WHAT ARE YIN AND YANG?

Do you know how to read this diagram?  We often hear people talk about #YinAndYang.  So what are they?  This Tai Chi diagram called "#TaiJiTu" 太極圖 (or #TaiChi Tu which is more commonly known in Western countries) summarizes the meaning of Yin and Yang (陰陽學說).  "Tu" in Chinese means diagram or picture.  "Tai Chi" is not limited to the martial arts that you see people do in competitions or parks.  In Chinese, Tai Chi means the ultimate absolute and potentiality which is Yin and Yang, the two extreme opposites.  In the diagram, the white part on the left side of the circle denotes the Yang part, and the darker side denotes the Yin part.  It's like a compass.  At the south (6 o'clock) position, it's when the Sun starts to rise and we start to see some sunlight.  That's also when the white or Yang part on the left side starts to increase its amount.  Once it reaches its north (noon) position, it's noon time when the Sun is at its highest position in the sky and we get the most sunlight.  Not only does it mean the white or Yang part is at its maximum amount, but it also means the evening time starts, and therefore the Yin part (the darker side) starts to increase its amount.  The same philosophy continues to apply in a cycle when the evening time reaches its maximum at the south position (6 o'clock), and that's when the dawn starts again.  This is just one phenomenon using the time clock to explain Yin and Yang.

According to the theory of Yin and Yang, everything in this universe and all of the changes that take place in this world are categorized into Yin and Yang.  Yin and Yang are two opposites but they are not separated.  They contain each other (like the diagram showing the black dot in the white part, and the white dot in the black part of the diagram).  They are interdependent, complimentary, and interacting with each other.  They cannot exist without the other.  They also transform into each other when reaching their maximum limit.  

Our ancient Chinese ancestors formulated this philosophical theory of Yin-Yang through long-term experience and observations and put together this backbone for the foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) when treating people's illnesses.  In TCM, the balance of Yin and Yang is the key to treating illnesses and ailments.  Illnesses and diseases arise when there is an imbalance between Yin and Yang.  There could be, for example, an excess in Yang relative to Yin, or a deficiency in Yin relative to Yang causing certain health problems in the body.  How can acupuncture treatment help in the imbalance of Yin and Yang?  TCM practitioners insert acupuncture needles at certain body sites to regulate the energy flow (called Qi) through the meridians that exist in the body...like opening and closing a valve and redirecting the flow of water to regulate the pressure in a hydraulic system.  Through the insertion and regulation of the acupuncture needles, the balance of Yin and Yang can be restored.  

Contact our clinic today to learn how acupuncture treatment could help bring the balance of Yin and Yang to your health conditions and how we could work towards improving your life quality!

#TaiChi, #YinAndYang, #acupuncture, #TCM

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