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Flashcards in Yin and Yang Deck (47)
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1
Q

Yin & Yang

A

• Yin and Yang is a Chinese concept of dualism and balance. It describes how opposite forces are distinct but also related and connected to one another.
•Yin Yang theory provides an accessible language for describing:
- The qualities of living beings and their environments.
- Patterns of health and disease.
- The properties of foods and other medicines.

2
Q

Yin Qualities

A
Cold
Moist
Matter
Contraction
Descending
Nourishing
Water
3
Q

Yang Qualities

A
Hot
Dry
Energy
Expansion
Rising
Moving
Fire
4
Q

Yin & Yang Imbalance

A
  • Good health is an expression of harmony between Yin and Yang. When out of balance, there is dis-ease.
  • If Yin does not cool and nourish the body due to insufficient cooling, hydrating and nourishing foods (green veg, fruit, smoothies, soups), Yang may rise, leading to heat signs such as headaches, red face, nosebleeds, or irritability.
  • When Yang does not warm and activate the body due to insufficient warming, drying and moving foods (stews, onion, garlic, spices), there may be signs of cold such as chills, tiredness, lethargy, poor circulation or oedema.
5
Q

Yin Foods

A
  • Yin foods are cooling, hydrating and nourishing. They are used to balance excess heat or dryness or to rebuild a system depleted by exhaustion or illness.
  • Cooling yin foods include bitter, leafy greens, watery fruit and veg such as pear, melon, celery.
  • Nourishing yin foods include soups, stews, broths, braised meats, dark leafy greens, fruit, yoghurt, honey, oyster, tempeh, nut milks, sesame.
6
Q

Yang Foods

A

• Yang foods are warming , drying or moving.
They are used to balance excess cold or dampness.
• Warming foods and drinks include soups, stews, dahls, warm porridges, beef, lamb, stir fried or baked food, onion, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, warm water, herbal teas.
• Foods and spices that clear dampness include non gluten grains (dry roast then cook as a side to veg or tea), mushrooms, fennel seed or cinnamon tea, horseradish, black radish, ginger, seeds (mustard, cumin, cardamom , star anise), Szechuan pepper.

7
Q

Excess Yang

A

Strong signs of heat such as very red face, migraines, rage or high blood pressure.

8
Q

Deficient Yin

A

When Yin is deficient, Yang is not anchored, leading to moderate signs of heat such as low grade fevers or night sweats.

9
Q

Excess Yin

A

Strong signs of cold such as a blue tongue or skin, stabbing pains or cramps.

10
Q

Deficient Yang

A

When Yang doesn’t warm and activate the body, it leads to moderate signs of cold, i.e. diarrhoea, tiredness, lethargy.

11
Q

Excess Yang: Sings and Symptoms

A
red face
hypertension,
anger 
headaches 
feeling hot
thirst
12
Q

Excess Yang: Tongue

A

red, possibly with yellow coating.

13
Q

Excess Yang: Aetiolgy

A

stress
diet
acute inflammation.

14
Q

Excess Yang: Avoid

A
sugar
alcohol
coffee
black tea
fizzy drinks
red meats,
hot spices
fried or greasy food
onion
garlic
processed foods.
15
Q

Excess Yang: Eat

A

cooling ‘yin’ foods
bitter greens
watery fruit
melon,

16
Q

Excess Yang: Lifestyle

A

Avoid stress, Strong exercise, hot yoga (yoga carried out in a hot room).
Consider moderate exercise i.e. walking, gentle yoga, Qi gong (Chinese system of gentle exercises and breathing).

17
Q

Yang Definciency: Signs and symptoms

A

tired, chilly, pale,
loose stool with undigested food,
frequent pale urination, oedema, low libido, palpitations, lack of appetite.

18
Q

Yang Deficiency: Tongue

A

pale, swollen , wet

19
Q

Yang Deficiency: Aetiology

A

chronic illness, old age,

cold raw diet, chronic cold exposure

20
Q

Yang Definciency: Avoid

A

raw foods, salads, cold drinks, smoothies.

21
Q

Yang Deficiency: Eat

A

nourishing soups, stews, root veg, pumpkin,

whole grains, spices, warm water, herbal teas.

22
Q

Yang Deficiency: Lifestyle

A

wrap up warm , avoid cold exposure, stress, overwork.

Take hot baths, use hot water bottles, moderate exercise, such as walking or Qi gong.

23
Q

Excess Yin: Signs and Symptoms

A

sharp pains, cramps, pale / pale blue complexion,

feeling cold all the time, constipation.

24
Q

Excess Yin: Tongue

A

blue, possibly with thick white coating.

25
Q

Excess Yin: Aetiology

A

cold diet or chronic exposure to cold.

26
Q

Excess Yin: Avoid

A

raw foods, salads, cold drinks, smoothies.

27
Q

Excess Yin: Eat

A

warming soups, stews, broths, warm

water and herbal teas (e.g. ginger, cinnamon).

