Yin
& Yang in Chinese Medicine
In Chinese medicine,
health is represented as a balance of yin and yang. These two forces
represent the bipolar manifestation of all things in nature, and because
of this, one must be present to allow the other to exist. Hence, where
there is above there is below, whatever has a front also has a back,
night is followed by day, etc.. On an emotional level, one would not
know joy had they never experienced pain.
It is important
to note that the balance of yin and yang is not always exact, even
when the body is healthy. Under normal circumstances the balance is
in a state of constant change, based on both the external and internal
environment.
For example, during
times of anger, a person's mood is more fiery, or yang, and yet once
the anger has subsided, and a quiet peaceful state is achieved, yin
may dominate.
This shift in
the balance of yin and yang is very natural. It is when the balance
is consistently altered, and one (be it yin or yang) regularly dominates
the other, that health is compromised, resulting in illness and disease.
Traditional Chinese
medicine practitioners attempt to determine the exact nature of the
imbalance, and then correct it through the use of acupuncture, herbal
remedies, exercise, diet and lifestyle. As balance is restored in the
body, so is health.
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