Stop the Pathogens from Sinking Deeper into the Body - Part II

The Importance of the Lesser Yang

In Part I of this article, I discussed the most fundamental connections between the Yin and Yang forces of the body — the Taiyang - Shaoyin, Yangming - Taiyin, and Shaoyang - Jueyin pairs, which represent how the body regulates heat and cold, moisture and dryness, and descendance and ascendance. However, when pathogens have sunken into deeper layers of the body, which manifests as chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, chronic or recurring infections, tumors and cancers, etc., the transition and transformation of a disease would depend more on the Shaoyang - Shaoyin (the Lesser Yang - the Lesser Yin), Shaoyang - Taiyin (the Lesser Yang - the Greater Yin), and Yangming - Jueyin (the Yang Brightness - the Ultimate Yin) pairs.

One may be curious why Taiyang (the Greater Yang) is not included in this case. The answer is that Taiyang is located on the exterior regions of the body, which include the skin, the urinary system, the back side of the body, and the head. Pathogens located in the deeper tissues are beyond the realms of Taiyang. In other words, Taiyang does not determine the transition and transformation of latent pathogens, and Taiyang symptoms/patterns will only manifest when latent pathogens emerge to the exterior regions.

The Yang systems are defensive guards of the body, while the Yin systems protect the integrity and stability of the body’s vital organs. Therefore, in order to treat latent diseases, it is most crucial to support the three Yin systems while clearing inflammation in the three Yang systems. A person with no or little mental and emotional burdens tends to have healthier immune systems, because mental health disorders can damage the functions of our vital organs. And external pathogens must move through the defensive walls (aka the three Yang systems) before sinking deeper into the vital organ systems.