What Is Yin?
The concept of Yin and Yang is the most fundamentally important lesson to learn in the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine — and in life. The harmonious balance, the push pull between the two, the complementary energy… it affects every aspect of how we practice medicine, and beyond. We’ve laid out some of the history and the differences between the two (read about the Yin-Yang theory for beginners here!), but now we’ll dive into the first half in depth: Yin.
What Is Yin?
Within the Yin-Yang philosophy, Yin is the ‘soft’ to the sharpness and power that is Yang. This is introspective, introverted, vulnerable energy, often associated with ‘female’ to Yin’s ‘male’ energy. Think: down-and-in, contracting and absorbing, cool and moist, dark. You may have heard of (or taken!) a Yin yoga class… This is a passive, gentle practice; restorative and slow, often at night, in a darker setting. If you understand the concept of Yin, this makes so much sense!
Too much Yin can also be associated with stagnation, lethargy,introverted personality types and being overweight to name a few qualities, within Traditional Chinese Medicine. Yin is also associated (in both astrology and Chinese Medicine!) with the Earth and Water elements (which we’ll explain more in a bit). The Moon, Saturn and Mercury are considered Yin planets.
Yin Fast Facts
Time of Day: 6pm to 6am (Nighttime)
Luminary: Moon
Season: Autumn and Winter
Body: Lower half and front part of the body
Face: Lower half, plus eyes and ears
Acupuncture Yin Points: Navel Gate CV-8, Bubbling Spring KD-1, and Yin Tang (also known as the Hall of Illumination).
Yin Energy Characteristics and Personality Traits
Passive
Feminine
Dark
Cold
Earth
Soft
Introspective
Quiet
Slow
Night time
Resilient
Substantial
Tenacious
Deep
Moist
Body and Blood
Chronic Conditions
Mysterious
Secretive
Mystifying sex appeal
Contraction
What Is Yin Energy?
What does Yin energy feel like? Yin energy is considered liquid, heavy, and grounding. There’s a deeper sense of energy reserves, as if you could tap into a ‘well’ to be nourished, hydrated, and supported. It can feel heavy, thick, solid, drowning, magnetic, sticky, rich, dark, cold, mysterious, seductive, and restorative.
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).
Read on for Yin acupuncture and acupressure points, below.
Yin Symptoms: Excess and Deficiency
Symptoms of too much Yin energy (or not enough!) would be categorized as ‘excess Yin,’ whereas too little of this energy is categorized as ‘Yin deficiency.’
Do you have too much Yin?
Markers of Excess Yin
Depression, sadness, lethargy, poor circulation, cold hands and feet, death (!!), phlegm and damp conditions in digestion and lungs, overweight, heavy periods, menstrual clots.
Do you not have enough Yin?
Markers of Yin Deficiency
Night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, adrenaline junkies, over indulgent sex drive- called heart (fire) and kidneys(water) not communicating- the heart and water elements are not in balance creating yin deficiency. Rosacea, urinary tract irritations, hot and sweaty feet and hands. Menopause, feeling wired but not rested, dry skin conditions. More wrinkles. Health symptoms showing up in the night. Menstrual irregularities. Vagal tone imbalances. Scattered and confused mind.
Are You a Yin Type?
What does it mean if you are more predominantly Yin?
You may receive a diagnosis from a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine or licensed acupuncturist (often on ein the same) that describes you as “predominantly Yin.” But what does it mean if you ‘are’ Yin? What is a Yin person like?
Yin personality types tend to have a demeanor that is generally more quiet, introspective, and slower in nature. Empaths and introverts tend to have more Yin qualities — so if you’ve strongly identified with either of those labels in the past, chances are, you’re a Yin individual!
Yin types also tend to prefer the nights and evenings; they sleep deeper, and even have deeper conversations. They typically prefer more leisurely activities, such as meditation, slow yoga, moderate hiking, walks in nature, slow dancing, even gentle Pilates.
And when it comes to the bedroom, Yin sex is slow and sensual. These types prefer more meaningful connections, and slower and deeper forms of sensuality and relationships. They can be more cautious and slow to act. This leads to fewer hookups and one-night stands!
Predominant Energies: Groundedness, courageous vulnerability, introspection, patience, presence, deeper understanding of life lessons, slow to act, destiny and strong will
Is Yin ‘good,’ or is Yang?
You may be asking, which one is ‘the good one,’ but in truth, neither are good or bad. Yin and Yang complement one another and are simply qualities of energy to keep in balance. If we were to discuss if either were good or bad, it is only in reference to when they are out of balance. Too much Yang can burn the Yin, whereas too much Yin can drown the Yang. We would never call it ‘bad,’ rather we use the terms excess or deficiency of Yin or Yang.
Yin in the Mind and Spirit
What does Yin mean spiritually?
Yin is considered the deep, mysterious waters of the psyche, the celestial bodies and our ancestors. This is shadow work.
