Traditional Chinese medicine experts say that as people reach middle age, their yin energy begins to increase while their yang energy gradually declines—this is a natural law of life. With the increase of yin energy, the body accumulates many excess impurities, which traditional Chinese medicine calls "yin toxins." Yin toxins include water toxins, dampness toxins, fat toxins, phlegm toxins, blood stasis toxins, and qi toxins. Learning to expel these yin toxins is essential to creating space for yang energy to thrive within the body.
I. Water poisoning
The most serious form of yin toxin is water retention, generally caused by weakened kidney function. People over 40 should be aware that swelling under the eyes and ankles upon waking in the morning is a strong indication of water retention. To expel water retention, one should first consult a doctor to check for kidney and heart diseases. If the water retention is caused by poor kidney function, Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (a traditional Chinese medicine) can be taken to warm the kidneys and mobilize the body's qi transformation ability. If the kidneys and heart are healthy, it indicates poor blood circulation, requiring more exercise and a diet rich in dampness-removing foods such as loofah and winter melon.
II. Dampness and Toxins
Dampness is an abnormal form of water, derived from water itself. People with dampness in their bodies generally exhibit symptoms such as a white, greasy tongue coating, nausea, loss of appetite, and loose stools. Dampness is mainly caused by spleen deficiency, which prevents the body from transforming dampness. Among the foods we commonly eat, beans are the best for nourishing the spleen. Various beans can be cooked into porridge; stewing meat with ginseng and atractylodes macrocephala can also have a good effect on strengthening the spleen, removing dampness, and promoting the upward movement of clear qi and downward movement of turbid qi.
III. Phlegm and Toxins
Some people cough up phlegm incessantly upon waking up in the morning, indicating the presence of phlegm toxins. These toxins generally originate from diet or are caused by poor lung function. If there is tracheal problems and excessive phlegm, a traditional Chinese medicine formula called Er Chen Tang can be used to treat it. One dose consists of 10 grams each of Poria cocos, Pinellia ternata, and Citrus reticulata peel, and 6 grams of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Boil these ingredients in water and drink the decoction for seven days to clear the phlegm. In terms of daily diet, radishes are a good phlegm-clearing food; you can buy raw radishes, add a little vinegar, and eat them as a cold salad. Additionally, you can eat more winter melon, figs, seaweed, and monk fruit, which are all heat-clearing and phlegm-clearing foods.
IV. Lipotoxin
People with lipotoxicity are generally overweight with excess fat, and frequently consume alcohol, meat, and fried foods, which greatly damages the liver and makes them prone to fatty liver and other diseases. To eliminate lipotoxicity, the first step is to lower blood lipids. It is recommended to drink water boiled with hawthorn and lotus leaves, which can resolve phlegm and lower lipids. In daily life, one should eat more vegetables such as onions. Massaging the Fenglong acupoint on the lower leg (located 8 cun above the tip of the lateral malleolus, lateral to the Tiaokou acupoint, and two finger-widths away from the anterior border of the tibia) can also aid digestion and reduce fat.
V. Blood Stasis and Toxins
Blood stasis refers to toxins hidden in the blood, which mostly appear from middle age onwards. Common symptoms include purplish veins under the tongue, forgetfulness, dry skin, chest tightness, and a dark complexion. People with blood stasis can take Danqi tablets or drink water infused with Danshen or hawthorn to promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and clear vascular waste.
VI. Gas Toxins
"Qi toxicity" refers to toxins residing in the lungs. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the lungs govern qi" and "the kidneys govern the intake of qi." People with qi toxicity often have poor lung and kidney function and generally have a strong body odor, such as bad breath or body odor. To prevent qi toxicity, one can practice deep breathing exercises every morning, known as "breathing and exhaling," to expel stale air from the lungs and maintain fresh air in the body.
It's worth noting that the liver is the body's largest detoxification factory. To remove toxins, it's essential to protect and nourish the liver to ensure its detoxification function. It's recommended to regularly drink water infused with goji berries and chrysanthemum, and eat plenty of mulberries and various fresh vegetables.
