The white half with the black dot represents the yang, or masculine energy, while the black half with the white dot represents the yin, or female energy.

The basic idea of the Daoists was to enable people to realize that, since human life is really only a small part of a larger process of nature, the only human actions which ultimately make sense are those which are in accord with the flow of Nature — the Dao or the Way.

While yang and yin are not exclusively defined as “male” and “female,” and either sex can be considered yin or yang within a given context, in terms of their most general relation to one another, yin references the female and yang the male.

Lin explains that yin foods are those that generate cold or cool energy in the body, such as watermelon, bitter gourd, crab and most green vegetables. Yang foods, such as red meat, ginger, pepper and garlic, generate warm or hot energy.

Treatment for yin tonification Drink thin fluids – water, herbal tea, clear soups and watery fruits. Some added salt in food (health permitting) to retain water. Some raw foods, especially vegetables (not in the evenings) to cool the body.

For example, to strengthen Spleen Qi, CM would suggest eliminating hard-to-digest foods (in particular raw or cold foods that can induce Dampness and Phlegm) while simultaneously eating more foods that tonify the Spleen.

Qi (pronounced /tʃiː/ CHEE; from the Chinese word qi; traditional Chinese: 氣) is an open interface standard that defines wireless power transfer using inductive charging over distances of up to 4 cm (1.6 inches), developed by the Wireless Power Consortium.

Think of the spleen as being powered by heat. Frozen food, icy drinks, cucumber, bitter or winter melon, lettuce and grapefruit deplete the spleen’s “fire”. Foods that are “damp” – such as dairy products, refined sugars and sweets – can also smother the digestive process.