Currently, the average lifespan of Chinese people is 75 years. Can we live another 10 years? The answer is yes, because we have traditional health-preserving experiences that have been tested over 5,000 years. If we can promote these experiences and apply them to our health practices, then we Chinese people can certainly achieve better health and longevity. The most important principle of health preservation is to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang. The balance of Yin and Yang is the foundation of life. If Yin and Yang are balanced, our bodies can be healthy; if they are imbalanced, we will become ill, age prematurely, or even die.
Therefore, slow health preservation, quiet health preservation, and low-temperature health preservation are energy-saving practices for life; food health preservation, sleep health preservation, and sexual health preservation are reserve practices for life. Combining these practices is very important for maintaining the balance of Yin essence and Yang Qi, and thus maintaining the balance of life’s Yin and Yang. If we can manage this balance well, we can enjoy a healthy life. I believe that the balance of Yin and Yang is fundamental to life activities.What is Yin and Yang? To discuss Yin and Yang, we must first mention the Yijing (I Ching). The Yijing discusses Yin and Yang; on the surface, it is a book about divination, but in reality, it contains profound philosophy, which is the philosophy of Yin and Yang. The Yin and Yang philosophy of the Yijing lays the foundation for the entire Chinese culture of Yin and Yang. Therefore, to study health preservation culture, we must first understand the Yin and Yang theory of the Yijing. The character “易” (yi) itself is composed of the characters for “日” (sun) and “月” (moon). The upper part is “日”, representing the sun, and the lower part is “月”, representing the moon. This indicates that the Yijing represents the movement of Yin and Yang in the universe, which produces the changes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, as well as the variations of hot, cold, warm, and cool, and the alternation of day and night. This means that the movement of the universe generates the transformation of Yin and Yang Qi. Thus, the Yijing emphasizes that all things in motion are the movement of Yin and Yang, including our life activities, which are also movements of Yin and Yang. Therefore, the Yijing states, “Heaven and earth are in harmony, and all things are transformed into essence,” indicating that at the beginning of chaos, there was a misty primordial Qi, which gradually divided into Yin and Yang Qi. When Yin and Yang unite harmoniously, they embody both hardness and softness. This means that human life is also generated by the movement and transformation of Yin and Yang Qi. So what is Yang? We say that anything that is sun-facing, outward, bright, ascending, and warm belongs to Yang; conversely, anything that is shaded from the sun, inward, dark, descending, and cool belongs to Yin. From the perspective of our body, the head is Yang, the feet are Yin, the body surface is Yang, the internal organs are Yin, the six fu organs are Yang, and the five zang organs are Yin. Qi is Yang, and blood is Yin. This indicates that within Yin and Yang, there are further divisions of Yin and Yang; all things in the world are movements of Yin and Yang, especially in our daily lives.
The movement of Yin and Yang continuously maintains balance. So what is the balance of Yin and Yang? Let’s take a look at the beautiful Taiji diagram. The Taiji diagram is a microcosm of Yin and Yang balance, composed of the Yin fish and Yang fish, representing that both sides of Yin and Yang are constantly transforming into each other. This transformation means that as Yang increases, Yin decreases, and as Yin increases, Yang decreases; when Yang reaches its peak, Yin emerges, and when Yin reaches its peak, Yang emerges. Therefore, the balance of Yin and Yang, as seen in the embrace of Yin and Yang, embodies a three-dimensional balance of Yin and Yang. Why does the Taiji diagram not use a straight line to divide into two halves but instead uses an S-curve? The S-curve in the middle of the Taiji diagram indicates that the balance of Yin and Yang is a dynamic balance, one that is in a state of transformation between the increase and decrease of Yin and Yang. This is called dynamic balance. This balance, as manifested in nature, is the balance of Yin and Yang Qi, and as manifested in the human body, it is the balance of Yang Qi and Yin essence. If Yin and Yang can be balanced, then a person will certainly have sufficient Qi and blood, abundant energy, and healthy internal organs. Therefore, we say that a person’s appearance, if it is rosy, bright, and radiant, indicates that their internal organs are certainly healthy. Thus, the health of the internal organs leads to a radiant appearance; true beauty and health must come from exercising the body and ensuring the health of the internal organs. This inner beauty surpasses any cosmetic product. Any high-end cosmetic product cannot compare to the natural beauty that comes from a healthy body, so we say that when the internal organs are healthy and Qi and blood are abundant, the complexion will be very good. If the Yin and Yang of the body are balanced, the vitality of life will be strong, physiological