According to Chinese Medicine, the law of aging is expressed as“The yang consumes the yin”. In other words, over time the fire of ongoing life activity consumes the deeper moist yin essences of the body resulting in an acceleration of the aging process.
One of the golden rules of rejuvenation is to not let the yin essence levels get too low. A stress filled life with carbon based industrial toxicity and radioactivity increases the rate of yin depletion. At a certain point serious patterns of disease begin to appear. Hot flushes, patterns of inflammation, sleep and nervous system disorders are some of the imbalances that can be traced to early yin essence deficiency. In some modern Chinese medical schools, conditions such as Parkinson and Multiple Sclerosis are now seen as significantly progressed yin essence deficiency patterns.
Unfortunately the concept of yin deficiency is unknown or poorly understood in the West. It can be difficult for modern westerners to grasp since we typically expect our supplements to immediately increase our energy levels. Yin tonification however, moistens the body, nourishes the blood, supports a calm and harmonious nervous system, and ensures that the raw material for regenerative hormonal flows are sufficient for health and well-being. Thus providing the fuel to produce more energy down the line.
Modern medical and alternative practitioners tend to diagnose the symptoms of aging as hormone deficiency, and treat accordingly with hormone supplements. But actually the root of most hormone deficiency is yin essence deficiency. When those essence levels are properly restored, a high percentage of people will not require the introduction of hormones. Their own endocrine systems will take care of the matter in a more efficient and benign way.
To enhance the body’s yin essences it is important to eat foods that nurture the essences of the body. Millet, barley, black beans, mung beans, sprouts, melons (particularly watermelon), blueberries, seaweeds, spirulina and chlorella are suitable foods for almost anyone. These foods will help but they cannot be eaten in sufficient quantities to make a significant difference.
The best way to replenish and protect the yin reserves of the body is to supplement them with yin rich herbs. Ancient Chinese doctors discovered these very same molecular yin essences in certain plants and their formulas have been used now for hundreds of years to good effect. The following herbs can be safely used to raise and protect the yin essence: rehmannia, cornus, lyceum, scrophularia, marshmallow, solomon seal, eclipta and ligustrum.
When we nourish the deep essences of the body, we are in effect neutralizing the law of aging.