A Holistic Way to Slow Down Aging
Aging is a chronic, progressive yet degenerative process. In the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine states: "one who is over 40 years of age will only have half of his yin qi left", that means the body’s fundamental substances and physiological functions have declined greatly in the forties. Anti-aging measures should start early in one's life in order to get the most out of their time on earth.
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| (urethra or vagina and anus) Orifices are the organs' openings on the body surface. |
According to TCM holistic view, the body is an organic whole in which the components are interdependent and interactive with each other, mutually coordinating physiologically and pathologically. The premise for anti-aging treatment is to maintain overall good health, eat a balanced diet, have the proper amount of sleep, a positive mood, and avoid extreme stimulations from the outside environment. See "Health Maintenance in Chinese Medicine". This holistic approach to health and well-being keeps the internal harmony and staves off premature aging.
There is saying in TCM: "Women begin to deteriorate in the Yang Ming Meridians with corresponding changes shown in the face first, while men begin with a declined kidney and the early signs will usually be loose teeth and hair loss". Nevertheless, changes in appearance usually herald our first awareness of aging; thereafter, it will be problems of the nine orifices such as eyes, ears, nose, mouth, urethra (or vagina) and anus, and finally, mental deterioration. The changes in appearance, physique and mental are the most obvious signs of aging, they change along with the overall degeneration of the body, and are reflections of internal disharmonies. Therefore, simply taking care of the appearance, physique or mental alone is hard to achieve the anti-aging purpose, a coordinated internal condition such as stable organ functioning, unblock meridian system, effective blood and qi circulations are the root for deferring the body’s degeneration process.
Since aging is mainly due to congenital essence (stored in kidney) being used up while the ability to supply acquired essence (originated from spleen) declines. The kidney is regarded as the congenital foundation, which the spleen is regarded as the acquired foundation of the body, invigoration two organs are always employed in the anti-aging remedies. Besides that, TCM will considers particular pathological factors of individuals and employs methods such as activating blood, removing stasis, eliminating dampness, resolving phlegm, regulating liver and qi.
To stay young, TCM anti-aging plan is often divided into three aspects: skin health, physique health and mental health. A wide variety of remedies are used to maintain and nourish these aspects so as to moderate the ageing process.
Generally, the managing methods are based on following principles:
Generally, the managing methods are based on following principles:
- Keeping skin young: replenishing blood and activating its circulation, nourishing yin and support lubrication effect.
- Delay physical aging: enhancing spleen, protecting stomach, invigorating kidney and nourishing liver.
- Delay mental aging: nourishing heart, enhancing spleen and regulating liver.
It should be stressed that skin health, physique health and mental health cannot be treated separately, as they are complementary to each other. You are unlikely to stay younger by simply focusing on skin or physique or mental conditions, only comprehensive approach that fulfils personal needs can achieve a substantial effect. Anti-aging should not be relied on one single prescription, but use different prescriptions alternatively, or adhere to one major prescription and aid with other methods.
