How is yin and yang related to acupuncture

It changed and became the four seasons. These ten thousand creatures cannot turn their back to the shade without having the sun on their bellies, and it is on this blending of the breaths that their harmony depends. It is the core issue of the theoretical system of TCM 7 Through the theory of Yin-Yang TCM practitioners understand and explain the origin and nature of life, the body's physiological function and pathological changes, guide the diagnosis and prevention of disease.

As the Huang Di Nei Jing. The theory of Yin-Yang is not only a simple philosophical theory, but also reveals the law of changes in the universe and the law of nature that gives birth to life.

The Yin and Yang consist of the deficiency and excess, moving and still, gathered and dispersed, also pure and turbid, the original One. According to the theory of Yin-Yang, Qi is the most basic element that constitutes the cosmic and everything in the world.

It is the origin of the world and the material basis for the unification of the infinite diversity of all things in the world. And also it is the foundation of unity of the body and spirit. Yin-Yang is the inherent property of Qi, the interaction of Yin-Yang of Qi is the root cause of Qi self-movement and the fundamental reason for the change of all things. This wonderful concept of change is beautifully illustrated in the simple image of the "yin-yang symbol.

When yin and yang are in disharmony, when there is too much or too little of one aspect of Qi relative to another, then there is illness, pain and suffering. TCM provides guidelines for both the practitioner and patient on how to best facilitate harmony between yin and yang in any set of circumstances and how to create and circulate an abundance of Qi to sustain health and wellbeing.

These are the "stems" of TCM that spring from the root concepts of Qi and yin and yang. To assist the practitioner and patient in this task, TCM offers several different perspectives on the dynamics of Qi and the interplay of yin and yang. These different perspectives are like different types of maps of the same territory. For example, if you were trying to understand what a particular part of a country is like, you might choose a topographical map showing elevation; a geological map showing the rock and soils; a vegetation map showing forests, prairies, and swamps; a watershed map showing rivers, lakes and streams; a road map; a population density map; or even a map showing points of historical interest.

The map you chose would depend on your particular need or needs. But one map would not do it all. Likewise TCM has different "maps" that explain what is happening in the human body, according to the need.

Some of the more commonly used "maps" in TCM include:. You can click on each of the links above for more information. Read below to learn more about the last item in the list, the causes of disharmony. These causes provide insight on how you can use TCM in your life to safeguard or even improve your health. Because the dynamics of yin and yang are always shifting and changing in the world around us, we must continuously respond to these changes in order to maintain the harmony of yin and yang in our lives and so maintain our health and wellbeing.

If we do not make an appropriate response to change, then the harmony of yin and yang in our life may tilt into a pattern of disharmony and subsequently into illness, disease and suffering. The potential causes of disharmony fall into two general categories: deficiency and excess. This usually refers specifically to a deficiency of one or more of the manifestations of Qi within the body see "vital substances".

But it can also refer more generally to an insufficiency of any of the things that would normally sustain and nourish us in life, such as food, warmth, shelter, physical and mental stimulation, the interaction with other living beings, and, of course, love. To make an appropriate response to the ever shifting dynamics of yin and yang, we must have a sufficient amount of Qi. Since most of the Qi we use in life is extracted from what we eat and the air that we breathe, Chinese medicine places considerable importance upon an adequate and appropriate diet of fresh, high quality food, and the opportunity and ability to breathe good, clean air.

This refers to the presence of something that is in some way detrimental to our nature but can also and this is more commonly the case for many of us refer to or an overabundance of something relative to our need for it. Examples of excess factors might include:. To avoid disharmonies due to deficiency or excess, we must have sufficient mindfulness, and mental clarity to perceive the world and determine our needs.

And we must determine how we can meet those needs without creating new problems for ourselves or creating disharmony in the world around us. An unquiet or disordered mind i. Previous Next. What are Yin and Yang? Herbal Treatments Breathing essential oils, such as lavender, can help you feel calmer. Meditation Meditation is an excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety.

Related Posts. Acupuncture During Pregnancy. Acupuncture Treatments for Migraines. Can Acupuncture Help with Detox? Acupressure A technique that applies pressure to specific acupuncture points utilizing fingers, hand, elbow or various mechanical devices to provide relief of symptoms, balancing and motivating the flow of Qi throughout the body. Auriculotherapy Hands of the doctor doing acupuncture of ear.

A therapy that utilizes the rich supply of blood and nerves in the ear to diagnose and treat disease, by stimulating acupuncture points in the ear. Auriculotherapy is effective in the treatment of a wide range of common diseases.

It is especially successful in the treatment of chronic disease or used as an analgesic during surgery or childbirth. There are diverse auriculartherapy methods, such as acupressure, laser, magnets, needling, electrical stimulation and moxibustion.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory. Further Exploration - Theory and Treatments. Theory Main Patterns Tongue Diagnosis. Conditions Main 10 Questions Unique Patterns.