Tendency towards Yin Deficiency Constitution

Manifestation Characteristics

• Physical Signs: The main characteristic is a deficiency of Yin fluid, leading to signs of “deficiency heat” such as a dry mouth and throat, and a sensation of heat in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

• Body Shape: The body shape can be normal or slightly thin.

• Common Manifestations: A sensation of heat in the palms and soles, a dry mouth and throat, a slightly dry nose, a preference for cold drinks, dry stools, and a red tongue with little moisture.

• Psychological Characteristics: An impatient temperament; often extroverted, active, and lively.

• Disease Tendencies: Susceptible to “consumptive disease” (a general term for chronic deficiency conditions), seminal emission, and insomnia. When affected by external pathogenic factors, the condition tends to transform into a heat pattern.

• Adaptability: Tolerates winter but not summer; intolerant of pathogenic summer-heat, heat, and dryness.

Conditioning Methods

• Environmental and Lifestyle Adjustments: It is important to avoid the heat in summer and to nourish Yin during autumn and winter. The living environment should be quiet. One should not stay up late, engage in strenuous exercise, or work in high-temperature environments.

• Physical Exercise: It is advisable to choose activities that combine movement and stillness, such as Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin. It is important to control the amount of sweating and to rehydrate in a timely manner.

• Mental Adjustment: Follow the principles from the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) of “tranquility and emptiness” and “guarding the spirit within” to cultivate a calm and composed disposition.

• Dietary Conditioning: Consume more foods that are sweet, cool, and moisturizing, such as pear, lily bulb, white wood ear (tremella), spinach, fig, rock sugar, and crown daisy chrysanthemum. Eat fewer pungent, spicy, and drying foods like onions, ginger, garlic, and peppers.

• Medicinal Conditioning: Herbs that nourish Yin, clear heat, and nourish the liver and kidneys can be used. Examples include Nu Zhen Zi (Glossy Privet Fruit), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus Fruit), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Root), Sha Shen (Glehnia Root), and Yu Zhu (Solomon’s Seal Rhizome). A commonly used formula is Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia).