Yin deficient constitution (Yin Xu)

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Overview
Recognising the pattern
Dietary approach
Foods to favour
Foods to limit
Lifestyle
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1. Overview

Yin deficiency (Yin Xu) is a pattern of insufficient cooling, moistening, anchoring substance. The yin of the Kidney, Liver or Lung becomes depleted, and a relative excess of heat ("empty heat") arises. People with this pattern run hot, dry and restless. Diet emphasises cooling, moistening, blood-and-yin-nourishing foods.

2. Recognising the pattern

Thin or wiry build; difficulty gaining weight
Hot palms, soles and chest ("five centre heat")
Night sweats; afternoon flushing
Dry mouth, dry skin, dry hair, dry eyes
Restless sleep, vivid dreams, waking at 3am
Constipation with dry stools
Hot flushes (in menopause)
Tongue: red with little or no coating, sometimes cracked
Pulse: thin, rapid, often forceful

3. Dietary approach

The yin-deficient diet is cooling and moistening. Pork, eggs, tofu, pear, lily bulb, black sesame, mulberry and seaweed all nourish yin. Spicy, drying, very hot foods are best minimised, as are alcohol, coffee and excess animal protein, all of which generate heat.

4. Foods to favour

Pork (a yin-nourishing meat), duck, fish
Eggs (especially the yolk)
Tofu and soy foods
Black beans, mung beans, kidney beans
Pears (cooked or fresh), apples, grapes, mulberries
Lily bulb, lotus seed, white fungus, black fungus
Black sesame seeds, walnuts (in moderation)
Seaweed, oyster meat, scallops
Honey (in moderation), sesame oil

5. Foods to limit

Spicy foods: chilli, raw garlic in excess, mustard
Lamb (very warming and yang-generating)
Coffee, strong tea, alcohol, energy drinks
Smoking and recreational stimulants
Late nights and chronic sleep deprivation (depletes yin)
Excessive sauna, hot yoga, sunbathing

6. Lifestyle

Sleep before 11pm. Avoid burning the candle at both ends. Gentle yin-supportive practices: yin yoga, meditation, breathing exercises. Stay hydrated with cool (not iced) water through the day.