🌗 Yin-Yang Theory

🔹 Definition:

Yin-Yang is the fundamental theory describing how opposite but complementary forces govern all phenomena in nature and the human body.

🔹 Characteristics:

• Yin: Represents the feminine, dark, cold, inward, rest, and structure.

• Yang: Represents the masculine, bright, heat, outward, activity, and function.

🔹 Applications in TCM:

• Every organ has Yin and Yang aspects. E.g., the Kidney Yin nourishes, while Kidney Yang warms and moves.

• Health = Yin-Yang balance; Disease = Yin-Yang disharmony.

• Excess Yang: Fever, restlessness, red face.

• Excess Yin: Cold limbs, fatigue, pale complexion.

• Yin deficiency: Night sweats, dry mouth, insomnia.

• Yang deficiency: Cold limbs, weak pulse, fatigue.

🧿 Five Elements Theory (Wu Xing)

🔹 The Elements:

1. Wood (Liver, Gallbladder) – Growth, movement, planning.

2. Fire (Heart, Small Intestine) – Heat, joy, circulation.

3. Earth (Spleen, Stomach) – Nourishment, transformation.

4. Metal (Lung, Large Intestine) – Purification, structure, elimination.

5. Water (Kidney, Bladder) – Storage, reproduction, cooling.

🔹 Relationships:

• Generating Cycle (Sheng):
  Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood

• Controlling Cycle (Ke):
  Wood ⟶ Earth ⟶ Water ⟶ Fire ⟶ Metal ⟶ Wood

🔹 Clinical Use:

• Balancing elements for harmony (e.g., strengthening Earth to control overactive Water).

• Diagnosing based on personality, symptoms, pulse, and tongue.

🌬️ Qi (Vital Energy)

🔹 Definition:

Qi is the life force or vital energy that flows throughout the body, enabling all physiological functions.

🔹 Types of Qi:

• Yuan Qi (Original Qi): Inherited from parents; stored in the Kidneys.

• Zong Qi (Gathering Qi): Produced from air and food; gathered in the chest.

• Ying Qi (Nutrient Qi): Circulates in vessels, nourishes organs and tissues.

• Wei Qi (Defensive Qi): Protects the body, flows outside vessels (immune defense).

🔹 Functions:

• Powering movement

• Warming the body

• Defending against disease

• Transforming and transporting nutrients

• Holding organs and blood in place

🔹 Qi Pathology:

• Qi deficiency: Fatigue, weak voice, spontaneous sweating.

• Qi stagnation: Pain, emotional issues, PMS.

• Rebellious Qi: E.g., Stomach Qi rebelling upward = nausea, vomiting.

🩸 Blood (Xue)

🔹 Definition:

In TCM, Blood is more than a physical fluid—it also nourishes and moistens the body and supports mental activity (Shen).

🔹 Origin:

Produced from Gu Qi (food energy) in the Spleen + essence from Kidneys + transformed in the Heart.

🔹 Functions:

• Nourishment of tissues, muscles, skin, organs.

• Moistening the body.

• Housing and anchoring the Shen (mind/spirit).

• Promoting menstruation and fertility in women.

🔹 Blood Pathology:

• Blood deficiency: Dizziness, dry skin, insomnia, scanty periods.

• Blood stasis: Sharp pain, dark clots in menses, purple tongue.

• Blood heat: Skin eruptions, excessive bleeding, red tongue.

💧 Body Fluids (Jin-Ye)

🔹 Definition:

These are the normal fluids in the body, such as saliva, sweat, tears, mucus, joint fluid, etc.

🔹 Types:

• Jin (Thin fluids): Moistens skin and muscles, part of sweat, saliva.

• Ye (Thick fluids): Lubricates joints, brain, spinal cord, orifices (e.g., synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid).

🔹 Origin & Transport:

• Originates from food and drink via the Spleen and Stomach.

• Transported and regulated by the Lung, Kidney, and San Jiao.

🔹 Functions:

• Moisten skin, hair, muscles, and orifices.

• Lubricate joints and nourish marrow and bones.

• Assist in digestion and absorption.

🔹 Body Fluid Pathology:

• Deficiency: Dry mouth, dry skin, constipation.

• Accumulation (Dampness/Phlegm): Edema, heaviness, cough with sputum.