English
Differentiation of yin and yang is the main guiding principle for diagnosing external diseases, particularly wound infections. Yin and yang represent two opposite yet complementary aspects of objects, the nature of a disease and its clinical features can usually be categorized as a yin or yang character, and then guide physicians to decide the therapeutic methods to be used, to predict disease development as well as the prognosis of the condition. Generally, yang syndromes have more favorable outcomes.
Differentiation of Yang and Yin Syndromes
| Yang syndromes | Yin syndromes | |
| Acute | Chronic | |
| Located superficially on the skin and in the muscles | Located deeply in the bones and tendons | |
| Localized conditions | Skin turns red | Normal or dark-purple skin color |
| Scorching heat | Only mild heat | |
| Protruding swelling | Flat or collapsed swelling | |
| Confined area | Diffuse and extensive | |
| When newly formed, the area is firm but gradually turns soft after ulceration. | When pressed, the area feels either solid or soft. | |
| Very painful | Dull pain, soreness or no pain at all | |
| Thick, sticky pus | Thin, watery pus | |
| New tissue is red and tender. | New tissue is darkish and purple in color | |
| Systemic conditions | There are chills and fevers, thirst, constipation and yellowish urine in the initial stage. | No obvious symptoms in the initial stage, but after the site becomes ulcerated, there may be virtual fire signs or signs that suggest that blood and qi are insufficient. |
| Tongue and pulse observation | The tongue is red and covered by yellow coating; the pulse is strong. | The tongue is pale and covered by white coating; the pulse is weak. |
| Duration | Short | Long |
