Health and Yin Yang Chemical Elements

Health and Yin Yang Chemical Elements

Yin and Yang are protons and electrons respectively. Think of the two terminals of a battery and you get an idea of what Yin and Yang are. They are not two groups of chemical elements opposing the function or existence of each other but rather, they complement each other to build the universe. The most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, consists of Yin and Yang. The table below shows the chemical elements in nature showing which is Yin and which is Yang

Red – Yang chemical elements

Green – Yin Chemical elements

1 H

2 2A

13 3A

14 4A

15 5A

16 6A

17 7A

3 Li

4 Be

5 B

6 C

7 N

8 O

9 F

11 Na

12 Mg

3 3B

4 4B

5 5B

6 6B

7 7B

8 8B

9 8B

10 8B

11 1B

12 2B

13 Al

14 Si

15 P

16 S

17 Cl

19 K

20 Ca

23 V

24 Cr

25 Mn

26 Fe

27 Co

28 Ni

29 Cu

30 Zn

31 Ga

32 Ge

33 As

34 Se

35 Br

37 Rb

38 Sr

41 Nb

42 Mo

44 Ru

45 Rh

46 Pd

47 Ag

48 Cd

49 In

50 Sn

51 Sb

52 Te

53 I

55 Cs

56 Ba

73 Ta

74 W

75 Re

76 Os

77 Ir

78 Pt

79 Au

80 Hg

81 Tl

82 Pb

 

Etymology of Yin and Yang

The initial observation of the distinctness of nature and the environment in which there are shady and sunny parts accounted for the usage of the term Yin and Yang. Yin was the name given to the side of the slope that was shady, while the side that was sunny was called Yang. This later became a set of words used to describe two things that are opposite but complementary. In the actual fact, both words had their origins from an ancient philosophy called Taoism estimated to have existed over ten thousand years ago.

The only basis for the continuous use of these words till today remains the fact that there are no perfect replacement for them in the English language. They are twin words used for physical objects that have two opposite sides yet those sides aren’t antagonistic but complementary. For instance, even the human body is Yin and Yang compliant because of its physical nature

Some Illustrations of Yin and Yang in Nature

Consider the chemical equation for the formation of water below

2H_{2 +} O_{2 =} 2H₂O

Oxygen represented by O₂ is Yang while Hydrogen represented by H₂ is a Yin. The chemical equation thus reveal that the possibility of a chemical compound called water is only possible through harmonious cooperation of molecules of Yin and Yang

In the same way, speaking nutrition, quick oxidation processes are more of Yang than Yin. When a body is undergoing fast oxidation, it tends to be warmer and more active than usual which is the reason men are more oxidative than do women generally speaking.

Approaching our health from a Yin and Yang perspective, it is obvious that majority today are Yin body-wise. There is less physical activity which means less oxidation and as a result, more illnesses. The implication therefore is that to maintain optimum health, there would have to be a significant increase in the yang aspect of our lives. The extreme of both sides is detrimental. When a person is too Yin, then he or she is too remotely confined and hence, preparing for ailment. Just the same way for a too Yang person, it denotes hyper activity which would lead to breaking down.

Yin-Yang Pair Elements in the Periodic Table

As a way of illustration, acids are yin while alkaline are Yang. Similarly, protons are Yin while electrons are Yang. So, on this premise, we can conclude that in the equation below:

C+O₂ = CO₂,

Carbon is a Yin while Oxygen is a Yang (Recall that oxygen oxidizes). The table below gives the yin and yang pair of elements we have on the periodic table

Imbalances in Body’s Yin and Yang: A Cause of Most Chronic Diseases

Most cancers and other chronic diseases now plaguing the world today are direct results of a prolonged imbalance between the various life-related chemical elements. This imbalance can be that certain elements are in excess of their body requirements or that they are at other instances plainly deficient. Excessive presence of chemical elements in the body leads to accumulation of toxins while its insufficiency leads to a condition called malnutrition. Every chronic disease does have symptoms which are at times, numerous. Attempting to treat a chronic disease by treating its symptoms is never the best. The root cause has to be determined and addressed. Most times, getting to the root of a chronic disease would require that certain lifestyle and dietary habits be addressed and changed.

The building blocks of our bodies are chemical elements. There are some of these elements that are needed by the body in large proportions and are called macro elements. Whereas, others are termed micro because just a little quantity of them is required by the body for effective metabolism. Their being called micro does not suggest their relevance. In fact, life cannot proceed effectively without them because they are co-factors. Micro elements include manganese and sulfur while calcium and carbon are examples of Macro elements. The various elements and their percentage presence in the body are given in the diagram below

On estimate, close to 99% of our body mass is occupied by six elements viz: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and calcium. They form the bulk of every human body’s mass. Only a portion less than 1%, 0.85% precisely, accounts for five other elements which are Potassium, Sodium, Chlorine, Sulfur and Magnesium. These eleven elements are prerequisites for life. The remaining are termed trace elements and evidences too have affirmed that they equally play a role in good health.