The Basics of Constitution in Chinese Medicine
A Primer on Blood, Yin, and Yang
The expansive theoretical basis of Chinese Medicine varies drastically from the understanding and terminology used in Western Medicine, which makes it challenging for the average person to understand what their acupuncturist is doing, much less what they are talking about. I have made it my personal mission in my career to ATTEMPT to explain what it is I am treating as a means to develop greater understanding of our medicine as well as provide empowerment for patients to make lifestyle choices to benefit their constitution. After all, that is what drew me to the medicine in the first place: the descriptions of the balance between light and dark, the impact of the natural elements on our body, and the need for seasonal awareness and attunement all resonated deeply with me from the very beginning of my Eastern philosophy studies (which began my sophomore year of undergrad).
In our preliminary sessions at Common Ground Wellness, we create custom tailored treatment plans for each patient, that cover not only diet and supplement recommendations, lifestyle modifications, self care techniques, and referrals within the community, but also our Chinese Medicine diagnoses and possible Western and Functional Medicine diagnoses to be ruled out with additional testing. As the latter is more the realm of practitioners with different qualifications, although most of us at the clinic have decent training in them, we focus on our Chinese Medicine diagnoses especially as it relates to our dietary and herbal recommendations. I always say that acupuncture excels at moving things, but nourishing blood or yin or yang (explained more below) is the realm of internal medicine and thus requires more than just pins and needles to augment.
We are going to discuss three basic substances we nourish in Chinese Medicine dietary and herbal therapy, so that you may gain a better understanding of why your acupuncturist may advise to avoid spicy foods, eat more red meat, or skip the ice in your water as methods to nourish your constitution. These substances are Blood, Yin, and Yang. There are two additional substances I want to mention briefly but I am not going to delve into detail on them here as they are more nuanced than the aforementioned. They are Qi and Jing. Qi is energy and like I said before acupuncture primarily works on the Qi of the body. Lifestyle is one the most potent ways to supplement or drain your Qi and it is an important part of digestion. Jing is basically your DNA or the constitutional aspects we inherit from our parents. Low levels of Jing lead to hereditary issues you are born with, such as Type 1 Diabetes or genetic heart defects. Once your Jing is gone, you cannot get it back, so it must be guarded with lifestyle habits, especially by avoiding ‘sex, drugs, and rock and roll’. There are food (such as organ meats) and lifestyle practices (such as Qi Gong) that can mildly nourish your Jing reserves though.
Blood
The concept of blood in traditional Chinese medicine shares a close relationship with the Western concept in that it has both a nourishing and moistening function. Foods to nourish blood are prescribed when your acupuncturist suspects a Blood Deficiency. In addition, improving digestion is essential for improving nutrient absorption which in turn provides the building blocks for good blood. Blood Deficiency is essentially subclinical anemia and presents with any number of the following symptoms: light or no periods, thin period blood, pale complexion, dizziness, trouble concentrating, dry or itchy skin, floaters or spots in your vision, numbness or tingling in your extremities, cold hands, and feet, low energy, nails that break easily or have ridges or a history of anemia.
Blood deficiency can be addressed through the diet in multiple ways. First, you can increase foods that are rich in iron, folic acid, and B12. To absorb iron, adequate copper, Vitamin C, and B Vitamins are necessary, so just taking an iron chelate supplement may not be the answer unless it is combined with these other nutrients.
Foods rich in Iron: leafy green vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, seaweeds, spirulina, and chlorella. Seaweeds and microalgae are some of the richest sources of iron and folic acid.
Foods rich in Folic Acid: Sprouts, Leafy greens, Chlorophyll rich foods. Folic acid is lost in prolonged cooking.
Foods rich in Vitamin B12: Nutritional yeast, oysters, clams, mackerel, sardines, herring, anchovies, beef, beef heart, beef kidney, beef liver, chicken liver, and bacteria-derived Vitamin B12 tablets. Eggs and dairy have small amounts of B12.
Other ways to nourish the blood are:
Using digestive enzymes can help strengthen digestion
Avoid overeating or eating too many heavy and congesting foods
Eat a warming, simple, easy-to-digest diet. Large amounts of cooling foods can weaken digestion
Simple food combining can aid in proper digestion and building Blood.
Keep sugar and fruit separate from meals that emphasize starch.
Avoid combining dairy products with meat.
Avoid combining too many protein-rich foods into one meal. Instead combine rich foods (like meat) with lighter, easier-to-digest foods (like greens and low-starch vegetables).
Toxins can damage the Blood. Detoxifying heavy metals and other toxins may be important.
Excessive amounts of exercise can interfere with building Blood, but adequate exercise is essential to ensure good digestion.
Physical contact and good-quality touch are important.
Warming foods with sweet, salty, and sour flavors nourish the Blood.
