Description of the pattern

Yin is the opposite of Yang. It is our nourishment, our material foundation. Blood and other fluids are part of Yin.

Symptoms of the pattern

Feelings of dryness in the mouth, feelings of thirst (especially in the evening), heat in the soles of the feet (mainly at night), night sweats, restlessness, nervousness, depression, sleep problems, dizziness, internal feelings of heat, dry or pebble-like stools, emotional instability, irritability, weight loss. The symptoms are similar to those of Blood deficiency, only with the addition of signs of heat from deficiency.

This deficit particularly affects the Liver, Heart, Lung and Kidney organs.

General dietary principles for the Yin deficiency pattern

When treating Yin deficiency, we recommend foods that provide concentrated nourishment suitable for maintaining or strengthening the integrity of tissues, as well as supporting an increase in moisture and fluid levels. A diet focused on Yin nourishment follows similar general principles to a diet intended to strengthen the Blood - it has a higher proportion of protein, a wide selection of leafy and root vegetables, and more nutritious grains, such as wheat. In addition, moistening and lubricating ingredients also have their place. Nutrients and oils concentrated in seeds and various beans contribute to building the body and lubrication. Animal proteins are ideal for this purpose, but sources consumed in excessive amounts or that are too concentrated, such as eggs, cheese or marrow, can cause overheating and the accumulation of phlegm.

Just as with the production of Qi and blood formation, the Spleen and Stomach are used to obtain Yin from food. The diet therefore follows the above-mentioned principles for maintaining the health of the Spleen, and the only change is the addition of some foods particularly suitable for this purpose.

The foods listed in the "Beneficial" section are suitable for all types of Yin deficiency. Those listed for individual subgroups are considered particularly beneficial to the given organ system, however, there is some overlap between them, and therefore it is not necessary to rely so heavily on this classification.

A diet intended to nourish Yin places emphasis on concentrated nutrients: seeds and beans and a higher proportion of high-quality protein. When cooking, use plenty of water, soups and juices from stewed meat and vegetables.

Preferred method of food preparation: steaming, stewing, long boiling.

Recommended foods

spelt, corn, long-grain rice, buckwheat, wheat, oats, rice, millet, barley, pork, oysters, chicken, duck, pigeon, marrow, eggs, butter, milk and cheese in small quantities, yoghurt, tofu, tempeh, Spanish mackerel, sardines, oysters, mussels, clams, squid, kelp, spirulina, seaweed, spinach, tomatoes, spinach, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, aubergine, cauliflower, celery, courgette, pumpkin, potatoes, sweet potatoes, melon, green beans, beetroot, button mushrooms, Snow Fungus, Wood Ear, adzuki beans, black beans, apples, bananas, mulberries, mango, coconuts, mung beans, peanuts, olive oil, linseed oil, almond oil, nuts and seeds, apples, pears, strawberries, bananas, grapes, butter, hard cheese, fermented products, beer, red fruit juices in the summer season.

Stomach Yin

Slippery elm bark powder, Snow Fungus, barley, millet, tofu, mung beans, asparagus, sweet potatoes, butter, milk, oranges, mandarins, lychee, apples, bananas, pineapple, plums, greengages, pomegranate.

Lung Yin

Pears, peaches, apples, bananas, figs, papaya, strawberries, tomatoes, green beans, seaweed, kelp, Snow Fungus, Wood Ear, spirulina, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, pork, oysters, butter, milk, cheese, pine nuts.

Kidney Yin

Pork, pork kidneys, duck, millet, barley, tofu, green beans, black beans, black soy beans, black kidney beans, black sesame seeds, blueberries, blackberries, seaweed, Wood Ear.

Avoid

Warming, drying, bitter and pungent foods: chilli, curry, various spices, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, onion, shallot, leek, basil, cloves, wasabi, coffee, lamb, prawns, veal, pigeon, game birds, vinegar, citrus fruits, pickled cucumbers, tea, cigarettes, vitamin B, corticosteroids, drugs - stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Stomach Yin), hard alcohol, red wine, coffee max. 1x per day, hot drinks that will force you to sweat, grilling, frying and baking, instant foods and fast food.

Clinical notes

Complex carbohydrates from grains or vegetables and leafy vegetables, watery vegetables and fruit should be represented in roughly equal proportions. The rest is made up of high-quality proteins (animal and legume) and nuts and seeds. Smaller amounts of high-quality dairy products, such as BIO cheese, cow's and goat's BIO milk, yoghurt and butter, also have beneficial effects, especially in the case of dryness.

Outside of diet, it is important to replenish Yin with sufficient sleep and a regular daily routine. We start the morning with a glass of boiled warm water, to which we add a teaspoon of honey to replenish fluids and support bowel function.

During the day, do not forget to drink, especially between 10 am and 12 pm, either boiled water again or herbal tea.

Before a meal, it is ideal to drink vegetable or grain broth to start the Stomach's activity and warm it to operating temperature; then you will digest better and replenish the Yin component.

When tired, do not play sports; engage in either stretching exercises or relaxation techniques and prefer walking outdoors.

We nourish Yin mainly in autumn and winter; the best foods in this period are duck, spring onion, raw ginger, sweet potatoes.

Recipes

Rice bouillon

In ancient China, it was eaten on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month, on the day of the full moon and on holidays, always in the early morning hours. This was because it was an extra meal during the day. The Chinese usually ate twice a day. The largest meal was in the evening hours, because it was after work, the body was calmed and there was certainty that the food would be well digested.

Morning rice bouillon has a refreshing nature, supports the replenishment of Yin, supports the function of the intestines and Stomach and helps to cleanse them.

Rice bouillon

What we need: 1 tablespoon of round-grain jasmine rice, 1l of water, a pinch of salt.

How to do it: bring the rice with water and a pinch of salt to a boil and turn down the heat, then cook for 2 hours. It is served in the morning on its own or supplemented with various ingredients according to the current state of health and the season.

Morning rice broth is supplemented with salted vegetables. The vegetables are pickled in salt, soaked in lukewarm water before use to get rid of the salt, and then sliced (preferably white radish, carrot, celery, parsley and other root vegetables).

If there is not a sufficient amount of salted vegetables, then tofu is cut into small pieces and more Shoyu soy sauce is added; all this is steamed and added instead of vegetables.