functions will be good, psychological resilience will be high, and the body will be able to eat and sleep well, with a good complexion and a cheerful spirit. Such a person indicates that their internal organs’ Yin and Yang are balanced. Therefore, their life, their Yang Qi and Yin essence are balanced, and this balance enhances their emergency response ability and adaptability to adverse conditions. Moreover, they have strong fatigue resistance and a strong ability to resist common diseases. Thus, maintaining the balance of Yin and Yang is extremely important. So how can we maintain our Yin and Yang balance? First, as I mentioned earlier, nature maintains the balance of Yin and Yang through the transformation of Yin and Yang Qi. This transformation is manifested through the movements of the universe, that is, through the movements of the sun and moon, producing the changes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, as well as the temperature variations and day-night changes. This indicates that the natural world is constantly experiencing the transformation of Yin and Yang. This is called the transformation of Yin and Yang Qi. Therefore, we must practice seasonal health preservation, where “法” (fa) means to follow. If we can follow the natural transformation of Yin and Yang Qi for health preservation, we can achieve twice the result with half the effort. This is especially effective for those with Yang deficiency or Yin deficiency. Hence, we propose that in spring and summer, we should nourish Yang, and in autumn and winter, we should nourish Yin. This is the reason behind it. In spring and summer, we nourish Yang. Why do we nourish Yang in spring and summer? From the winter solstice to the summer solstice, it is the phase of Yang increasing and Yin decreasing. This means that from spring to summer, Yang is increasing and Yin is decreasing, because the winter solstice is the peak of Yin, and the summer solstice is the peak of Yang; when Yin reaches its peak, Yang emerges, and when Yang reaches its peak, Yin emerges. Therefore, during spring and summer, when Yang is increasing, those with Yang deficiency should focus on nourishing Yang. This can achieve better results than at other times. Conversely, in autumn and winter, the natural transformation of Yin and Yang is Yin increasing and Yang decreasing; the leaves begin to fall, and the weather becomes colder. Therefore, Yin begins to increase, and Yang begins to decrease. Those with Yin deficiency should take advantage of this natural law. In autumn and winter, nourishing Yin will yield much better results than at any other time, achieving twice the result with half the effort. This is called seasonal health preservation, which explains why we nourish Yang in spring and summer and Yin in autumn and winter.
We see that when Yin reaches its peak, Yang begins to emerge, which is called Yang increasing and Yin decreasing. The Taiji diagram encapsulates this very well. Why is the Taiji diagram called the number one diagram in the world? It succinctly summarizes the theory of Yin and Yang movement in the Yijing and Chinese culture. Although the Taiji diagram appears to be the simplest thing, it contains profound truths; the simpler something is, the deeper the truth it holds, and the Taiji diagram exemplifies this principle. Now, since nature continuously bestows upon us the gifts of Yin and Yang, those with Yang deficiency and those with Yin deficiency should utilize the natural transformation of Yin and Yang Qi for health preservation. Next, let’s look at how to absorb Yang Qi. Yang Qi is of great significance to life because it is the driving force of life; Yang Qi is the spark of life. If the spark is strong, life can thrive; if it is extinguished, life will end. Therefore, protecting Yang Qi and reducing its loss is an important secret to anti-aging. I will discuss how to conserve energy later. How do we absorb Yang Qi? When is Yang Qi most abundant? At noon, when the sun is at its zenith, we can go outdoors and remove our hats to let the sun’s essence enter our body through the Baihui point (百会穴), which is a very important acupuncture point located at the top of the head. This is during noon when we should not forget to absorb Yang Qi. Additionally, in the morning at sunrise, we can face east and take deep breaths, allowing Yang Qi to enter our body through our nostrils and through the skin and pores. Furthermore, if we live in a high-rise building, we can face south and open the windows to let Yang Qi into our home and body. In the evening, after dinner, when the sunset is glowing, we can go outdoors for a walk, making the most of the last opportunity to absorb the sun’s rays for the day. Moreover, on sunny days, we can stand in the open air under the blue sky and white clouds, taking deep breaths to allow Yang Qi to nourish our body. Thus, we should seek out sunny places, face the sun, and be in high, open areas to absorb Yang Qi. In addition to absorbing Yang Qi, we should also consume foods that nourish Yang, such as chicken soup, beef and lamb soup, pork soup, yellow eel, leeks, and Cordyceps. For medicinal herbs, we can drink ginseng-infused water. If our Yang Qi is severely deficient, we can take Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (金匮肾气丸). How does Yang Qi manifest? I will explain this to everyone shortly.
