Clinical Application of Yin Yang Theory by M.M. Van Benschoten, OMD

Yin Yang theory may be translated into clinical practice through observing common patterns of disease in our patients.  We can find the roots of illness by taking a careful history and paying close attention to every symptom as it points to the source of pathology.  Complex cases will have a mixture of both yin and yang imbalances requiring herbal prescriptions that include elements of multiple classical formulas.

Location of pathogenic factors

YIN/lower body - gastrointestinal/urogenital systems

YANG/upper body - cardiorespiratory/neurohormonal systems

Source of pathogenic factors

YIN/internal source - intestinal flora/diet/emotions

YANG/external source - infectious diseases/environmental toxins

Immune dysfunction

YIN/immune deficiency - failure of macrophage clearance of pathogenic factors

YANG/autoimmunity - inflammation due to cross reactive antibody and T cell responses

Therapeutic intervention

YIN - immune system tonification to enhance clearance of pathogenic factors

YANG - antimicrobials and antiinflammatories for growth inhibition and symptom relief