Yin deficiency can often be the result of prolonged stress levels that outweigh the amount of time we spend at rest. There may also be excess Yang in your life. Genetics, poor dietary habits, sleep deprivation or a chronic illness can also lead to Yin deficiency.
Loss of large quantities of blood (such as prolonged or very heavy periods) or body fluids can damage Yin. Long-term disease in any organ system will eventually damage Kidney Yin.
Foods to avoid
It is important to ensure that stimulating foods are not being consumed, as these will only further depleate yin. Caffeine, alcohol, sugar and strong heating/ pungent spices all belong in this category.
When an imbalance of yin occurs in the body, it causes the body to overheat. Yin deficiency can often be the result of prolonged stress levels and fatigue. A chronic disease, poor dietary habits, and sometimes genetics can also lead to a deficient yin.
Treatment for yin tonification
Drink thin fluids – water, herbal tea, clear soups and watery fruits. Some added salt in food (health permitting) to retain water. Some raw foods, especially vegetables (not in the evenings) to cool the body. Tonify Kidney yin – point K 7 or K 10.
Most of Yin deficiency and internal heat of depression is the deficiency syndrome, and its main clinical manifestations are anxiety, depression, tension, suspicion, irritated fever, night sweat and zygomatic red, palpitation and insomnia, red tongue with little moss, and thready and rapid pulse [10].
Some foods that support Yin are artichokes, black beans, eggs, honey, kidney beans, mango, pork, watermelon, and zucchini. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugar.
Soy products such as tofu and beansprouts, crab (such as the Shanghai hairy crab), most fruits, and vegetables such as watercress, cucumbers, carrots and cabbage are considered yin foods.
Proteins: aduki beans, black beans, kidney beans, lima beans, mung beans, fish and seafood (except shrimp and prawns), beef, duck, goose, pork, rabbit, chicken and duck eggs. Dairy: cow, sheep and goat dairy products (if tolerated), ghee. Yogurt is considered especially cooling and yin nourishing.
Root vegetables, such as beetroot, carrots and turnips, and tubers, such as potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes, are considered 'fresh'. Milk, yoghurt, light cheeses and eggs are also seen as yin, alongside some seafood such as oysters, mussels and all shellfish.
To nourish Yin, one would use points such as SP-6 Sanyinjiao, Ren-12 Zhongwan or KI-3 Taixi. Generally, one can use the Yuan points of the Yin organs to nourish Yin (KI-3 Taixi, LIV-3 Taichong, SP-3 Taibai, LU-9 Taiyuan, HE-7 Shenmen).
When we eat large quantities of more yin foods (sugar, honey, spices, fruit juices and alcohol), this causes expansion and weakening in the body. Quite often, the intestines become loose and expanded causing conditions such as chronic diarrhoea or constipation, the growth of diverticula, colitis and enteritis.
Some elements nourish each other and some elements control each other. Water is the most yin for example. It's slow, dark, and cold. Fire is the most yang.
Yin Energy in the Body
As mentioned, Yin represents the lower half and front part of the body, as well as the lower half of the face (plus eyes and ears). Yin energy is associated with the blood, fluids, bones, heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys (Yin organs).
If the Qi stagnates in the meridians, the main symptoms are stiffness, heaviness, numbness or tingling of the limbs in the affected regions, or migrating pain in the limbs. Stagnation of Qi is often caused by emotional disturbance and accumulation of internal cold, heat, phlegm, water and food.
Yin foods include asparagus, cucumbers, tomatoes, bananas, watermelon, tropical fruits, raw fruits and vegetables, soy products, many types of seafood and pork. They are bitter, salty and light. They are also 'cooling' on the body.
Vegetarians and plant-based eaters tend to fall under the "yin" category. Yin bodies tend to gravitate toward — and benefit from — warming, hearty "hot" yang foods, which include: stews and soups, cooked root vegetables, baked winter squash, baked tofu, boiled spinach, oatmeal, quinoa, and buckwheat.
Food recommended by Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chia seeds and seeds in general have a downward movement in the body (think seeds planted into the earth) and can help bring all that anxious energy down to nourish the yin and calm the mind. Goji Berries: believed to nourish the blood and yin.
A Yin deficiency type is when there is not enough「Yin」to cool the body so the body temperature rises easily. The shortage of「Water」such as liquids, blood, and body fluids, which are the constituents of the body, causes the body to be in a dry state.
Body Type Four: Yin deficiency
Thin, dry mouth & throat, heat sensation in the palms and soles, preference to cold drink, Impatience. Susceptible to insomnia, cough, fatigue.
We can think about Yin as an aspect of sacred feminine energy that plays an important role in the balancing act of the universe and every living thing. Yin is the energy of spaciousness, softness, patience, slowing down, restoration, and ease.
Yin characteristics: passive, negative, darkness, earth, north slope, cloudy, water, softness, female, moisture, night-time, downward seeking, slowness, consuming, cold, odd numbers, and docile aspects of things.
Yin: Yin is characterized as negative, passive, and feminine. It represents the energy of the Earth and moon. It is often described as receptive, dark, cool, soft, still, and contemplative.
Empty Heat
Yin deficiency often exists on its own (prior to deficient heat developing) and is characterised by symptoms such as a dryness e.g. throat, cough, mouth, tinnitus and a tongue with patches of no coating.