First Tip: Drink Cool Water Upon Waking
“In the morning, the stomach qi is at its weakest, therefore drinking cool water stimulates the stomach qi, this is the first principle of health preservation.”
This means that when a person just wakes up, the stomach qi is weakest, and they cannot eat yet; they should only drink cool boiled water to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to create a feeling of hunger. It is important to note that those with yang deficiency or spleen and stomach weakness should drink warm water, and during spring, summer, and winter, ginger water is preferable. It is best to avoid beverages like fruit juice, cola, soda, coffee, and milk.
Second Tip: Drink Soup at Lunch
“At noon, drink Baoyuan Soup and avoid eating meat, supplementing while avoiding meat toxins, and consume coarse food and small dishes to wrap the intestinal toxins, this is the second principle of health preservation.”
“Meat soup does not harm people. However, meat chunks in the stomach can produce meat toxins, which are extremely harmful.” It is advisable to first drink Baoyuan Soup made from pig trotters, or soups made from fish, chicken, or ribs, and then eat coarse grains and small dishes. This way, one can “avoid meat toxins and wrap intestinal toxins.”
Modern medicine has found that when people consume solid meat, they can absorb at most 30%, while the remaining 70% forms feces in the colon, which, when fermented, produces harmful chemical substances such as lactic acid, indole, and hydrogen sulfide, leading to self-poisoning, manifested as fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, constipation, and frequent minor illnesses, even causing widespread skeletal pain, which accelerates aging over time.
Additionally, one should not overeat; being seven-tenths full is sufficient. If dinner is too heavy, children may stop eating and develop a fever; young people may have nightmares that harm the brain; and the elderly may be at risk of sudden death.
Third Tip: Nap to Nourish Yang
“A short rest after meals nourishes the spirit, this is the third principle of health preservation.”
During noon (between 11 AM and 1 PM), a short nap is the time when the body’s meridian qi is “harmonizing with yang.” After lunch, most blood flows to the digestive organs, and one may feel drowsy and yawn frequently. It is advisable to engage in light activity for about half an hour after eating, then take a nap.
Research shows that effective napping can improve brain metabolism, allowing the fatigued brain nerves from the morning to receive ample fresh blood and nutrients, reducing the incidence of “angina” and “cerebral infarction,” which is beneficial for nourishing yang. A nap of 30 minutes to 1 hour is recommended.
Fourth Tip: Fresh Fruit After Napping
“After a short rest, drink fruit juice to nourish the blood vessels, this is the fourth principle of health preservation.”
After napping, one should drink fruit juice to replenish natural vitamins “to nourish the blood vessels.”
It is best to choose fresh fruits (or fresh vegetables), wash them, and juice them using a juicer for hygiene and safety. The juice should be consumed immediately and not stored.
Fifth Tip: Exercise and Shout in the Afternoon
“In the afternoon, move and sweat, shouting for joy, this is the fifth principle of health preservation.”
Every day around 4 PM is when the body’s metabolic rate is highest, making it less likely to get injured during exercise.
During exercise, it is advisable to sweat lightly and shout loudly, which helps to raise clear qi and lower turbid qi, achieving the goal of strengthening the body.
Sixth Tip: Do Not Eat After Noon
“Do not eat after noon, to eliminate excess fat and nourish the stomach qi, this is the sixth principle of health preservation.”
Daoist health preservation advocates “not eating after noon,” meaning one should not have dinner, to “eliminate excess fat and nourish the stomach qi.”
Some may ask, will not eating dinner or eating less make one feel hungry? Evidence shows that not eating dinner does not affect health; rather, it induces a strong feeling of hunger, making one less prone to illness.
Dinner can vary by person; one may drink a bowl of Baoyuan Soup, or have a bowl of porridge, or eat some fruit. In any case, dinner should be light rather than heavy, which is beneficial for weight loss and health preservation.
Seventh Tip: Soak Feet Before Sleep
“Soak feet before sleep, warming the meridians to raise clear qi, clear qi rises and one does not die. This is the seventh principle of health preservation.”
Before sleeping, one should soak their feet. The water for soaking should be boiling; first, use hot water to steam the feet, then soak them in hot water; after the water cools, dry the feet.
In Chinese folk sayings, it is said, “Washing feet daily is better than taking medicine.” The Southern Song poet Lu You understood this principle well and consistently soaked his feet before bed, stating, “After washing my feet at night, my limbs are free from cold ailments.” Soaking feet in hot water before bed can warm the feet, promote blood circulation, and relieve meridian blockages, which can enhance metabolism, strengthen organ function, and aid in sleep.
Especially for the elderly, soaking feet before sleep can stimulate foot acupoints, utilizing the meridian effects to prevent various unforeseen issues, promoting health and longevity.
Eighth Tip: Cultivate Contentment
“Trust in the Dao and be content, being content leads to happiness, happiness leads to health, thus the Buddha is the highest practitioner, this is the eighth principle of health preservation.”
The Constitution of our country clearly states that people have the freedom of religious belief.
Believing in religion can lead people to goodness and happiness. Any religious doctrine can be seen as an encyclopedia of life, covering all aspects, leading to contentment and happiness, which helps to keep away depression and disease, maintaining a healthy and optimistic mood, beneficial for longevity, and aligns with the theory of “preventing disease before it occurs.”
Ninth Tip: Preserve Essence and Nourish Qi
“Sleep alone to preserve essence and qi. Sufficient essence and qi lead to longevity. Engaging in sexual activity once a month is sufficient, this is the ninth principle of health preservation.”
Daoism advocates that after middle age, couples should sleep separately to avoid disturbance, which is hygienic and beneficial for health; sexual activity should be moderated, with once a month being sufficient. This should vary by individual.
For the elderly, whether to sleep separately depends on their health conditions; if there are issues like hypertension or coronary heart disease, sleeping together may be necessary for care; as for sexual activity, it should also depend on age and health status, emphasizing that what benefits health and longevity is the most important principle.
Tenth Tip: Cleanse the Intestines During the Full Moon
“To live long, the intestines must be kept clean; during the full moon, cleanse the intestines to eliminate impurities and toxins, this is the tenth principle of health preservation.”
Daoist health preservation places great importance on the smoothness of bowel movements, stating, “To live long, the intestines must be kept clean.” The Eastern Han philosopher Wang Chong also pointed out in his work “Lunheng”: “To achieve longevity, the intestines must be clean; to avoid death, the intestines must be free of residue,” meaning that maintaining smooth bowel movements is essential for health preservation.
Modern research has found that feces accumulating in the intestines for long periods can ferment, producing nitrosamines, methyl indole, benzopyrene, and other toxic substances and gases, leading to obstructed venous return, resulting in decreased appetite, bitter mouth, bad breath, nausea, abdominal bloating, irritability, dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, insomnia, and other symptoms, which can lead to hemorrhoids, anal fissures, prolapse, and may even induce hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, and colorectal cancer, severely harming health. Therefore, it is essential to maintain “clean intestines” in daily life. One should develop a habit of regular bowel movements, pay attention to hydration, increase physical activity, and can perform self-massage on the abdomen to promote bowel movements.
In summary, the ten essential tips for Daoist health preservation are worth emulating. In today’s society, everyone has their own habits, and uniformity cannot be enforced; individuality should be emphasized. Of course, combining ancient health preservation methods with modern scientific approaches is beneficial for disease prevention and longevity, and is worth our imitation.
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