If you’re interested in integrative medicine for your animals, let’s dive a little deeper. While the contributions of Western veterinary medicine have been invaluable, you might be curious to explore other philosophies and holistic practices that have stood the test of time. One of these is Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), which has been in practice for thousands of years.

At the heart of TCVM is the concept of yin and yang: opposing yet complementary forces believed to exist in all things. Understanding and working to balance these forces is key to maintaining health and well-being according to this philosophy. Let’s explore what yin and yang really mean in relation to your animal’s health.

Yin and Yang 101

The fundamentals of yin and yang are simple, yet the full theory has surprising depth. In essence, yin represents cold, darkness, stillness, and inward energy, while yang represents heat, light, activity, and outward energy.

You can observe yin and yang everywhere in nature: day and night, summer and winter, fire and water. All beings and phenomena contain both yin and yang qualities in a delicate balance. When this balance is disturbed, it is considered the root of illness and disharmony.

In TCVM, everything is categorized as yin, yang, or a combination of both. For example:

• The sun is ultimate yang, while the moon is yin.
• Summer is yang, winter is yin.
• A dog’s back is yang, its belly is yin.
• The stomach and small intestine are yang organs, while the kidneys and liver are yin.

This dynamic system provides a framework for understanding health and developing treatments to restore harmony in the body.

Constitutional Yin-Yang Balance in Pets

Just like humans, animals have an innate yin-yang constitution that shapes their personality, physique, and health patterns from birth. Very active animals with a strong appetite and fast metabolism tend toward a yang constitution. Quieter animals with lower energy levels tend to be more yin.

Dr. Britta can assess your animal’s constitutional balance by observing:

• Body type and weight
• Activity level
• Temperament
• Eating and sleeping habits
• Other behavioral characteristics

For example, a yang dog might be a muscular Rottweiler that loves running and playing for hours. A yin cat might be a small, fine-coated, reserved feline. Knowing your pet’s energetic constitution provides a foundation for maintaining optimal health.

A very yang dog might need extra yin support in summer—such as shade, frequent baths, or cooling foods. In winter, they may benefit from yang-boosting acupuncture or supplements to maintain vitality.

Conversely, a yin animal who struggles with low energy in winter may benefit from yang herbs, warming foods like chicken or lamb, and sun exposure to counter internal cold and dampness. In summer, herbal formulas that clear internal heat can help prevent inflammation or overheating.

Keeping Your Pets in Harmony with the Seasons

Seasonal Adjustment
According to TCVM, living in harmony with the seasons and environmental energies is essential for health. Each season is associated with one of the five elements:

• Wood (spring)
• Fire (summer)
• Earth (late summer)
• Metal (autumn)
• Water (winter)

These elements correspond to different yin-yang energies that rise and fall throughout the year. For example, the heat and activity of summer boost yang energy, while winter—with its darkness and stillness—is more yin.

Adjusting your pet’s diet, exercise, and environment according to the season can help maintain their energetic balance. Here are a few tips:

• Spring (Wood/Yang): Increase walks, offer fresh greens or sprouted grasses.
• Summer (Fire/Peak Yang): Exercise early in the morning, use cooling herbs like mint.
• Autumn (Metal/Yin): Bone broths, immune-boosting herbs like astragalus.
• Winter (Water/Peak Yin): More rest, fattier foods, warm environments.

Dr. Britta can offer specific diet, herbal, and lifestyle recommendations tailored to your animal’s energy type and the season. The goal is to prevent imbalances before they manifest as illness.

Treating Yin-Yang Imbalances

When yin and yang become excessive or deficient relative to each other, TCVM describes resulting pathological patterns. There are four main types of imbalance:

• Yin Deficiency (false heat): Internal heat, dryness, anxiety, panting. Common in senior pets with kidney deficiency.
• Yang Deficiency (false cold): Fatigue, sluggishness, cold limbs, slow digestion.
• Yin Excess (true cold): Coldness, dampness, swelling, clear mucus, stiff joints.
• Yang Excess (true heat): Restlessness, inflammation, excessive thirst, red eyes, dry skin.

Dr. Britta will evaluate all signs to identify the yin-yang pattern behind the condition. From there, she can create an integrative treatment plan that includes:

• Food Therapy – Warming or cooling foods depending on diagnosis.
  • Yin/Cold: turkey, zucchini
  • Yang/Heat: chicken, lamb
• Herbal Formulas – To tonify deficiencies or clear excess.
  • Yin: rehmannia, coral shell
  • Yang: cinnamon, morinda root
• Acupuncture – Stimulating specific points to balance energy flow. This can be done with needles, lasers, electroacupuncture, or aquapuncture.
• Tui-na – Chinese therapeutic massage that removes blockages and regulates yin and yang flow.
• Lifestyle Adjustments – Changes to environment, exercise, routines, and play to align with treatment goals.

The goal is to use a multimodal approach to restore your animal’s energy balance and bring back vitality.

Yin and Yang as Preventive Medicine

Ideally, your pet’s yin-yang balance should remain stable throughout life. Your role as a caregiver is to notice subtle shifts in their energy and make small adjustments to preserve harmony.

Work with Dr. Britta to create a preventive plan that includes diet, supplements, manual therapies, acupuncture, and lifestyle practices. Watch for changes in energy, appetite, behavior, or physical signs that might indicate an imbalance.

By identifying imbalances early through the yin-yang lens of TCVM, you can intervene with simple adjustments—avoiding more invasive treatments later on.

Stay in Harmony

Achieving and maintaining harmony between yin and yang provides a strong foundation for your animal’s overall well-being. While these concepts may seem abstract at first, many people find this ancient wisdom resonates once they see the positive results.

Talk to Dr. Britta about her holistic and integrative approach to learn how she applies TCVM principles to modern pet care. With a few lifestyle adjustments and preventive care, you can help your animal companion enjoy a long, healthy, and balanced life in both body and mind.