Yin Deficiency
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of Yin The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 阴虚 Pinyin name: Yīn Xū
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: General pattern with specific forms like Kidney Yin Deficiency or Liver Yin Deficiency
Common combinations: Wind-Cold invading with Blood and Yin Deficiency Liver Yang Rising with Blood and Yin Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Body Fluids Deficiency Yang Excess or Full Yang Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart and two other possible precursors
Common causes: 1. Overwork, 2. Lack of sleep, 3. Excessive sexual activity, 4. Chronic diseases, 5. Diet, 6. Over-exercising, 7. Emotional stress
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Jumpy Thirst Anxiety Thin body Dry stools and seven other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu)
Tongue description: Red or normal color without coating or with a thin shiny tongue body
Treatment
Treatment principle: Nourish Yin
Common formulas: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan Zuo Gui Wan Mu Li San
Pathology
In the case of Yin Deficiency, the body is lacking in its cooling, moistening and nurturing aspects. This leads to Heat and Dryness accompanied by weakness and lack of strength and resistance. The Heat of the Yang gets more obvious because Yin is lacking and it cannot control Yang. Fire gets out of hand because water cannot control it.
Empty-Heat, or "false Heat" are the name for these Heat symptoms, because they are not a true Yang Excess conditions. The result is signs of Heat, but without the Yang strength. For example, fever might appear, but it only happens in the afternoon. The feeling of Heat only occurs in the palms, soles and chest region. The patients may talk fast, but cannot maintain it. The Heat waves come and go, with an obvious underlying weakness and Deficiency. Signs of Yin Deficiency, such as night sweats, dry throat and mouth as well as insomnia, become more obvious during night because the Yin is the most active at the time.
Yin Deficiency has some general symptoms, but the symptoms varies based on the Organs involved, such as the Kidneys, Heart, Liver and Lungs. Since the Kidneys are the root of Yin and Yang in the body, anything that impairs the Kidneys can consume their Yin, leading the rest of body Yin to become Deficient as well. When Kidney Yin Deficiency happens, low grade sore throats, dizziness, night sweating or poor memory might occur.
When the Heart Yin is Deficient, insomnia and mental agitation or restlessness can appear. Liver Yin Deficiency causes irritability and headaches. Lung Yin Deficiency leads to dry cough and malar flush.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Yin Deficiency can derive from Body Fluids Deficiency Yang Excess or Full Yang Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium Liver Fire insulting the Lungs
Overwork: Long term overworking depletes Yin.
Lack of sleep: Lack of sleep or sleep late over a long period of time consumes general Yin.
Excessive sexual activity: Excessive sexual activity consumes Yin, especially the Kidney Yin.
Chronic diseases : Chronic diseases consumes Yin.
Diet: Over-eating of dry and hot-natured foods deplete Yin.
Over-exercising: Over-exercising consumes Yin.
Emotional stress : Emotional stresses consumes general Yin.
Diagnosing Yin Deficiency
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu) or empty (Xu)
Tongue description: Red or normal color without coating or with a thin shiny tongue body
Main symptoms: Jumpy Thirst Anxiety Thin body Dry stools Five palm heat Nocturnal emissions Sore throat at night Scanty dark urination Dry mouth and throat at night Desire to drink in small sips Pain relieved by pressure and cold
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the general Dryness including dry mouth, throat, tongue, cough and stools, tongue without coating as well as thirst with desire to drink in small sips. Yin Deficiency can cause Empty-Heat, thus the above Dryness related features often happen in the afternoon or at night.
Treating Yin Deficiency
Treatment principle
Nourish Yin
Herbal formulas used to treat Yin Deficiency
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys.
Formula summary
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1119 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Yin Deficiency, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is also used to treat Blood Deficiency or Liver Yang Rising.
Zuo Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys. Fills the Essence. Augments the marrow.
Formula summary
Zuo Gui Wan is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1624 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Yin Deficiency, Zuo Gui Wan is also used to treat Kidney Essence Deficiency or Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Mu Li San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Inhibits sweating . Stabilizes the exterior.
Formula summary
Mu Li San is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that stabilize Exterior and stop sweating.
Consequence patterns
If the Yin energy is Deficient for a long period of time (like several years), the Yin is consumed and the Yang is relatively in Excess. It gives rise to Empty-Heat.
Please be aware that prolonged Yin Deficiency may not necessary always cause Empty-Heat.
Yin Deficiency can cause Empty-Heat in the Blood. In this case, the bleeding produce scanty but bright red Blood instead of profuse and dark color Blood in Excess Heat case.
Yin Deficiency causes Empty-Heat in the Blood which then push Blood out of the vessels. In this case, the bleeding produce scanty but bright red Blood instead of profuse and dark color Blood in Excess Heat case.
Body Fluids is part of Yin elements. It can also become Deficient due to Yin Deficiency. It causes general Dryness of the body.