Now, let’s discuss how to absorb Yin Qi. Today, we are discussing how to follow the natural transformations of Yin and Yang to absorb Yang Qi and Yin Qi to compensate for the deficiencies of Yang Qi and Yin essence in our bodies. Next is the absorption of Yin Qi. We need to have a certain understanding of Yin Qi. Yin has two concepts: one is pathological waste that needs to be eliminated, and the other is physiological Yin, which is essential for the human body and can exist in nature as well as within the body. Yin and Yang are equally important because they are interdependent; Yin is the foundation of Yang, and without Yin, Yang cannot transform. Without Yang, Yin has no power. Therefore, the interdependence of Yin and Yang is very important. So where is Yin Qi most abundant? It is found by the sea, in forests, along rivers, and by lakes. We can go to these places to absorb Yin Qi. Additionally, we can connect with the earth, as the earth also provides us with Yin Qi and important minerals. Since heaven represents Yang and earth represents Yin, the earth is a reservoir of Yin Qi. Therefore, we can often walk barefoot, allowing the earth Qi to enter our body through a point on the sole called Yongquan (涌泉穴), which means “springing up”. We can also face north, which is an important direction for generating Yin Qi. Thus, if we have Yin deficiency, we can choose to have our bedroom and office facing north. Conversely, those with Yang deficiency can choose south-facing rooms. Additionally, at night, we can face the moonlight. Why? Because daytime is Yang and nighttime is Yin; the sun is Yang and the moon is Yin. Therefore, for those with Yin deficiency, we can practice health preservation at night by walking outdoors under the moonlight after dinner, which is very effective for nourishing Yin. Also, in low-lying areas, because high places have more Yang Qi and low places have more Yin Qi, walking in low areas can help us absorb a lot of Yin Qi.
Another aspect of nourishing Yin is dietary choices. In addition to absorbing Yin Qi, we should also eat foods that nourish Yin. What are the foods that nourish Yin? They include things that grow in water, such as rice, lotus root, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and so on. Additionally, foods that grow in shaded areas facing north, such as black fungus and mushrooms, are also good for nourishing Yin. Winter wheat and sweet potatoes, which grow in the ground, are also excellent for nourishing Yin. Since the earth represents Yin and heaven represents Yang, these foods are great for nourishing Yin. Next, we will discuss how maintaining the balance of Yin and Yang leads to health and longevity; however, if Yin and Yang are imbalanced, it can easily lead to disease. So why does Yin and Yang become imbalanced? As we mentioned earlier, Yin and Yang are interdependent, complementary, and mutually restraining. If one side becomes deficient or excessive, the other side will compensate. If we compensate excessively, then Yang Qi and Yin essence cannot maintain normal balance. This leads to Yin and Yang disharmony, which can cause various health issues. Let’s take a look at some manifestations of Yin and Yang disharmony.
First, we must mention sub-health, which has a high incidence rate. It is a physiological state between health and disease. What causes sub-health? Due to the body’s remarkable self-regulatory ability, it can compensate for mild Yin and Yang imbalances and maintain a temporary balance for a period of time. This balance is what we call a “so-called balance”; thus, sub-health falls into this category of mild imbalance. Sub-health often signals a red light for us. Many people may experience sub-health conditions. If we observe symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, excessive sweating, hair loss, emotional instability, and decreased physiological functions (such as appetite, sleep, and sexual function), as well as difficulty concentrating, we should consider that we may be experiencing sub-health. I will repeat: the essence of sub-health is deficiency, and most sub-health conditions are due to deficiency, arising from internal organ weakness, etc. If we experience unexplained fatigue, sweating, hair loss, emotional instability, decreased physiological functions, and difficulty concentrating, we should consider whether we are in a state of sub-health and seek further examination.
People in sub-health are in a state between health and disease. As we mentioned, they can work and live like healthy individuals, but they are no longer considered healthy; they have fallen below the threshold of health. Sub-health actually has three declines: one is a decline in vitality. Everyone can live with vitality, but those in sub-health lack this vitality; their life vitality declines. Additionally, physiological functions such as appetite, sleep, and sexual function decline, as well as a decrease in psychological resilience. The greatest danger of sub-health is that it may harbor hidden diseases that are silently progressing. Therefore, if we find ourselves in a sub-health state, we should go to the hospital for further examination. If no issues are found, we should consider whether we are overly fatigued, as overwork is a major cause of sub-health. We should also check for malnutrition, insufficient sleep, or excessive psychological stress, and consider whether any of these factors are present. If any of these factors exist, we should quickly adjust our lifestyle. Sub-health can gradually recover, as it is a mild state of Yin and Yang imbalance, and we should consider it a very important condition.
