Everyday Habits That Causes Yang Deficiency and How to Fix Them
by: Amanda Chua, TCM Physician, Regis Wellness
Last updated: November 29, 2025
In Singapore’s fast moving and highly stressful environment, Singaporeans sometimes cannot help but develop unhealthy everyday habits. These habits may seem minor and non-influential, but they may be the very reason that is affecting your health. Today, we’ll be explaining how common everyday habits can lead to Yang deficiency.
What is Yang Deficiency?
Yang Deficiency (阳虚), in short, refers to a lack of Yang in the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Yang refers to the active energy in your body. Your body’s Yin and Yang needs to be in equilibrium, and Yang deficiency throws this off balance. This can cause coldness, fatigue, sluggishness, and poor function, like low metabolism or immunity.
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Poor Habits That May Cause Yang Deficiency
Diet
Food is an important aspect of TCM. In TCM theory, different types of foods have different properties, all which can affect your body differently when consumed. In this case, Yin, or cooling foods, can cause your body to use up its Yang energy, leading to Yang deficiency. In Singapore, we tend to consume a lot of iced drinks to combat the warm weather. Other foods such as raw foods and salads are also cooling in nature.
To balance this out, it is important to consume warming foods such as warm soup, ginger or chicken. This will help to counteract the “coldness” in your body. Overall, it is important to reach a balance and consuming these foods in moderation is key.
Physical Inactivity
Many Singaporeans lead sedentary lifestyles, spending many hours seated in front of a screen, as well as having a lack of physical exercise. Yang is the body’s active energy. When the body does not move, blood circulation worsens and Yang in the body stagnates.
Stress
Singaporeans workers generally face high levels of stress, with 1 in 3 Singaporeans facing work-related stress or burnout in 2024, as seen in a 2024 online study by the Ministry of Manpower. In 2023, a study by a global health firm also revealed that Singaporeans were more stressed than the global average, with 16% of respondents stating that their stress levels were not manageable.
Constant high levels of stress can overwork your body, depleting your body’s Yang energy. Repressed emotions due to stress such as anger or worry may also disrupt energy flow, especially affecting the Liver (Yang) and Spleen (Qi/energy), causing stagnation or deficiency.
Sleep Deprivation
Singapore is one of the most sleep-deprived nations globally, with an average sleep duration of 6.5 hours compared to the global average of 7 to 7.5 hours a night. Poor bedtime habits such as “doomscrolling” or revenge bedtime procrastination lead to later sleeping hours, resulting in a struggle to have a good night’s sleep.
In TCM, it is recommended to sleep at 11pm, because this aligns with the body’s natural meridian clock, allowing your body’s organs to recover promptly. Constantly sleeping after 11pm or having insufficient rest damages the Yang energy, causing Yang deficiency.
Symptoms of Yang Deficiency
Yang deficiency may manifest as different symptoms depending on your body’s constitution. Some common symptoms of Yang deficiency may include:
- Coldness
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination at night
- Bloating, diarrhoea
- Pale complexion
- Pale tongue with white coating
If you experience these symptoms, it may be a case of Yang deficiency. Severe symptoms may affect your daily routine, and we recommend talking to a certified TCM practitioner if these symptoms cause you worry.
TCM Treatment for Yang Deficiency
Lifestyle and Diet Guidance
Yang deficiency caused by poor everyday habits can usually be reversed by changing your lifestyle. Having a balanced diet with warming foods included can help to reduce the effects of cooling foods on your body’s Yang energy. Our practitioners will discuss diet plans with you, recommending foods suitable for your body’s constitution. Try including at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week into your lifestyle. This may be difficult at the start, but as you get going, your body will find it easier to stay physically active.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture therapy can help to stimulate Yang energy, strengthen organ function, and improve circulation throughout the body.
Herbal Medicine
Our physicians can prescribe customised formulas with warming herbs such as 肉桂，巴戟天 and 菟丝子 for your specific needs.
Moxibustion
A key therapy for Yang Deficiency, moxa heat stimulates acupoints, warms meridians, improves circulation, and strengthens Yang energy.
Cupping & Gua Sha
This therapy is used to dispel cold and dampness, improve blood flow, and reduce tension caused by stagnation.
Benefits of Treating Yang Deficiency with TCM
It is important to treat your Yang deficiency as restoring balance to your body is vital and beneficial for good health. Health benefits include:
- Restoring warmth and improves circulation
- Boosting energy and reduces fatigue
- Strengthening kidney and digestive functions
- Supporting fertility and reproductive health
- Reducing frequent urination and water retention
- Enhancing mood and overall vitality
- Promoting long term resilience and immune health
Treat Yang Deficiency with Regis Wellness TCM
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