Yin is the introspective act for spirituality… To look within and connect to our deeper selves. It’s an aspect of the earth, water and jing essences. Jing is our ‘bank account’ of blood, Yin, and ancestral destiny.
Within the context of TCM, this Yin-Jing essence is considered the spiritual axis that is aligned with the celestial heavens, astronomy, and astrology.
Yin in the Face
Do You Have a Yin Face? The Yin's face shows up in the bone structure, length of face, the eyes, ears and hairline.
Chin: A strong chin is considered a Yin characteristic due to its ability to be the foundation of the house in the face. It represents a strong will, and if the chin is turned up, this strong will can show up as a person being stubborn.
Proportions: The lower half of your face is called “the Sea of Yin.” If this portion of your face is larger, you will have more energy in the later years of your life. It also indicates strong reserves.
Eyes: In our practice, the eyes are considered our emotions. Deeper-set and larger eyes can indicate more Yin qualities in a person. Think: deep mysterious eyes.
Ears: The ear size and height shows up as how much extra Yin one has in the body, mind, and spirit. Bigger ears are considered more Yin.
Skin and Hairline: Yin skin shows up as more hydrated and oily skin with fewer wrinkles. A widow’s peak in the hairline, and/or thicker hair is Yin.
Too much Yin energy in the face and skin indicates imbalance in the body, which TCM can help remedy.
Conditions (how those energies present)
Puffy and saggy skin, eye bags, oily skin, acne, droopy eyelids, droopy jowls, puffy cheeks, loose lips, pale complexion and pasty skin.
Nourish Your Yin: Mind, Body, and Spirit
Here are ways to incorporate more Yin into your spiritual hygiene, self-care, and physical health.
Yin Essential Oils
Use Yin type essential oils in a diffuser, or apply to the body by rubbing the oils on your feet or specific acupuncture points. Alternatively, you can use them in a warm bath.
Yin nourishing essential oils are calming and centering, can clear heat, regulate hormones, help with grounding, and provide a euphoric effect.
Clary Sage
Palmarosa
Geranium
Rose
Vetiver
Ylang Ylang
Important reminder: ALWAYS use a carrier oil when applying essential oil directly onto skin! Yin carrier oils for essential oil application (or body oils for extra nourishment of skin!) include:
Almond
Avocado
Borage
Castor
Sea Buckthorn
Coconut
Yin Foods
Eat more Yin foods! They maintain and improve our deepest reserves of subtle nourishment and sooth our body.
Black Sesame Seeds
Apple
Asparagus
Clam
Crab
Duck
Egg
Honey
Tofu
Tomato
Watermelon
Yam
Seaweed
Pineapple
Kidney Bean
Black Bean
Lemon
Malt
Milk
Cheese
Pork
Oyster
Peas
Pears
Spelt
String Bean
Pomegranate
Rabbit
Millet
Barley
Wheat Germ
Rice
Quinoa
Amaranth
Micro-Algae
Beets
Persimmon
Grapes
Blackberry
Raspberry
Mulberry
Banana
Yin Herbology
Herbology is a highly sophisticated practice for specific health conditions Please consult an herbalist or physician if considering taking herbs for health conditions. The herbs and teas listed here are safe for the long term and used as tonics.
Yin Herbs and Teas
Choose a Yin tea to incorporate this energy into your routine — and body.
Green Tea. When it comes to morning caffeine, green tea is considered the go-to Yin stimulant. It has a high polyphenol, antioxidant, and phytochemical content, and can decrease our stress hormone cortisol. It is known to break down fats, help regulate cholesterol and blood sugar, and may even reduce blood clotting. Green tea is also considered a more focused and steady type of energy to keep you centered throughout the day, versus coffee which may make you jittery and lead to a caffeine crash. If you want to enjoy some Yin-supportive green tea, drink it with meals to help digest foods and prevent tooth decay. A cup of this stuff is lower in caffeine than a cup of coffee (which typically contains 80-100 mg of caffeine, while an 8 ounce cup of green tea has approximately 30-50 mg).
Matcha is a type of green tea; the tea leaves are ground into a fine powder. Because of this preparation, it is more concentrated and therefore is higher in caffeine than steeped green tea. A half to full teaspoon of powder can have caffeine content of 38 to 176 mg — so check your labels and serving sizes if you’re caffeine sensitive. However, matcha is high in L-theanine, the amino acid known to promote relaxation, as well as chlorophyll. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine can give you sustained energy throughout the day without a caffeine crash.
Mint Tea. Mint is a cooling herb that clears the head and eyes, helps with rashes, and moves liver qi in the digestive process. This herb can actually bring your body temperature down by as much as one degree. During hot and dry months, it is a great way to cool yourself down and feel less hot. So, let's talk about heat and stagnation! When energy is not moving in the body, this stagnation can create irritation, aggravation, irritability, and skin eruptions. This heat can be balanced out by ingesting more cooling teas and foods… like mint tea! Mint is a safe way to get centered and cool down thanks to its circulation-promoting energy.
