Yin and Yang

The wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches us the following:

Yin (shade) represents the weak, dark, negative force

Yang (sunshine) represents the strong, light, positive force

Too much or too little of either produces an imbalance in the body, which can lead to an illness.

For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has based its practice on yin and yang, a system of balance and harmony within the body.

When herbs are used in the practice of Chinese medicine, their general purpose is to restore this balance and allow the body to cure itself. Thus, the effects of most Chinese herbs are rather subtle and are not readily explained by science even though effects of many Chinese herbs have been documented for hundreds and even thousands of years.

Example:
 

Asian ginseng is a warming (yang) tonic herb that is good for people who have recovered from a serious illness and need to regain their strength. It is used as a general tonic to strengthen the body’s resistance. People with excessive yang, including those with a ruddy complexion and an energetic constitution should probably not use it. If you are prone to cold hands and feet, lack of energy, or are generally not quite up to snuff, you could take Asian ginseng to help bring your yin and yang into balance.

On the other hand, American ginseng is a cooling (yin) tonic herb that is normally used to cool down fevers or to cool the body during summer heat. It is good for people with deficient yin, excessive yang. If you are usually the hyperactive type, often hot, and full of vigor, you could take American ginseng to help bring your yin and yang into balance.