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Module 2.3b Reading Materials

The document discusses Yin and Yang deficiencies according to traditional Chinese medicine. Yin deficiencies can cause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, while Yang deficiencies cause coldness and weakness. Both can develop due to aging, stress, diet, or lifestyle factors. Specific organ deficiencies are also detailed, such as Spleen Yang deficiency causing digestive issues, Kidney Yang deficiency impacting lower back pain and sexual function, and Heart Yang deficiency resulting in palpitations and cold arms.

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Luis Munoz
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61 views

Module 2.3b Reading Materials

The document discusses Yin and Yang deficiencies according to traditional Chinese medicine. Yin deficiencies can cause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, while Yang deficiencies cause coldness and weakness. Both can develop due to aging, stress, diet, or lifestyle factors. Specific organ deficiencies are also detailed, such as Spleen Yang deficiency causing digestive issues, Kidney Yang deficiency impacting lower back pain and sexual function, and Heart Yang deficiency resulting in palpitations and cold arms.

Uploaded by

Luis Munoz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 2.

3b Reading Materials

Yin Deficiency

It is interesting to note that during the process of aging, gender-related Yin or Yang
energy gradually declines. For example, as women age and their Yin begins to decline,
as they go through menopause. They may experience hot flashes, night sweats and
frequent waking - all of which are symptoms of Yin Deficiency. The opposite happens
with men -- their Yang decreases resulting in such symptoms as impotence, frequent
nocturia, cold extremities and lower back pain - possible signs of Yang Deficiency.

The severity of these manifestations of deficiency depends on how strong individuals


are constitutionally, and how much they take care of themselves over their lifetime.
Stress, drugs, overwork, environment and poor dietary habits can contribute to the
depletion of Yin or Yang. This does not only pertain to aging; anyone can become Yin or
Yang Deficient at any time under certain circumstances.

The symptoms of Yin Deficiency are mostly Heat (a pathogenic factor described in
Chinese Medicine)-related, but relatively small in magnitude. Under these conditions,
the Heat in question is not caused by excess Yang, but rather by insufficient Yin. An
excess of Heat will manifest as symptoms showing that Heat is predominant, whereas
the Heat caused by Yin deficiency will be fairly mild in comparison.

Yin-deficient individuals find that they are thirsty but they don't really feel like drinking an
appropriate amount of water or only taking small sips. They want to drink mostly in the
afternoon or at night. They will have scanty dark urine and suffer from constipation (due
to the diminished fluid intake). In Yin Deficiency, the psudo-Heat causes individuals to
awaken frequently during the night or in the early morning,

Yang Deficiency

While Yin characteristics are related to nourishment and substance; Yang features are
more energetic and functional. We need both Yin and Yang; women and men contain
both. Individuals naturally begin to decline in Yin, Yang or both as they age. If Yin
wanes, one may have less of a desire to nurture or care for others, or one may become
more outgoing or outspoken. Material substances also decline - for example, bone
density decreases. If Yang declines, persons may become more relaxed and
accommodating to others, but they also may have sexual dysfunction and trouble
maintaining bladder control throughout the night.
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Yang Deficiency always has some cold symptoms in the syndrome, but overall, it does
not appear as an excess condition. Most people with Yang Deficiency present with at
least a few of these symptoms: aversion to cold/cold limbs; sweating without exertion;
listlessness; frequent, abundant urination; loose stools; lack of thirsty feeling and dull
abdominal pain that can be relieved with pressure.

In Yang Deficiency, an organ may primarily be involved. It could possibly be Spleen,


Kidney or Heart. Actually, Yang Deficiency could be characterized by a progression
from Qi Deficiency, such that organ–related syndromes appear similar, but with the
addition of cold symptoms.

Spleen Yang Deficiency (脾陽虛)

Various digestive problems can manifest as lack of appetite, a puffy, tired feeling after
eating or loose stools. These can be indications that the transportation and
transformation function of the Spleen is impaired. For the same reason, if the Spleen is
unable to convert the Qi in nutrients to a usable form, an individual feels tired, listless or
has difficulty waking up in the morning. Fluids will also accumulate because they are not
being transported and distributed appropriately (this is another function of the Spleen).

A poor diet is the primary cause of Spleen Yang Deficiency. Eating excessive cold,
frozen, raw or sweet foods can damage the Spleen. Irregular eating habits, under- or
over-eating, eating too quickly, or eating while working or driving all can be detrimental
to the Spleen.

Kidney Yang Deficiency (腎陽虛)

Problems can arise with the lower back and/or knee pain, both of which can be relieved
by warmth. The Kidney is closely related to “Ming Men (ie. Life Gate) Fire”, which
emanates from the area of the lower back. When it fails to warm the body, the lower
back feels cold. Whenever there is cold, there is pain, as the cold contracts and
obstructs the free flow of Qi. In addition, Kidney Yang gives strength and support to the
bones of the back and the knees, so that a deficiency will cause weakness in these
areas.

The warmth of Kidney Yang is needed for sexual function and fertility so a deficiency
can result in problems such as impotence, infertility, premature ejaculation or decreased
sexual desire. Kidney Yang also enervates the Zhi, which is the spirit housed in the
Kidney. A deficiency will cause lassitude and a lack of motivation or willpower. Persons
with Kidney Yang Deficiency feel they do not have the energy to do anything, or that
they have used up all of their reserves -- which indeed they have!

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Kidney Yang Deficiency often develops from Spleen Yang Deficiency, so one can
exhibit symptoms such as edema in the legs, caused by lack of fluid transformation. For
the same reason, fluids build up in the tongue, causing it to become swollen.

Kidney Qi is important in maintaining bladder function, but since a deficiency of Kidney


Qi is often a precursor of Kidney Yang Deficiency, this can manifest as symptoms of
nocturia (getting up at night to go to the bathroom), dribbling after urination or
incontinence (in severe cases).

The causes of Kidney Yang Deficiency include chronic, longstanding illness, excessive
sexual activity, a constitutional deficiency, or an age-related decline of Kidney function.
Some medications, such as those used in the management of hypertension, can also
deplete Kidney Yang.

Heart Yang Deficiency (心陽虛）

The Heart Meridian goes down the arms; if there is insufficient Heart Yang, Qi cannot
be transported to the extremities. The individual may also have a stuffiness or
uncomfortable feeling in the region of the Heart. A cardinal sign for any Heart Syndrome
is heart palpitations, often described as an awareness of the heartbeat, or a fluttering
feeling. These symptoms are caused by insufficiency of the Heart Yang in moving
the Qi in the chest.

Heart Yang Deficiency can develop from a Heart Qi Deficiency. The causes are the
same as those for Kidney Yang Deficiency. Heart Yang Deficiency can also be caused
by a sudden or prolonged loss of blood, which results in a deficiency of Blood, Qi and
(eventually) Heart Yang.

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