What happens in cases of severe Yin and Yang imbalance? Severe Yin and Yang imbalance can lead to disease and premature aging. The most common condition is Yang deficiency. As we mentioned, if Yang is deficient, we need to absorb Yang and consume Yang-nourishing foods. What is Yang deficiency? Yang deficiency refers to the decline in the function of a specific organ, resulting in insufficient heat production. This is why Yang deficiency leads to cold symptoms, such as feeling cold, having cold hands and feet, and experiencing fatigue and weakness. The pulse is weak, which indicates Yang deficiency. Therefore, the main characteristics of Yang deficiency are insufficient heat production and cold symptoms, along with fatigue and weakness. We should consider whether a specific organ is experiencing functional decline. Are we overly fatigued? Have we consumed excessively cold foods? Have we been ill for a long time, leading to Yang deficiency? Have we had improper diets or malnutrition that damaged Yang Qi? These are considerations we should make.
Additionally, Yin deficiency is also a significant aspect of Yin and Yang balance. What are the characteristics of Yin deficiency? Yin deficiency occurs when the body’s fluids, such as blood and essence, are depleted, leading to a hyperactive Yang state. This results in internal heat, which manifests as five-center heat (palms, soles, and chest), night sweats, and symptoms such as dry mouth and red tongue. We should consider whether we are experiencing Yin deficiency, which often arises from prolonged illness, excessive fatigue, or liver Qi stagnation leading to fire damaging Yin. This indicates that in the case of Yin and Yang imbalance, we should consider whether Yang Qi and Yin Qi are deficient, as deficiency is often the most common issue. Of course, there are also conditions of Yang excess and Yin excess, which are more complex situations. Therefore, to maintain health, we must first understand the issues of Yang deficiency and Yin deficiency. So how do we maintain the balance of Yin and Yang in life? We repeatedly emphasize that the balance of Yin and Yang is of great significance to health. We stress that the Yin and Yang of nature and the human body must continuously maintain balance. How can we achieve this balance through health preservation? We know that human life reserves are limited. Every product, including life and individuals, has limited energy reserves. Therefore, we must arrange our lives reasonably. Life can be likened to a burning candle; the brighter it burns, the sooner it will extinguish. Thus, in health preservation, we must pay attention to energy-saving practices. Energy-saving health preservation includes quiet health preservation, slow health preservation, and low-temperature health preservation—these three major principles. The purpose of energy-saving health preservation is to protect Yang Qi and Yin essence, avoiding unnecessary loss, thereby maintaining the balance of Yin and Yang in life and ensuring that our energy is used efficiently without unnecessary waste.
First, let’s discuss quiet health preservation. Quiet health preservation is a gentle approach to life. The significance of quiet health preservation is that it can reduce the loss of Yang Qi and Yin essence, thereby maintaining the balance of Yin and Yang and delaying aging to extend lifespan. To practice quiet health preservation, we must first calm our minds. Why? Because only when the mind is calm can life also become calm. When the mind is calm, breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure can all slow down, leading to a reduction in overall stress. Therefore, we should aim to calm our minds. I recommend practicing five minutes of quiet health exercises, which can be done during breaks, before sleep, or after work. The method is to sit or lie down comfortably, close your eyes halfway, let your arms hang naturally, and focus your mind on the lower dantian, which is located three inches below the navel. This area is where the lower dantian is located. Then, take deep breaths while thinking of something beautiful, concentrating your attention on the lower dantian. This is called focusing on one thought instead of many. By concentrating on one beautiful thought and practicing deep breathing with a rhythmic, slow pace for five minutes, you will see results. Of course, 15 minutes is even better, allowing you to calm down effectively.