Foods that are high in essential fatty acids nourish the Blood and Yin. Consider flaxseed oil, hemp seed oil, liver, animal organs, and microalgae. Whole grains, legumes, dark leafy green vegetables, and fresh nuts and seeds are good sources of EFA’s.
Small quantities of meat nourish the blood.
Meat use guidelines: Use small amounts of meat (2-4 ounces 3-4 times per week). Acid marinades improve the digestibility of meats.
Yin
The concept of Yin in Chinese Medicine relates mostly to what we understand in the West as body fluids. Sweat, tears, mucous, oil, digestive secretions, joint lubrication, lymph fluid, basically anything that is fluid is yin. People that are Yin Deficient tend to have varying degrees of dryness, which can include: thirst, dry skin, vaginal dryness, dry eyes or hair, muscle aches or tendonitis, joint pain or stiffness, thin body type, etc. Just as prolonged droughts can cause forest fires, people who are Yin Deficient can have heat symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, quick temper, headaches, hot body temperatures, heartburn or acid stomach, or elevated basal body temperature, especially in the follicular phase. Often these heat symptoms can cause early ovulation and shorter cycles overall (like 24-26 days instead of 28).
Yin Deficiency can be addressed through the diet in numerous ways. Foods that tend to have a higher water content are good for the Yin: zucchini, pears, celery, water chestnuts, and watermelon to name a few. Foods that are cooling in nature help clear heat which is not only generated from lack of yin but is also damaging to the yin (think heat being applied to a pot of water. Eventually it will all boil off). Cooling foods include asparagus, bean sprouts, grapes, pineapples, string beans, and tomatoes. Anything from the water will nourish yin, including fish and seaweeds. And again, foods high in EFAs, which are derived from oils, are moistening and nourishing for yin.
Other important considerations for clearing heat and nourishing the yin are:
Get enough good quality rest. Eight hours of sleep per night is usually adequate.
Good quality relaxation throughout the day is important. 20 minutes of deep relaxation practiced 1-2 times per day is very helpful. Meditation, biofeedback, guided meditation, and relaxation tapes work well. Meditation is one of the best sources of Yin nourishment.
Geranium and rose make good aromatherapy oils for baths or massages.
Avoid overstimulation. Find activities to do that do not engage the thinking mind. Screens including your phone, computer, and TV should be minimized.
Street and pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, radiation, and industrial or agricultural chemicals can deplete Yin.
Vitamin-rich foods and seaproducts are potent sources of Yin nourishment.
Seaweeds, fish, seeds, and beans, small amounts of high-quality dairy and meat.
Organic foods often have more minerals and vitamins.
Dark-colored foods like black beans, microalgae, and seaweed.
Nutritious grains like oats, quinoa, and amaranth.
It is important to eat a wide range of vegetables and fruit.
Cooling foods with sweet, salty, and sour flavors nourish the Yin.
Yang
The concept of Yang in Chinese medicine is best understood as heat: it is the warming function in the body. I often think of it as the sum of all our metabolic processes, including digestion, cellular function, and growth and regeneration. It gives us energy and clear thinking, motivation, and drive, and keeps our digestion and elimination running smoothly. People who are Yang deficient tend to feel heavy and lethargic, have difficulty losing weight, have cystic ovaries, copious vaginal discharge, bloating, loose stools, feel cold all the time, and have foggy thinking. Foods that are warming in nature help boost the yang. Also, doing your best to keep warm by not eating cold food and drink, as well as keeping the middle of the body covered (no midriff tops!) can help prevent additional loss of your warm energy.
Other ways to nourish Yang include:
Adequate aerobic exercise is essential for good digestion and strengthening Yang.
Use warming cooking methods like baking and roasting. Avoid raw foods.
Eat easy-to-digest, simple meals. Soups and stews are the easiest-to-digest foods. When Yang is deficient, digestion is weak.
Use enzymes to improve digestion. Papaya enzymes are useful for digesting meat.
Aromatic herbs and spices warm Yang and help digestion. Dried ginger is beneficial.
Clearing up old fears and engaging in inspirational activities will nourish the Yang.
Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and clove are excellent Yang tonic spices.
Essential oils: cardamom, fennel, thyme, caraway, juniper, ginger, and cypress
This blog piece is just a small excerpt from my Wild Rose Woman holistic fertility course. If it has piqued your interest, you can get more of the good stuff by purchasing the course bundle Nourish the Fertile Soul or the entire course for the ultimate guide to all things natural fertility.
Want to learn more about your Chinese Medicine diagnosis and ways you can improve your health with diet and lifestyle? Our acupuncturists would love to share their abundant knowledge with you, so consider scheduling your Initial Visit at Common Ground Wellness and take back your health!