The concept of health preservation in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes harmony with nature and the balance of yin and yang. This harmony allows individuals to maintain a balanced state with society, nature, and their surrounding environment, thereby promoting health and sustaining life.
Many people’s lifestyles today often contradict natural laws. For instance, they may use the time meant for sleep to play on their phones, work on computers, socialize with friends, or work overtime. During the day, they may feel lethargic despite having normal work and life schedules. In winter, when warmth and protection from the cold are essential, many young people wear cropped pants that expose their ankles, and ice cream shops continue to thrive. In summer, air conditioning is set to a chilling level, while in winter, heating is excessively warm. Such lifestyles, which go against natural rhythms, can lead to an imbalance of yin and yang and disharmony of qi and blood over time. Consequently, an increasing number of diseases are becoming prevalent and affecting younger populations.
Health preservation in TCM refers to activities guided by TCM principles aimed at enhancing physical fitness, preventing diseases, and prolonging life.
The term ‘养’ (yang) means to nourish, maintain, and supplement; while ‘生’ (sheng) refers to life, existence, and growth. In modern terms, health preservation involves actively engaging in physical and mental care activities according to the natural laws of human life processes.
Health care refers to effective measures taken to maintain and enhance people’s physical and mental health, including the prevention of various factors that may lead to mental or physical illnesses.
The main characteristics of the TCM theoretical system are its holistic perspective and the principle of 辨证论治 (bianzheng lunzhi), which emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans with nature, society, and the body itself. Humans live within the natural world, which provides the environment and necessary conditions for survival and reproduction. Elements such as sunlight, air, water, temperature, magnetic fields, gravity, and the biosphere constitute the environment essential for human existence, while changes in the natural environment can directly or indirectly affect human life activities.
Wise individuals understand how to align with the natural rhythms of yin and yang changes, such as spring growth, summer flourishing, autumn harvest, and winter storage. For example, in spring and summer, one should go to bed late and rise early; in autumn, go to bed early and rise early; and in winter, go to bed early and rise late, thus following the natural cycle of day and night.
To harmonize yin and yang, the internal balance of the organs must be maintained. When the qi dynamics of the body are harmonious, including the various states of surface, cold and heat, deficiency and excess, the meridians and joints will be flexible, and the muscles and bones strong. This state is akin to water that does not stagnate and doors that do not rot, leading to longevity where both form and spirit are intact. This is the ultimate goal of our health preservation efforts. Many diseases are related to the body’s immune system; when the immune system produces antibodies that attack healthy cells, various complex conditions can arise, fundamentally reflecting an imbalance of yin and yang.
TCM health preservation advocates that individuals pay attention to every detail in daily life, starting from small aspects:
Perfect Health Period
For females aged 0-34 and males aged 0-39, this is the stage of optimal growth and physiological function, referred to as the perfect health period. During this time, most individuals may occasionally fall ill, but recovery is relatively easy after treatment.
Key Points for Health Preservation: 1. Provide sufficient and balanced nutritional intake. 2. Parents and teachers should educate children through example to develop healthy lifestyles. 3. Implement good psychological health education to cultivate a golden constitution and good character.
Maintenance of Health Period
For females aged 35-65 and males aged 40-65, this is the stage of maintaining physiological function, known as the maintenance of health period.
1. Disease-Prone Period: This refers to females aged 35-41 and males aged 40-47. For those who neglect their health, this is a disease-prone period and a dividing line between health and illness. During this time, individuals may achieve significant results in their careers, but also bear the heaviest burdens in work and family. Some may mistakenly believe that their good health and strong resistance allow them to overextend themselves, leading to a rapid decline in physiological function and the onset of chronic degenerative diseases and serious illnesses.
Key Points for Health Preservation: Recognize that you are in a disease-prone period and arrange your life and work appropriately to maintain normal physiological function.
2. High-Risk Period: Females aged 42-55 and males aged 48-60 are in a dangerous period. Due to prolonged dual pressures from work and family, individuals often experience significant psychological stress. In their drive to succeed, they may overlook many warning signals from their bodies, leading to cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, tumors, and even premature death.
Key Points for Health Preservation: Maintain and enhance the function of all bodily organs, prevent diseases before they occur, and prevent complications once diseases arise to extend the quality of life. Avoid overextending energy and strength based on the assumption of good health.
3. Transition Period: Females aged 56-65 and males aged 61-65 are in a transition period. During this time, many individuals have achieved career success, and the burdens of family responsibilities are largely completed, leading to reduced mental and economic pressures. However, at this age, some physiological functions may rapidly decline or have already been lost, resulting in significant changes in the body.
Key Points for Health Preservation: Be aware that your body is not what it used to be, but retirement life represents a new lifestyle. To maintain health, develop an appropriate fitness plan and take suitable measures to care for the body.
Decline of Function Period
After the age of 60, individuals enter the period of physiological decline. The appearance and function of organs, as well as physical agility, undergo qualitative changes, and bodily functions are in a state of accelerated decline. Those who neglect their health may suffer greatly from pain during this period.
Key Points for Health Preservation: 1. Regular health check-ups; seek medical treatment promptly for any discomfort. 2. Rely on retirement support institutions, follow the guidance of health preservation experts, and pay attention to every detail of health preservation, including training and care for joints, hearing, vision, and memory functions. 3. Adjust emotions and maintain an optimistic and positive mindset. 4. Correctly understand that bodily changes are a natural process of aging; do not complain or feel sad.
We must find suitable health preservation methods based on the characteristics of different ages and health conditions to achieve the goals of enhancing physical fitness, preventing diseases, and prolonging life. (Author affiliated with Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine)
