Yin Fire: A Historical Understanding

The concept of yin fire (阴火, yin huo) goes back to the physician Li Dong-Yuan (李東垣, 1180-1251 CE). This article contrasts modern understandings of yin fire, which are focused on the treatment of people with complex complaints such as autoimmune diseases or chronic fatigue syndrome, with a historicallyinformed understanding according to which Li created the theory of yin fire based on his experience of an epidemic during the Jin-Yuan dynasty. The concept of yin fire is examined closely according to this historical context.