Heads up: Mint has an idiosyncratic effect on the esophageal sphincter by making it spasm. So if you suffer from GERD, acid regurgitation, or heartburn, you’ll want to avoid mint. Mint tea — or any mint flavorings, even in toothpaste! — is contraindicated.
Goji Lycium Berry. This is a delicious little sweet-and-tart red fruit that can be added to cereals and smoothies, eaten as a snack on its own, or combined with your trail mix. Goji berries are considered medicinal, like an ‘herb’ within TCM herbology and treatment. Any food that is considered an herb is always better assimilated in the body for the best absorption and assimilation of the healing properties of that herb. Goji berries fall in the ‘Tonify Blood’ category in TCM herbology, but have a direct effect on tonifying and supplementing Yin as well. This berry’s claim to fame is its abilities to brighten the eyes, moisten the lungs, and nourish the blood and Yin of the liver and kidneys. You can find goji berries covered in chocolate — yum! — which makes a nice heart/blood Yin ‘tonic.’ This fruit is also available in a concentrate tincture or capsules.
Gojis are in the nightshade category, so if you have sensitivities to nightshades, limit consumption to 1 tablespoon a day maximum. Otherwise, this cute little fruit can be eaten daily!
Yin in Acupuncture
This ‘Yin 101’ wouldn’t be complete without a section on Yin points in acupuncture, now would it? To support Yin balance, utilize acupuncture points with stimulation; with this awareness and practice, it can help you connect more deeply with the self to feel more grounded and stable.
Apply acupressure or essential oils (or both!), or simply visualize the breath moving into the points. You can do this during yoga practice, meditation, while sitting, or walking. Take five deep breaths ‘into’ the area of acupoint.
Yin Acupuncture Points
Navel Gate Mind Palace — Conception Vessel 8
Located at the belly button, center of the umbilicus — MAJOR CENTERING POINT
To bring us back to wholeness, use this acupoint located directly in the center of our body; it is considered the mother, our earth.
What it is: Navel Gate Mind Palace helps you feel more centered as you connect to the deeper aspects of yourself. This is the connection of your birth chord; the symbolism represents the connection to one's ancestors and is the center point that aligns us with the earth… The connection to our primal parental spirit.
The association of earth (the element) comes from the connection to the mother's cord and alignment in the center of the body. This point can be considered to be your parent point, and provides the ability to nourish and protect oneself by becoming more centered. It is the point to meditate on and focus our breathing on. It is considered and located on the solar plexus chakra, Manipura: the chakra of courage and self control.
What it does: Activating this point can treat abdominal pain, move gastrointestinal qi, and restore consciousness. Its actions are quite Yang in nature, but the point and its location are a representation of Yin.
How to activate: This point is not needled in TCM, but rather moxibustion on a slice of ginger is used instead to stimulate the point.
You can also add ginger essential oil with a carrier oil, and breathe into this point to feel a deeper state of connection to oneself and the earth… To invoke and remember who we were before all the cultural and societal conditioning we have experienced throughout our life that created a disconnection of the original self.
“When you move from your center, you will always be prepared to move in any direction” — Alan Watts
Earth Thoroughfare — Kidney 1
Located on the sole of foot, approximately in the center of foot, under the metatarsal bone ridge — MAJOR GROUNDING POINT
This is considered the most Yin point on the body because it connects us to the earth and is located on the bottom of our feet.
What it is: The first point on our kidney channel, within the water element, the ultimate Yin is Kidney 1. Another popular translation of this point is called “bubbling spring,” utilized in many Qi Gong practices and exercises. But, my favorite translation is called “Heart Stumbling.”
How would one's heart stumble? To walk this earth from our feet and our head with the disconnection from our hearts.
When we are not feeling heart-centered, this can create confusion and lack of awareness. To not truly be walking on our life's path for our highest self, highest good, or for our soul’s journey work leads us to feel lost — we do not know what direction to take. We can feel like ‘the walking dead’ because we are so disconnected from our own heart's true desires… disconnected on this earth because we are not fully rooted in our center. Unconscious. A cosmic orphan.
A remedy may be found through the activation of Earth Thoroughfare.
What it does: To feel more grounded and centered, this point brings energy down and provides reserves for the support we need to cultivate the Yin qualities. Physiologically, this point is great for headache, dizziness, sore throat, loss of voice, loss of consciousness and can clear heat.
How to activate: Stimulate this point by bringing awareness to the bottom of your feet whenever you remember… Even when driving! Take a breath from your chest and breathe into your feet. This can realign the connection of the heart to the feet. This exercise can clear your mind, because in TCM the heart and mind are considered the same thing.
Take a walk in the ocean, lake, or river to really get grounded, bring awareness to this point, and feel the energy of the Yin, with its truest nature being the water.