Which Is More Important: Yin or Yang in Health Preservation?
An 83-year-old Japanese man summarized his fitness philosophy: human life is like a furnace. Blowing on a furnace in the wind extinguishes it quickly. But moving it indoors, shielding it, and letting it burn slowly prolongs its life.
This idea seems logical at first glance. But how to slow down the fire inside our body furnace? Not exercising? Eating less? Lowering metabolism? None of these make sense. Theory is easy, but practice is difficult.
Since the “furnace theory” is easy to understand but hard to implement, is there another theory that’s both easy to grasp and apply for seniors?
Let’s try TCM’s theory of Yin and Yang!
Famous TCM expert Zhu Danxi said: “In the human body, yang is often excessive, while yin is often deficient.”
Many seniors find Yin and Yang confusing, but it’s actually simple: Yin corresponds to water and stillness; Yang corresponds to fire and movement. Visible vitality and activity belong to Yang. Yet the true foundation supporting life force lies in Yin. Specifically, each organ has Yin and Yang attributes. We’ve all heard: “Yin deficiency leads to Yang excess,” “Water deficiency causes fire excess”—this illustrates the relationship between Yin and Yang.
In TCM, Yang usually refers to what is visible. Of course, it relates closely to longevity and health. Visible aspects are important, but they are sustained by invisible ones. The invisible is more critical than the visible.
Long-lived elders are typically serene and calm; sick elders are restless and exhausted. You see surface emotions, but what truly governs them? That remains unseen. TCM teaches: harmony among the five organs brings peace of mind! Organs are invisible. If Yang is excessive, the elder burns fiercely; if Yin and Yang are balanced, the elder enjoys robust health.
Indeed, with age, the body’s “Yin” component diminishes faster than “Yang.” Thus, preserving Yin is the key to longevity for seniors!