Yin and Yang

(from the book, Healing Ourselves: A Book to Serve As a Companion in Time of Illness and Health by Naboru Muramoto with Michel Abehsera)

THE YIN-YANG PRINCIPLE is simple. Fundamental to it is the assumption that the elements of nature are ephemeral and that, once aware of this, we must conduct our lives accordingly. These two forces are always opposite and antagonistic, and yet at the same time they are complementary, for they are forever combining and cooperating, both within the body and without. Thus the principle of Yin and Yang developed in the Orient is one of “dualistic monism.”

Yin

In the Far East, Yin is the name given to that force which produces expansion. Water, air, trees, flowers, etc. are all “expanding” elements in nature, since their essential tendency is to forever fill up the dimensions of space. Certain fruits grow quickly and yet are larger than others which take time to grow. The force within these fruits which makes them grow faster and larger than others, is Yin. Therefore, we consider as Yin anything that grows to a relatively great size in a relatively short time.

Something termed “Yin” is not labeled such solely because of its superior size. True, size is often the identifying attribute of Yin; however, this is only one of its qualities. Yin, as we have said, is that force which causes expansion. Drugs, for example, tend to make us expand in all ways, physiologically and mentally. Alcohol tends to produce the same effect. In other words, Yin dissipates. Elements which make us dizzy or “light-headed” when taken as food or medicine, are Yin.

It takes a great binding force (Yang) to balance the great expansion created by Yin (drugs, alcohol, sugar. etc.). It is due to this difficulty in maintaining equilibrium that all kinds of sicknesses arise.

In summary, the Yin force is the opposite of the binding force. Yin always tends to expand as contrasted with the Yang force, which tends to contract.

Yang

Now that we are somewhat acquainted with the idea of Yin, we can understand what Yang must be. Yang is that force which tends to make things contract, to be dense and heavy. It does not extend things spatially; on the contrary, its tendency is to cause elements to contract to the utmost of their potential. Any given element will continue to contract as long as the Yang force is still dominant. When that force is exhausted. the element then tends to expand, since there is no remaining force to keep it from expanding.

For example, salt is Yang. Pickling vegetables in salt is a Yang process which tends to shrink the vegetables. As long as there is salt around and inside the vegetables, they will continue to shrink. If too little salt is used with the vegetables, they will spoil and eventually rot. The Yang quality of the salt is what preserves them, and the longer they are pickled, the more Yang they will be. Time and salt, along with heat and pressure, are very strong Yang forces in nature.

Fruits generally are not dominated by the Yang force. Roots are mostly dominated by Yang. The famous ginseng, for example is an extremely Yang root.

Some roots are more Yang than others. Usually, the smaller the root, the more Yang it is. But that is not always the case. Some roots are large but, because they grow in a cold and mountainous region over a long period of time, they are still Yang does not does not cause dizziness as Yin does. Salt, soya sauce, ginseng. etc are rather effective in eliminating dizziness.

however, they should not be taken in taken in exaggerated amounts.Too much of anything will produce
its opposite.

You can now see the fundamental difference between Yin and Yang. Yin has the tendency to to expand. Yang to contract. We will see that an individual needs the contrasting effect of both to maintain balance.

Yin and Yang

We have already said that activity is Yang and passivity is Yin. This principle is well illustrated by the as opposed to the moon’s cold-ness and passivity. Thus the sun, daytime, heat, and summer are called  “Yang,” and the moon, nighttime and winter are called “Yin.” The activity of Yin and Yang can be demonstrated in thousands of ways. For example, there is more “visible” activity taking place in summer than in winter. This is not to say there is no activity at all. There is activity more subtle than the visible kind taking during the hot days. On a hot day the air is electrified , the fruits are blossoming, people fill the streets and beaches. When the cold days arrive, people enter the home and the country is silent.

Energy is Yang. Let us take the example of boiling water. Heat (Yang) creates a dynamic movement, a complete change in the structure of the molecules and elements found in water. Inertia, on the other hand, is Yin. There is no visible activity taking place.

Most of the fruits that grow in a warm climate are more or less Yin, whereas plants, especially roots which grow in a cold climate, are Yang. This reciprocal relationship between Yin and Yang can be illustrated by the following. A cactus tree thrives in a hot climate. It grows on dry land, yet has a great amount of liquid in it. One can see from this why a hot climate (Yang) pro- duces juicy fruits (Yin) such as oranges, papayas, avocados, etc. On the contrary, a colder climate produces smaller fruits or no fruit at all. That is why most plants die in the winter. Activity is seen again with the approach of warmer days; nature begins to murmur thecoming of new plants and fruits.

The activity of both Yin and Yang affects man in his innermost being. When it is cold, man builds a fire to warm himself. When it grows warm, he searches for water to refresh himself. This change from Yin to Yang can affect man adversely if he does not acclimatize himself to the ever new conditions. That is why man should be careful to change his diet whenever he moves from a cold place to a warm one, and vice versa.

Whatever man eats affects his condition to some degree. just as the weather from the outside affects him, so food, whether liquid, spicy or acid, is a “weather” inside him which can produce a sensation of cold or warmth.

Some food produces more thirst than other types.  Salt, which is Yang, certainly does so. That is why a good cook balances it with other ingredients, such as oil, in her cooking. The reverse is also true; a salad prepared with oil but without salt lacks taste as well as balance.

The good cook knows one simple secret, that Yin cannot be delicious without a bit of help from Yang.  Salt, when added in the correct measure, helps create the ideal taste. A potato without salt does not taste like a potato! One’s opposite is always needed to enhance one’s quality.

We have already seen that there is a mutual attraction between Yin and Yang. For example, we tend to drink a great amount of liquid to remedy the simple irritations or painful contractions brought about from the consumption of too much salty food. Conversely, the consumption of excess liquid causes salt to be removed from the body and results in a strong desire for more salt.

This attraction of Yin for Yang and vice versa can be controlled, depending on who is experiencing it. The wise and understanding man, aware of the natural attraction between Yin and Yang, is careful not to let his desires overshadow his wisdom. Only the fool is governed by the sudden attractions he brings upon
himself-when he is hungry, he eats until full; when thirsty, he drinks until he aches.
Thus we learn that a free man is one who accepts these two forces as an expression of natural law, yet is neither controlled nor overwhelmed by them.

The reader will frequently encounter the terms “Yin” and “Yang” throughout the text. He should not be alarmed. At first he will find it difficult to comprehend what they are there for. However, with time and experience he will begin to grow used to the way of thinking they demand.
We have tried to use these terms as little as possible, in order to make this book accessible to the Occidental reader. Nevertheless, it is very necessary that they beused to a certain extent, since they are so basic to the concepts and techniques of Oriental medicine. M.A.

Based on the Lectures and Teaching of Naboru Muramoto (Paperback)

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