Next, we have slow health preservation. Slow health preservation is also a very important strategy for energy-saving health preservation. The significance of slow health preservation is that according to the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), ancient people had a breathing rate of 6.4 seconds per breath, while modern people have a rate of 3.3 seconds. This shows that as the pace of life accelerates, the breathing rate has also increased. The length of life is inversely proportional to the breathing rate; the slower the breathing rate, the longer the life. Therefore, slow health preservation is extremely important. How can we achieve slow health preservation? First, we must slow down our minds. When the mind slows down, breathing and heart rate can also slow down, which helps reduce the loss of Yang Qi and Yin essence. We say that office workers must maintain a fast pace during work because society is competitive, and we cannot afford to be slow. However, after work, we should switch to a slower pace. We can do household chores slowly, take a leisurely bath, and spend time with children. There should be a clear distinction between the fast pace of work and the slow pace of home life. The general principle is to have a balance of fast and slow, tight and loose, busy and relaxed.
The third aspect of energy-saving health preservation is low-temperature health preservation. Low-temperature health preservation is about conserving life. The significance of low-temperature health preservation is highlighted in the classic text, the Huangdi Neijing, which states, “Those at high altitudes have longer lifespans, while those at lower altitudes have shorter lifespans.” This indicates that people living in high mountains tend to live longer due to the lower temperatures. This inspires us to consider low-temperature health preservation. Low-temperature health preservation can reduce metabolism, slow down the loss of Yang Qi and Yin essence. How can we practice low-temperature health preservation? First, in winter, we should not keep the room temperature too high; heating should not be excessive, as this is not conducive to low-temperature health preservation. Additionally, we should connect with the earth more, absorb Yin Qi, and drink underground water, well water, or mineral water. Furthermore, low-temperature health preservation involves consuming more aquatic foods, such as rice, winter foods like winter wheat, and winter fruits like winter pears, apples, winter melons, and winter jujubes. In summary, quiet health preservation, slow health preservation, and low-temperature health preservation are interrelated and are three important strategies for energy conservation in life. These practices play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of Yin and Yang in life by protecting Yin essence and Yang Qi from unnecessary loss.
Life reserves are the foundation for maintaining the balance of Yin and Yang. Life reserves consist of three main elements: diet, sleep, and sexual health. These three elements are essential for increasing life reserves and maintaining the balance of Yin and Yang. First, let’s discuss dietary health. Dietary health is about nourishing life. It involves both supplementation and detoxification to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang. First, let’s look at supplementation. Supplementation means providing nutrition. From the moment we are born, our internal organs are constantly consuming and depleting energy, so we must continuously replenish nutrition. This is supplementation. On the other hand, detoxification means clearing waste. Throughout life, we continuously produce waste. Therefore, we must eliminate life waste. How do we clear life waste? Our bodies constantly produce waste, and I will introduce five methods. The first method is detoxification through diet, such as eating radishes and greens to promote bowel movements and prevent colorectal cancer. This is important because many people suffer from constipation due to accumulated waste. Therefore, promoting bowel movements is crucial. The second method is diuresis, which involves the bladder, which acts as a toilet for the body. We should drink green tea, exercise, and drink water to cleanse the bladder, especially in the morning and evening. This diuretic method helps eliminate waste from the body. The third method is promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, which is very important because it helps clear vascular blockages. We know that once people reach middle age, their blood vessels often have varying degrees of blockage. Therefore, promoting blood circulation and clearing vascular blockages is essential. We can achieve this through exercise and consuming foods or herbs that promote blood circulation, such as hawthorn and other red foods. Red foods are beneficial for promoting blood circulation and clearing vascular blockages, such as tomatoes, red carrots, red peaches, and red watermelons, which are all good for protecting our blood vessels.
We should also cleanse our pores and sweat glands, which can be done through exercise, drinking ginger soup, hot porridge, consuming spicy foods, or a small amount of alcohol. Sweating helps open the pores and detoxify the body. Additionally, we can use detoxification methods to eliminate toxins from the body. For example, we can drink mung bean soup, ginger soup, green tea, and consume more fruits and vegetables to help expel toxins. This is detoxification. Therefore, we should use various detoxification methods daily. The methods I just introduced can help eliminate life waste from our bodies. If life waste accumulates in the blood vessels, it can lead to atherosclerosis; if it accumulates in the intestines, it can lead to cancer; if it accumulates in the bladder, it can lead to edema and bladder cancer. Therefore, detoxification is very important for clearing life waste.
