Theory of Ying and Yang

Oct 1, 2020

Ying and Yang are described as two opposing and supplementing forces in the universe. According to the principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the theory of Ying and Yang refers to wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

Yin and Yang in Nature

At the beginning, Ying and Yang is described as whether a place faces the sun or not. The place being exposed to the sun is Yang and the opposite side is Ying. For instance, the Southern side of a mountain (South is associated with warmth) is Yang while the Northern side (associated with cold) is Ying.

In TCM, the herbs of cold and cool nature are Yin and the herbs that are warm and hot are Yang. The herbs with sour, bitter, and salty flavours are Yin and the herbs with pungent sweet and bland flavours are Yang.

 

Yang

All that are hot, excited, moving, strong, bright, light and clear, invisible, up and upwards, out and outwards are considered Yang.

Ying

All that are cold, weak, dark, visible, heavy and turbid, down and downwards, in and inwards are considered Ying. It is important to understand that Yin and Yang property of things is not absolute but relative.

 

Ying and Yang in the Human Body

Ying and Yang are opposite and also are interdependent to each other. Without the other, neither can exist. In the human body, the imbalance of Yin and Yang is associated with a health problem.