The document discusses the key concepts of yin and yang in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It explains that yin and yang are opposing yet complementary forces that must be balanced to maintain health. Yin represents qualities like cold, passive, feminine while yang represents hot, active, masculine. The document outlines the five main aspects of yin yang relationships and provides examples to illustrate TCM diagnoses and treatments based on identifying imbalances that are excess, deficient, interior, exterior, cold or hot patterns.

1. Active Health Foundation
Traditional Chinese Medicine
By James O’Sullivan C.Ac. (China)
www.active-health.org
james@active-health.org

2. Yin Yang
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3. Yin Yang Balance
(Homeostasis)
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4. Yin Yang
• Yin and Yang is one of the most fundamental
concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine
• It is a very important element of Chinese
Medicine, because in order to treat disease,
we always attempt to balance Yin & Yang.
• The earliest reference to Yin and Yang is in the
I Ching (Book of Changes) in approximately in
700 BC
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5. Yin Yang
• The concept of yin and yang describes
two opposing and, at the same time,
complementary aspects of any one
phenomenon
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6. Yin Yang
• Yin
– "shady place, north slope, south
bank (river); cloudy, overcast";
qualities are characterized as
passive, dark, feminine, negative,
downward-seeking, consuming
and corresponds to the night.
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7. Yin Yang
• Yang
– "sunny place, south slope, north
bank (river), sunshine"; qualities
are characterized as active, light,
masculine, positive, upward-
seeking, producing and
corresponds to the daytime.
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8. Yin Yang
• The five main aspects of Yin Yang Relationship
– Yin-Yang as opposites
– Interdependent
– Mutual consumption of Yin and Yang
– Inter-transformation of Yin and Yang
– Infinite Divisability
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9. Yin Yang
Yin Yang
• Water • Fire
• Cold • Hot
• Quite • Restless
• Dense • Light
• Wet • Dry
• Soft • Hard
• Inhibition • Excitement
• Slowness • Rapidity
• Inside • Outside
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10. Yin Yang
• Moon • Sun
• Cold • Heat
• Dark (Night) • Light (Day)
• Relaxation • Excitation
• Stability • Movement
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11. Yin Organs Yang Organs
• Heart • Small Intestine
• Pericardium • San Jiao
• Spleen • Stomach
• Lungs • Large Intestine
• Kidney • Urinary Bladder
• Liver • Gall Bladder
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12. Mutual Consumption
• Is where one consumes
Optimum
the other in disharmony Health
• When Yin & Yang are
balanced you have
optimum health
• When Homeostasis is
Yang Yin
balanced you have
optimum health Balance
• Equilibrium
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13. Empty Cold – Full Cold – Empty Heat – Full Heat
Clinical Manifestation:
Optimum
• Cold limbs, weakness, Health
contracture, pain
improved with heat
– Tongue: pale
– Pulse: slow
Yang Yin
Full Cold
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14. Empty Cold – Full Cold – Empty Heat – Full Heat
Clinical Manifestations:
Optimum
• Restlessness, headache, Health
irritability, pain worse
with pressure,
– Tongue: red
– Pulse: full
Yang Yin
Full Heat
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15. Empty Cold – Full Cold – Empty Heat – Full Heat
Clinical Manifestation:
Optimum
• Signs of excess cold but Health
arising from a
deficiency of Yang,
fatigue, weakness, pain
which improves with
heat and pressure, Yang Yin
– Tongue: pale Empty Cold (Yang Deficiency)
– Pulse: slow and weak
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16. Empty Cold – Full Cold – Empty Heat – Full Heat
Clinical Manifestations:
Optimum
• Signs of heat but arising Health
from a deficiency of Yin,
night sweats, heat in
the 5 palms, insomnia,
– Tongue: red,
– Pulse: thin and rapid Yang Yin
Empty Heat (Yin Deficiency)
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17. Mutual Consumption
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18. Inter Dependence
• You cannot have one without the other
• No hot without cold
• No outside without inside
• No day without night
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19. Inter Transformation
• One can change into the other, but it is not a
random event, happening only when the time
is right.
• Spring Summer Autumn Winter
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20. 8 Principals
Basically this is the method used to diagnose
disharmony.
Is it a……
Deficiency or Excess
Interior or Exterior
Cold or Hot
Yin or Yang
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21. Case History
• Peter, 23 years old, Welder
• Clinical Manifestations: headache that’s worse in a
hot environment, fatigue, smelly stools, dark yellow
urine,
– Tongue: red, dry
– Pulse: rapid, full
• Diagnosis: ?
• Principal of Treatment: ?
• Prescription of Points: ?
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22. Case History
• Petra, 24 years old, office
• Clinical Manifestations: headache that’s worse at
night, fatigue, smelly stools, yellow urine, red cheeks,
tossing and turning at night, feeling hot at night.
– Tongue: red, no coat
– Pulse: rapid, empty
• Diagnosis: ?
• Principal of Treatment: ?
• Prescription of Points: ?
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