How do we balance nutrition throughout our lives? We should balance nutrition according to the transformations of Yin and Yang. During adolescence, individuals are in a phase of Yang increase, so they should focus on Yang supplementation, consuming more animal protein and milk. In middle age, the balance of Yin and Yang is stable, so we should consume both animal and plant proteins equally. In old age, when Yin increases and Yang decreases, we should focus on nourishing Yin essence, primarily consuming plant proteins, such as soy milk, which can lower blood lipids. Therefore, dietary nutrition is very important. We emphasize that a balanced diet is the fundamental guarantee for maintaining life balance. The Huangdi Neijing states, “Grains nourish, vegetables supplement, and fruits assist,” meaning that grains, meat, fruits, and vegetables should be consumed in moderation. We must ensure a balanced diet and not be picky eaters; we should eat a variety of foods to supplement deficiencies and maintain the balance of Yin and Yang. It is important to note that our staple foods should primarily be rice and wheat, while other grains like beans and corn should be supplementary and not the main focus. Otherwise, we may fall into the trap of overcorrection. Additionally, I want to emphasize the importance of breakfast. Breakfast is crucial because if we eat well in the morning, we can replenish our life reserves, ensuring that our brain and body receive adequate nutrition for optimal functioning throughout the day. Therefore, I recommend that students, professionals, and those working early shifts prioritize a nutritious breakfast, ideally including some animal protein. This will help ensure that you have abundant energy for your fourth class or from 10:30 to 11:30. Eating a good breakfast leads to a good day, while lunch should be balanced, and dinner should be adjusted based on individual circumstances. Older adults should eat less at night since they will soon rest, while younger individuals should still eat well at night to support their studies. Therefore, dietary adjustments should be tailored to different ages and lifestyles.
In addition to diet, sleep is essential for life. Sleep serves to recharge the body. The purpose of sleep is to adjust the balance of Yin and Yang and achieve life preservation. We advocate for taking a nap during the hours of the Rat and the Horse. Why should we nap during these hours? The Rat hour is from 11 PM to 1 AM, which is when Yin and Yang converge. According to the Huangdi Neijing, during the Rat hour, Yin and Yang converge, and it is the best time for restorative sleep. Therefore, I advise everyone not to stay up late. In fact, sharpening the knife does not delay the work of cutting wood. If we sleep well, we will be energetic the next day. Why stay up late and feel tired the next day, affecting our performance?
Additionally, the Horse hour is from 11 AM to 1 PM, when Yang Qi is at its peak. This is the time for Yang convergence. Therefore, individuals with Yang deficiency should take a nap during this time to nourish Yang. However, those with excess Yang should take a short break and then return to work, as Yang Qi is most abundant at noon, making it the most efficient time for work. Thus, health preservation should be tailored to individual needs. The principle is to sleep deeply during the Rat hour and take a short rest during the Horse hour. A short rest can involve lying down or sitting quietly for 15 to 30 minutes, ideally in a semi-reclined or flat position, as this is very beneficial for the liver. According to TCM theory, the liver governs fatigue and blood distribution. If we can lie down during the noon hour, even for just 15 minutes, it will greatly benefit our liver, ensuring good blood flow to the brain and maintaining energy levels for the afternoon.
Finally, we have sexual health. Sexual health is about coordinating life. The significance of sexual health lies in its ability to balance Yin and Yang. When Yin and Yang are balanced, aging can be slowed, and lifespan can be extended. Practice has also shown that happy families and loving couples tend to live longer, while unhappy families and discordant couples rarely achieve longevity. This highlights the importance of sexual health. How can we practice sexual health? It is crucial to avoid excessive sexual activity, as this can lead to excessive depletion of kidney essence, resulting in kidney deficiency. In TCM, kidney essence is considered the root of life, closely related to the processes of birth, growth, aging, and death. Therefore, the first principle of health preservation is to nourish the kidneys, which are extremely important in the human body. Thus, moderation in sexual activity is key to health preservation and the first principle of sexual health. Ancient emperors, despite their luxurious lifestyles, often did not live long because they had numerous concubines and could not practice proper sexual health, leading to the depletion of their kidney essence and damaging the foundation of life, resulting in shorter lifespans.
Therefore, we have discussed that slow health preservation, quiet health preservation, and low-temperature health preservation are energy-saving practices for life, while dietary health, sleep health, and sexual health are reserve practices for life. These practices work together to maintain the balance of Yin essence and Yang Qi, thereby maintaining the balance of life’s Yin and Yang. If we can manage this balance well, we can enjoy a healthy life. In summary, our health preservation principles involve various methods to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang in life, and our health preservation philosophy is that balance of Yin and Yang leads to a healthy life. China Traditional Chinese Medicine News
