Last week, a patient offered to bring me my favorite lunch (coffee and a cookie) in exchange for a brief explanation of Yin and Yang. We spent a part of the afternoon discussing and exploring the theory behind the commonly seen image. After we were done, I thought others might be interested in this lesson. So, I have reproduced some of it here.
The yin yang image begins with a circle. This circle is reminiscent to the Zen Enso circle. It represents a simultaneous everything and nothingness. It is often used to represent enlightenment or nirvana. For the sake of interpreting it in relation to yin and yang, this image of a complete circle can represent 1 (everything) and 0 (nothing) simultaneously.
Next the yin yang image is divided into two. The dark side is yin, and the light side is yang. Many things within life can be classified as either yin or yang. Examples of yin can be nighttime, feminine, resting, and cold. While examples of yang can be daytime, masculine, active, and hot. These definitions are also relative to the object in question. If there are a man and a woman sitting at a desk, the man is more yang and the woman is more yin. However when compared to the desk, the woman is more yang and the desk is more yin. In this image of yin and yang, we have 2 pieces).
Viewing yin and yang as absolutes is an example of duality. The viewpoint of things being black and white or good and bad. However, we know that we live in a non-dualistic reality. Life exists in the grey area. It is for this reason that the line that connects the yin side to the yang side in the image of Yin and Yang is considered to be where life exists. To represent the non-duality of our world, two dots are placed within each side of the symbol. A yin dot is placed within yang and a yang dot is placed within yin. These show that nothing is truly all yang or all yin. We have now arrived at 4 pieces to the image.
In Traditional East Asian medicine, we further divide these pieces into sections of the six stages (greater yang, bright yang, lesser yang, greater yin, lesser yin, and terminal yin). These six stages can be broken down further into their respective yin and yang parts (12). From there the acupuncture meridians arise and points are created on those channels. In total, there are approximately 360 acupuncture points.
Using these points, we strive to achieve balance of yin and yang. The closer a patient is to this balance, the more capable they are of healing themselves and also preventing future illness/ailments. Unfortunately, the external and internal processes of our body and the world around us are ever changing and thus yin and yang are constantly in flux. Yin and Yang can never be truly balanced.
For the acupuncture treatments that I give to patients at Modern Roots Acupuncture, I also divide them into yin and yang. My yang treatment is mostly done on the yang side of the body (back) and uses a more aggressive and stimulating style. These are a western style and treat physical orthopedic/pain conditions. Yet my yin treatments are mostly the opposite. I treat the yin side of the body (front) and uses a more meditative and calming style. This is a traditional eastern style that treats more spiritual and emotional conditions.
The goal is always to bring those divisions back to a balanced yin yang.