The Applications of Yin Yang Theory in TCM

Application to the Human Body

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers the human body as an organic whole. The significance of this wholeness lies in the opposing relationship between Yin and Yang. According to the Yin-Yang theory, body organs and tissues can be classified based on their function and location. The upper body belongs to Yang, while the lower part of the body belongs to Yin. Other Yin-Yang pairs in the body include the interior (Yin) versus the exterior (Yang), the front (Yin) versus the back (Yang), the inner side (medial = Yin) versus the outer side (lateral = Yang) of the limbs, and the five Yin organs versus the six Yang organs. Each organ can be further divided into Yin-Yang aspects, such as Heart-Yin and Heart-Yang or Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang.

Application from a Physiological Perspective

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that health is achieved when Yin and Yang are harmonious and balanced. As mentioned earlier, the physical form belongs to Yin, while body activities and functions belong to Yang. Because the physical form and body functions are dynamically balanced, they counteract each other when in excess and are interdependent in every way. The body cannot function if the physical form required for these functions is not in order. Furthermore, physiological functions and body activities can consume certain physical forms (material) and convert these substances to gain energy.

Application from a Pathological Perspective

TCM further believes that a Yin-Yang disharmony is the cause of illness and physiological disorders. Disharmony means that the balance between Yin and Yang is unequal and unbalanced. When one aspect is deficient, the other is in excess. Many factors can trigger a Yin-Yang disharmony, all related to the malignant pathogenic factors (external influences that cause illness) and the flow of Qi in the body. When someone has a normal Qi flow, the body functions well and has a healthy defense system that allows for quick recovery from illness. Normal Qi consists of Yang-Qi (physiological function and energy) and Yin-Fluid (physical form and body fluids), while the “malignant influences” consist of six pathogenic factors. Cold and dampness belong to the Yin factors, while wind, dryness, heat (fire), and summer heat (tropical heat) belong to the Yang factors. Therefore, in TCM, illness either results from a deficiency of normal Qi (deficiency of Yin-Fluid or Yang-Qi) or an excess of one of the six pathogenic factors. The conflict between restoring normal Qi and eliminating the “pathogenic factor” determines whether an illness progresses or returns to a healthy state. By applying Yin-Yang theory in diagnosis and treatment, balance can be restored, and health maintained.

Diagnostic Application

TCM diagnoses patients according to their disharmony patterns. First, all patterns are classified using a system known as “The Eight Principal Syndromes” (Ba-Gang). These Eight Principal Syndromes consist of four pairs: Interior-Exterior, Cold-Heat, Deficiency-Excess, and Yin-Yang. Among these Eight Principal Syndromes, Yin and Yang are the most fundamental and essential patterns (see Table 2). Generally speaking, Yang patterns manifest with excited, active, hot, outward-progressing, upward-developing, and rapidly improving symptoms. Yin patterns are associated with inhibiting, resting, passive, cold, inward-progressing, downward-developing, and slowly worsening symptoms. Table 3 illustrates the clinical signs of Yin and Yang patterns.

Table 2: Eight Fundamental Disharmony Patterns (Ba-Gang)

Disharmony Pattern	Yin/Yang	Manifestations
1. Exterior (biao)	Yang	An exterior pattern is caused by an “external malignant influence,” such as wind and cold (e.g., a common cold).
2. Interior (li)	Yin	An interior pattern is caused by internal disharmony, such as the dysfunction of an organ (e.g., diabetes).
3. Cold (han)	Yin	A cold pattern is characterized by pallor, cold limbs, aversion to cold, clear urine, or watery stools. These signs are usually linked to non-exciting bodily functions (excretion, sweating).
4. Heat (re)	Yang	A heat pattern manifests with signs such as a flushed face, high fever, aversion to heat, dark yellow urine, or constipation. These symptoms are typically related to exciting bodily functions (digestion, cardiovascular).
5. Deficiency (shu	Yin	Signs of frail and weak movements, fatigue, shortness of breath, a quiet voice, or dizziness indicate a deficiency syndrome. These symptoms are usually associated with an energy deficit for normal processes and functions.
6. Excess (shi)	Yang	An excess pattern presents with signs of strong movements, heavy and rough breathing, or discomfort when applying pressure. These symptoms are generally associated with an excess/accumulation of harmful substances/metabolic waste.
7. Yin	Yin	General patterns for Yin manifestations include interior, cold, and deficiency/empty patterns.
8. Yang	Yang	General patterns for Yang manifestations include exterior, heat, and fullness patterns.

Table 3: Yin and Yang Signs of the Body

Location	Yang Signs	Yin Signs
Face and Appearance	Red face, fever, hot flashes, excited and hyperactive behavior.	Pale face, depression, chills, cold limbs, tired and weak.
Voice	Rough and strong voice, rough breathing, dry mouth, thirst.	Quiet voice, reduced appetite, no taste (everything tastes the same), little thirst.
Urine and Feces	Constipation with unpleasant odor, dark urine.	Diarrhea, abundant and clear urine.
Tongue	Red to dark red tongue or yellow and black thick coating on the tongue.	Pale and swollen tongue body.
Pulse	Fast and flowing, full and strong, slippery and hard pulse.	Slow and sinking, weak, fragile pulse.

#陰陽應用

The Applications of Yin Yang Theory in TCM

Application to the Human Body

Application from a Physiological Perspective

Application from a Pathological Perspective

Diagnostic Application

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