At the present time, there are two symbols that are widely recognized as meaning family: the family tree and the family pictograph.

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Everyone recognizes the symbol: the little black and white half circles that swirl into each other, with a dot of the opposite color on either side. Just by looking at it, its most basic meaning is clear: maintain balance. But the meaning of Yin and Yang goes much deeper than that.

The dots represent the seed of yin within yang and the seed of yang within yin; the idea that neither can exist without the other.

Yin is the black side, and yang is the white side. The relationship between yin and yang is often described in terms of sunlight playing over a mountain and a valley.

Taijitu is a term which refers to a Chinese symbol for the concept of yin and yang. It is the universal symbol of the religion known as Taoism and is also often used by non-Taoists to represent the concept of opposites existing in harmony. The taijitu consists of a rotated pattern inside a circle.

2, the top, clockwise T’ai-Chi symbol (labeled right-side up) with yin (dark) at the bottom is a correct variation and is preferred by some. However, the two lower T’ai-Chi symbols (labeled upside-down) have yin (dark) at the top and yang (light) at the bottom. But down is yin and up is yang.

Wuji (無極) is a state of emptiness or simply a single point in space. There is no discrimination and there are no polarities (or poles). Later, due to the pivotal action of Taiji, Two Polarities (Liang Yi, 兩儀) (i.e., Yin and Yang) were discriminated.

The best representation of the harmonious interaction of the Yin and Yang forces is the Tai Chi symbol. Expressed in feng shui colors, the Yin (feminine energy) is black, and the Yang (masculine energy) is white.

In general consider cooking with alcohol to be more of an “uncommon, special process” to increase yang energy, the flavor of meals, stimulate qi or blood circulation, as well as relieving emotional blockages or tension (short term).

Foods especially useful to tonify Kidney Yang Deficiency. Roast chicken with sage and thyme • Roasted vegetables with and rosemary • Rice porridge with cinnamon, nutmeg and a little brown sugar • Leek and potato soup with black pepper • Or by adding any of the many spices as listed above to dishes when cooking.

According to macrobiotic philosophy, food also contains Yin and Yang qualities. For example, foods with high Yin content include sugar, tea, alcohol, coffee, milk, cream, yoghurt and most herbs and spices, while foods with a high Yang content include red meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish, eggs, hard cheeses and salt.

Duck and beef, warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, alcohol, nuts such as almonds and peanuts, eggs and glutinous rice are considered yang foods. Yin foods are generally bitter, salty and sour, while yang foods are generally sweet and pungent.

Lin explains that yin foods are those that generate cold or cool energy in the body, such as watermelon, bitter gourd, crab and most green vegetables. Yang foods, such as red meat, ginger, pepper and garlic, generate warm or hot energy.

Foods that are warm and hot bring heat to our bodies — e.g. beef, coffee, ginger, hot chilies and fried foods — while cold and cool foods cool down our bodies– think of salad, cheese, green tea, and beer. Neutral foods are foods like oil, rice, pork and most kinds of fishes.

Strengthen your yin with healthy lifestyle choices.

1. Practice moderate exercise like tai qi, walking, swimming, hatha yoga, and restorative yoga (avoid “hot” yoga which can further deplete the yin).
2. Practice meditation, guided imagery, mindfulness, or chi gong.
3. Go to bed by 10:30 in order to restore yin.

Treatment principle: Tonify the Stomach-Yin It is equally important to select herbs that tonify the Spleen-Qi in order to promote Yin generation. Third, herbs that soothe the Stomach-Qi and herbs that clear heat in the Stomach without the side effect of injuring the Stomach-Yin are selected.

If you think you’re deficient in qi, you can begin to regulate it by:

1. getting sufficient restful sleep.
2. exercising regularly, including a practice that focuses on your breath, like yoga.
3. maintaining healthy eating habits.
4. taking care of your mental health.

The kidney is considered a water element. As the body’s water gate, it regulates water metabolism and reception of qi. The foundation of yin fluid that nourishes and moistens the body is kidney yin. When the kidney receives fluid the qi of kidney yang divides it into two types, clear and turbid.