The Inter-consuming-supporting and The Inter-transforming Relation of Yin and Yang – Part 1

Consuming implies losing or weakening; supporting impies gaining or strengthening. The two aspects of yin and yang within a thing are not fixed, but in a state of constant motion. Owing to their mutual conflict and support, the losing or gaining of one aspect will inevitably influence the other. For instance, consuming of yin leads to gaining of yang, while consuming of yang results in gaining of yin. On the other hand, gaining of yin leads to consuming og yang, and gaining of yang results in consuming in yin. The functional activities of human body require a certain amount of nutrient substances, resulting in a process consuming of yin and gaining of yang, whereas the formation and storing of nutrient substances depends upon the functional activities and weakens the functional energy to a certain degree, causing a process of gaining of yin and consuming of yang. But such mutual consuming-supporting does not result in absolute equilibrium. Under normal conditions these opposites maintain a relatives balance, while under abnormal conditions preponderance or discomfiture of yin or yang occurs.

In the inter-consuming and inter-supporting process, when there is any manifestation of losing the relative balance of yin and yang and failing to resume the balance, there results a preponderance or discomfiture of either yin and yang. This is the causative factor of the occurrence of disease. That is, whenever yin or yang is in a state of preponderance or discomfiture, it becomes an etiological factor. For instance, preponderance of harmful yin will consume yang, and discomfiture of yang will lead to a preponderance of yin, either of which may initiate a cold syndrome; on the other hand, preponderance of harmful yang will consume yin, and discomfiture of yin will cause a preponderance of yang, either of which stimulates a heat syndrome. However, the syndromes of cold or heat due to a preponderance of harmful factors pertain to the shi (excess) type, while those of cold or heat due to lowering the general resistance pertain to the xu (deficiency) type. These two types of syndromes are different in nature and the principles of treatment are consequently also different; i.e., the reducing (xie) method for syndromes of the shi (excess) type and the reinforcing (bu) method for those of the xu (deficiency) type.