How to consolidate our yang energy?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Yang energy (or Yang Qi) is one of the two fundamental forces that govern the body and the universe, the other being Yin energy. Yang energy represents the active, dynamic, warming, and outward-moving aspects of life. It is essential for maintaining health, vitality, and balance in the body. Yang energy is responsible for:
Generating warmth: It maintains body temperature and ensures proper circulation.
Promoting activity and movement: It supports physical and mental activity, including digestion, metabolism, and muscle function.
Defending the body: Yang energy strengthens the body’s immune system and protects against external pathogens like cold, wind, and dampness.
Transforming and transporting: It aids in the digestion of food, transformation of nutrients, and circulation of blood and Qi (vital energy).
Supporting organ function: Each organ has both Yin and Yang aspects. For example:
Kidney Yang provides warmth and energy for reproduction, growth, and vitality.
Spleen Yang supports digestion and the transformation of food into energy.
Heart Yang ensures proper circulation and mental clarity.
So, how can we secure and consolidate their Yang energy? Some traditional Chinese people would choose to eat a lot of expensive animal-based foods, thinking that they would obtain Yang energy from it. However, it's actually not about consuming deer antlers, drinking deer blood, or indulging in highly nourishing foods. These cannot truly replenish your genuine Yang and primordial energy.
So, where does the true Yang energy in the human body come from? It originates from the body itself, a concept known as "vital energy connecting with heaven." It naturally generates under certain conditions. What facilitates this natural generation? A clear and tranquil mind. Once the mind is serene, Yang energy naturally arises and becomes consolidated. What does consolidation mean? It means the energy is not easily dissipated or broken down. When the body's Yang energy is consolidated, even if there are "deficient evils and thief winds" (aka virus, flu, etc) in the external environment, they cannot harm the body. In daily life, you might notice some people who are always in high spirits, perpetually joyful—what the ancients called "a carefree and open-hearted state." Such individuals have consolidated Yang energy. While others catch colds or fall ill, they remain unaffected. Why? Because their Yang energy is secure.
Take, for example, Sun Simiao (my fav TCM doctor from Tang Dynasty), who lived in a large cave with over 300 leprosy patients, treating them daily. Leprosy is a highly contagious disease, and many were infected, yet Sun Simiao remained unharmed. Why? Simply put, he "followed the natural order, and his Yang energy was consolidated." He had deeply studied the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, maintained a clear and unpolluted mind, and possessed a tranquil and harmonious mental state—free from emotional extremes like excessive joy or anger. His body naturally generated Yang energy, which was also consolidated, giving him strong resistance. As the text says, "even if there are thief evils, they cannot harm him." External pathogens like viruses and bacteria could not affect him because his body's resistance and immunity were exceptionally strong.
Modern medical research has found that an optimistic mindset and a joyful mood can boost the body's immunity. Recently, I read The Longevity Secrets of Sixteen Centenarians, and it revealed that each elder had their own unique secret to longevity. Some slept well, others enjoyed diverse diets—some favored wood ear mushrooms, others yams, and some even hemp seeds. Their preferences varied widely. Some elders were active, while others preferred sitting in meditation. Despite these differences, all sixteen shared one common trait: a clear and pure heart, free from impurities. When the mind is clear, a natural phenomenon occurs—it generates Yang energy. What does Yang energy manifest as? Happiness and optimism. Thus, these sixteen centenarians shared a common characteristic: an extremely optimistic mindset. Remember, greed leads to pessimism; the more one covets, the more entangled the mind becomes. Conversely, the clearer the mind, the more optimistic one becomes. When the mind is empty, it becomes agile and generates joy. This is what ancient Chinese sages discovered and summarized: "When the energy of heaven is clear and pure, the will is orderly, and following it consolidates Yang energy." This principle is fascinating. When the human mind is clear, and the energy of heaven and earth is pure, everything in the world thrives. Similarly, when the body's Yang energy is clear, it generates a natural vitality, ensuring smooth meridians, warm hands and feet, and overall strength. Psychologically, this manifests as optimism, happiness, and joy.
Therefore, ancient Chinese sages referred to completely healthy individuals as having a "pure Yang body." Generally, children under three years old possess a "pure Yang body." Observing children, you'll notice two characteristics: first, their hands and feet are warm because their meridians are unobstructed, and their grip strength is remarkably strong—this is a sign of abundant Yang energy. Second, they have a good mindset—happy and cheerful. When you play with a child, they laugh joyfully. Why? Western researchers have found that children laugh an average of 170 times a day, while adults laugh only seven times. The reason? Children under three have clear and pure minds. The clearer the mind, the easier it is to generate happiness and optimism. This joyful state is a manifestation of Yang energy. Thus, a "pure Yang body" is characterized by warm hands and feet, overall strength, and a pure, joyful, and optimistic mindset. These two traits indicate a longevity constitution, with a healthy body and abundant Yang energy. To achieve these, the most crucial factor is "clarity." When the mind is clear, Yang energy naturally consolidates. Even in the face of "deficient evils and thief winds" or external pathogenic invasions, the body remains unharmed.
