimulants to the body and mind. Earth foods include sugar and alcohol, as well as sweet melons.
How to get rid of yin?
Practice moderate exercise like tai qi, walking, swimming, hatha yoga, and restorative yoga (avoid “hot” yoga which can further deplete the yin). Practice meditation, guided imagery, mindfulness, or chi gong. These practices help relax the mind, calm the nervous system, and manage stress and anxiety.
How to strengthen yin energy?
Protect your yin. Avoid weakening your yin with dietary choices. Limit refined salt and heavy foods, fried foods, very spicy foods with hot peppers and chilies, refined sugar and flour, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, intoxicants, and processed food. Strengthen your yin with healthy lifestyle choices. Yin energy is all about calm, cool energy.
What herbs calm you down?
Here are some herbs to calm and cool: oat straw, skullcap, chamomile, catnip, mint, valerian, lemon balm, oyster shell, jujube seeds, and schisandra berries. You can make herbal teas from these herbs. Please consult with an herbalist for doses.
What are the symptoms of a weak yin?
If the yin is weak, the symptoms that come up include easily feeling heated, hot flashes, flushing and redness of the face, headaches worsened by the heat/sun, sweating (especially night sweating), quick to anger, and irritability. How do you support the yin? ...
What is the Chinese system of medicine?
In Chinese Medicine, we believe that a healthy body is a balanced body. Health issues occur when the body and mind are out of balance. In the traditional Chinese Medicine system, practitioners evaluate the systems of the body to uncover the root cause of imbalance. In our evaluation, we interview the patient about their symptoms, health history, ...
What to add to water for sweat?
You can add cucumber, mint and lemon slices to water for a refreshing drink. If you have night sweats or excessive sweats, use good quality salt like himalayan, celtic, and fleur du sel when salting your food. These natural salts contain vital trace minerals to replace those lost through sweat.
How to restore Yin balance?
Restore Yin/Yang balance. A balanced lifestyle along with Chinese herbal remedies can help put you on the path to balance. Our lives tend to be hectic, but it is possible to take time for you and your Yin. In addition to lifestyle changes, working with your Chinese medicine practitioner to craft an herbal remedy can help restore ...
What is the purpose of Yin Yang?
In Chinese Medicine, our bodies’ life force, or Qi, flows along certain energy pathways or meridians to keep our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance. Yin and Yang maintain a balanced Qi when the two are in harmony.
How to determine if you have a Yin deficiency?
One way to determine Yin deficiency is to start with a lifestyle check. On a piece of paper, make two columns; name one Yang and the other Yin. First, write all your Yang activities such as active endeavors that keep you running from morning to night.
How does Jen help you?
By applying ancient wisdom to a modern lifestyle, Jen helps you balance your body by uncovering the root of your imbalance and explore your constitutional health, your nature within. Jen offers individualized support and incorporates the appropriate health tools to help you achieve your health goals.
How to regain Yin and Yang?
Once you begin to recognize where your lifestyle may need adjustments, you can start to regain the all-important harmonious Yin and Yang. Wake without an alarm clock every day. Rest and take vacations or stay-cations. Drink adequate water daily to hydrate the body. Avoid coffee or other caffeinated beverages.
How to hydrate your body?
Drink adequate water daily to hydrate the body. Avoid coffee or other caffeinated beverages. Eat healthful fats (full fat organic dairy, avocado, good oils, nuts, and. organic and local meats). Be outdoors in nature daily. Participate in slow-moving or still activities such as yoga or meditation.
What are the expressions of Yin?
The Various Forms of Yin Excess. All these, Damp, Phlegm, Mucus and Oedema are expressions of Yin Fullness. If chronic, they can be hard to shift by yourself without treatment. Western Medicine has quite powerful drugs which may mask the symptoms but usually cause other problems.
What causes Yin to be too much?
Yin Excess Causes. 1. From outside the body. Cold exposure (such as from sitting on cold ground, or from exposure to cold air) penetrates through the skin and stops Qi moving along the channels and through the joints .
How long does Yin excess stay in your body?
(Sometimes it’s called Fullness of Yin .) Unlike the extremes of Yang Excess, which don’t usually last too long, Fullness of Yin can remain in your body for years, even until you die. However, it isn’t usually a killer: it just wears you down – so, for long-term health, ...
Why is Yin hard to shift?
Because Yang is the transforming force. Yin is what is transformed: it tends to continue as it is unless transformed, like our galaxy the Milky Way, which would take a huge ‘yang’ disturbance to push it off course. Once we get Yin Excess symptoms, they are hard to shift. They become an impediment to change.
Is Yin excess more common than Yang excess?
Usually Yin excess develops more slowly than Yang excess. Yin excess also tends to be more common in chronic conditions. (Often, signs of Yin excess develop over a period of many months or even years.)
Can you get yin excess from cold?
Yin Excess Symptoms. The basic form is that of Cold, Full Cold. However, as you’ll discover, you can get yin excess symptoms in other ways than just from cold. Cold implies a lack of Yang, which would otherwise warm you up, and many of the other forms of excess Yin also occur because of deficient Yang. Basic signs of excess Yin, in your system:
Is Yin and Yang a killer?
However, it isn’t usually a killer: it just wears you down – so, for long-term health, you really need to clear it from your system. If you aren’t sure what Yin is, I suggest you first read either or both of the following: Yin and Yang. Balancing Yin and Yang.