28
Q

Excess Yin: Lifestyle

A

always stay warm, hot baths, hot water bottles.

29
Q

Yin Deficiency: Signs and symptoms

A

low grade fever, dry throat at night, night sweats, weight loss, malar flush.

30
Q

Yin Deficiency: Tongue

A

red , cracked, dry

31
Q

Yin Deficiency: Aetiology

A

chronic illness, prolonged overwork, old age, anaemia.

32
Q

Yin Deficiency: Avoid

A

sugar, alcohol, coffee, hot spices, fried food, onion, garlic.

33
Q

Yin Deficiency: Eat

A

yin nourishing foods such as soups, stews, broths, braised meats, dark leafy greens, fruit, yoghurt, honey, oyster, nut milks, sesame.

34
Q

Yin Deficiency: Lifestyle

A

sleep more , seek stillness.

Avoid strong exercise or excessive sexual activity.

35
Q

Yin and Yang

A
  • The Yin and Yang concept is the core of Chinese medicine.
  • A healthy meal should achieve a balance of yin and yang.
  • Yin and Yang are opposites, but not in absolute terms. Nothing is entirely Yin or Yang. E.g. raw foods are yin when compared to warm stews, but yang compared to ice cream
  • Generally, foods are either more:
  • YIN cool , contracting, cooling in property) or
  • YANG warm , expanding, warming in property)
36
Q

Yin Foods

A

The following are considered ‘Yin foods’:
• Cold and cooling foods.
• Plant foods in general. Foods with low calorific value such as fruit, green vegetables, seaweed.
• Wet or sweet foods are more yin.
• Refined foods are more yin, whilst also having less Qi.
• Raw food is generally more yin and better tolerated in the summer.
• Foods that grow in the spring & summer are generally cooling (yin) in quality and, therefore, should be eaten in season
. The nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, bell peppers) and sweet tropical fruit are particularly yin.

37
Q

Yang Foods

A

The following are consider ‘Yang foods’:
• Warm and warming foods.
• Foods with a higher calorific value including red meats. Meats, in general, are more yang than plant foods.
• Chocolate, tea, coffee and alcohol.
• Black pepper, ginger, chilli, onion, garlic.
• Most root vegetables are warming (yang) in quality and good to be eaten during autumn and winter.
• Fresh food has more yang energy, which also enhances the Qi , whereas processed or stale food has more yin energy (and weakens the Qi).

38
Q

Yin and Yang: Noodles

A
  • Noodles can sit in either category, according to whether they are made from rice or wheat.
  • Rice grows in water so it is more yin ; wheat ripens in the sun so it is more yang than rice.
  • As a general rule of thumb foods which are cool or naturally sweet are more yin.
39
Q

Yin and Yang Relativity

A
  • ‘Relativity’ is an important concept with Yin & Yang
  • Although fish is generally considered ‘ yin’, it is not yin in relation to more ‘yin’ foods like raw vegetables.
  • In comparison to raw vegetables, fish is ‘yang’
  • Foods in the same family (e.g. fruit) can be more or less yang/yin sweeter is usually more yin . Bitter fruit can be less yin
  • Different texts can give you different groupings of yin/yang for particular foods/drinks. Wine is considered yin by some and yang by others. The initial effects of wine can be warming/heating ‘yang’ but excessive use can create problems associated with excessive yin depression, numbness, lethargy, phlegm.
40
Q

Yang conditions

A
  • Caused by excess of animal products, hot spices or alcohol;
  • e.g. acne, high blood pressure, migraines.
41
Q

Yin Conditions

A
  • Caused by excess of sugar, raw foods or not enough food;

* e.g. lethargy, anaemia, feeling cold.

42
Q

Hot (Yang) Foods

A

Lamb

Red Chilli

43
Q

Warm (Yang) Foods

A
Beef 
Duck
Ginger
Green Pepper
Onion
Peach
Lychee
Walnuts
Peanuts
Sunflower and Sesame seeds
44
Q

Neutral

A
Chicken
Pork
Carrot
Cauliflower
Yam
Pineapple
Grapes
Brown rice
White rice
45
Q

Cool (Yin)

A
Crab
Prawns
Broccoli
Cabbage
Celery
Apple
Orange
Pear
Mango
Almonds
Coconut
Wheat flour
46
Q

Cold (Yin)

A
Fish
Mung beans
Sprouts
Cucumber
Bananas
Watermelon
47
Q

Yin and Yang: Cooking

A

Cooking methods will alter the yin or yang nature of produce.
• Water has a cooling influence . So heating foods by steaming or boiling will not add ‘yang’ properties to foods as much as cooking by fire, baking or roasting , which will make foods hotter or more ‘
• Fish is generally considered cold (yin) as it spends much time in water. So it is usually cooked with ginger (yang) to warm up the dish & give it balance
• Juicing, blending, grinding and other processing generally increases the yin of foods.