Foundations of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine: Yin Yang Theory

At the root of Taoist philosophy is the profound concept of Yin and Yang. Developed through observation of nature, all of Chinese philosophy and Oriental Medicine theory can be explained through its duality concept. Yin and Yang are two opposing and balanced forces that exist in mutual dependence. It is believed that all aspects of life can be divided into Yin and Yang.

The Relationships of Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang are characterized by four relationships:

• Opposition of Yin and Yang: Everything in the natural world can be divided into Yin and Yang. We can separate the day into nighttime and daytime, yin and yang respectively. However, Yin and Yang are also never purely one or the other, both Yin and Yang contain the seed of their opposite.
• Interdependence of Yin and Yang: Even though Yin and Yang are opposites, they can only exist in relation to each other. You cannot have heaven without having earth, or day without night.
• Mutual Consumption of Yin and Yang: Due to the balancing nature of Yin and Yang, each part is in a constant state of change relative to its opposing force. If Yin increases, Yang must decreases to maintain balance, and vise versa. As day decreases, night increases until we reach a stage of deepest Yin; from here, night decreases as sunlight begins to penetrate the skies increasing Yang.
• Inner-transformation of Yin and Yang: Yin and Yang are not static states. With the proper timing and conditions, Yin or Yang can transform into their opposite. Over the course of a year, Summer (Yang within Yang) cools and slowing becomes Autumn (Yin within Yang). This transformation continues as Yin increases and we enter Winter (Yin within Yin). From absolute Yin we have the rise of Yang to bring Spring (Yang within Yin). The cycle completes as we enter Summer again.

The Tai Ji Symbol

The Tai Ji symbol, also know as the Yin Yang symbol, is the pictorial representation of the balance of Yin and Yang. Contained within this simple image are the four relationships of Yin and Yang. The light side is Yang and the dark side is Yin, represented in equally sized and opposing shapes. Contained within the deepest part of each shape is its opposite color, reminding us that within Yin exists Yang, and within Yang exists Yin. The Yin and Yang shapes fit together forming a complete circle to imply unity, two parts of a one whole system - dynamically transforming between Yin and Yang.

Yin Yang Theory in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

In its application to Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Yin and Yang can be used to explain all aspects of physiology, anatomy, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment.

In Oriental Medicine, there are twelve internal organs. Each of these organs and their meridians are related to either Yin or Yang, and are arranged into six pairs. The table below details these Yin Yang pairings.

For example, Lung and Large Intestine exist in as a Yin Yang pair. The two organs balance the energy of each other through their connecting meridians, and many pathological conditions can correlate the relationship of these two organs.

Yin and Yang are also used to describe the anatomy of the body. The front of the body is considered Yin, while the back of the body is considered Yang. The upper half of the body is Yang, while the lower half is Yin.

A state of Yang Excess or Deficiency, or Yin Excess or Deficiency of any organ or meridian will cause the appearance of symptoms showing the development of disease. An Excess Yang condition could show heat symptoms in the upper body, and a Deficient Yang condition might be represented by cold symptoms in the lower body. Due to the balancing nature of Yin and Yang, we can also experience a relative Excess or Deficiency of Yin or Yang. This occurs due to the mutual consumption relationship where in a deficiency of Yin or Yang, the opposing force appears in relative Excess.

Yin and Yang are applied in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine diagnosis to characterize symptoms of disease. Yang Conditions are exterior, excess, and hot. Yin conditions are interior, deficient, and cold. By dividing symptoms in this manner, we can determine if a condition is mostly Yin or Yang and choose an appropriate balancing treatment.

When we adjust the body through acupuncture treatment, we are tonifying a Yin or Yang Deficiency, or reducing a Yin or Yang Excess. By proper selection of acupuncture points and correct needle technique, the Qi of each meridian and organ can be balanced to harmonize the Yin and Yang of the body.