Traditional Chinese Medicine for Health: Nourishing the Heart and Virtue
By Dr. Liu Jing, Chief Physician of Dermatology
Professor Deng Tietao, a staunch advocate of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), famously said, “To maintain health, one must first nourish the heart; to cultivate character, one must first nurture virtue.” At the age of 104, he exemplifies this philosophy.
The study of TCM has a long history, deeply rooted in ancient Chinese cosmology, history, philosophy, and the wisdom of various ethnic groups. It integrates the experiences and research findings of historical figures in Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and various health practitioners, forming a profound and extensive academic system. The philosophy of health aligns closely with the national strategy outlined in the “Healthy China 2030 Planning Outline,” which emphasizes a people-centered approach to health. Health is the most important indicator of a happy life; health is the foundation (1), and everything else follows.
The concept of health has two components. Nourishing: maintaining, regulating, supplementing, and protecting. Life: existence, living, and lifestyle. Literally, health means maintaining human life. It encompasses all activities aimed at promoting health and longevity based on the irreversible changes in the quantity and quality of human growth and aging, as well as the laws of nature and society. This includes both material and spiritual aspects, covering the entire life cycle. Professor Deng’s famous saying, “To maintain health, one must first nourish the heart; to cultivate character, one must first nurture virtue,” has been widely discussed throughout history. Confucius said, “The benevolent live long.” In the Western Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu stated in “Chunqiu Fanlu: Following the Way of Heaven,” “Thus, the reason benevolent people live long is that they are free from greed externally and pure internally, their hearts are peaceful and just, and they take the beauty of heaven and earth to nourish themselves, which leads to longevity and health.” In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong wrote in “Baopuzi: Inner Chapters: Response to the Mundane,” “If one does not cultivate virtue but only pursues techniques, one cannot achieve longevity.” In the Tang Dynasty, Cui Dunli stated in “Chuyuan: Volume One,” “A clear heart and few desires lead to longevity.” How can we cultivate virtue? In summary, there are three points: Great virtue leads to longevity; the benevolent seek righteousness; cultivating virtue and character leads to longevity; a clear heart and few desires return to simplicity.
Nourishing the heart comes first, as stated in the “Lingshu,” “The heart is the master of the five organs and six bowels… Therefore, sorrow and worry move the heart, and when the heart moves, all the organs and bowels are affected.” Here, the heart can be divided into two categories based on its function: the “substantial heart” and the “spiritual heart.” The substantial heart refers to the heart as an organ in a morphological and anatomical sense. The functional heart refers to the spiritual heart, which has the function of “housing the spirit” and “governing consciousness.” Thus, the “Suwen: Linglan Mijian Lun” states, “The heart is the official of the sovereign, from which the spirit emerges.” Additionally, the heart is also the heart of the whole. The “Suwen: Generation of the Five Organs” states, “The heart is the source of life and the transformation of the spirit; its manifestation is on the face, and its fullness is in the blood vessels, being the sun among the yang.” This indicates that the heart of the whole is unified with heaven, earth, and humanity. In nature, it corresponds with the summer heat. In humans, its manifestation is on the face, opening at the tongue, associated with joy in emotions, and with sweat in fluids, corresponding to the small intestine. To nourish the heart, one must not forget to open the heart meridians; blockage in the heart meridians can lead to significant harm.
How should we nourish the spirit of the heart?
1. Nourish the heart spirit with regular health check-ups;
2. Nourish the heart spirit by getting good sleep;
3. Nourish the heart spirit by being broad-minded and calm;
4. Nourish the heart spirit by focusing on nourishing qi and blood, and unblocking the blood vessels;
In daily life, we can also nourish the heart through diet. Pay attention to three increases and three decreases in your diet. Three increases: eat more whole grains, mixed grains, fresh vegetables, and soy products. Three decreases: reduce high-fat and high-cholesterol foods; reduce salt intake; and limit alcohol consumption. Additionally, one can appropriately consume heart-nourishing health foods such as longan (Longan), lotus seeds (Lian Zi), lily bulbs (Bai He), and lotus leaves (He Ye).
Here is a heart-nourishing and calming dietary formula: 10 grams each of sour jujube seed (Suan Zao Ren), schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), ophiopogon (Mai Dong), lotus seed heart (Lian Zi Xin), and licorice (Gan Cao) steeped in water as a tea substitute. For those with poor sleep, one can drink the sweet wheat and jujube soup from the “Jinkui Yaolue”: 15 grams of licorice, 50 grams of wheat, and 10 grams of jujube. First, add 600ml of water and boil the licorice for 15 minutes, strain the liquid, then add the wheat and jujube. Boil and drink. The “Buzheng” states: “The three herbs are balanced, nourishing the stomach, generating fluids, and transforming blood; when the fluids reach the heart, it calms the spirit, alleviating symptoms of sadness and sighing.”
Expert Introduction
Dr. Liu Jing
Chief Physician of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
Master’s Supervisor
PhD
Vice President of the First Chinese Medicine Aesthetic Society of Guangdong Province
Deputy Chair of the Medical Aesthetics Professional Committee of the Guangdong Province Association of Integrative Medicine
Deputy Chair of the Chinese Medicine Aesthetic Branch of the Guangdong Province Chinese Medicine Association
Executive Member of the Dermatology Professional Committee of the Guangdong Province Chinese Medicine Association
Standing Committee Member of the Dermatology and Venereology Professional Committee of the Guangdong Province Association of Integrative Medicine
Executive Member of the Beauty External Treatment Working Committee of the Chinese Medicine Association
Engaged in dermatology for over 20 years in medical practice, education, and research
Has led and participated in over 10 national and provincial research projects
Reviewer for the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and expert reviewer for the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology
Published over 60 high-quality papers
[Consultation Schedule] Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday all day; Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon.
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Proofread by: Sheng Yanwen
Edited by: Liang Yunyi, Reviewed by: Li Zimiao, Chief Editor: Wang Yucheng
Approved by: Liu Yiting
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