Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture

TCM health preservation refers to health care activities aimed at enhancing physical fitness, preventing diseases, and prolonging life through various methods under the guidance of TCM theory.

The concepts of TCM health preservation are conforming to nature, balancing yin and yang, and adapting to individual differences.

Emotions, diet, daily life, and exercise are the four cornerstones of TCM health preservation.

TCM health preservation emphasizes comprehensive maintenance and conditioning, starting from adolescence and persisting consistently.

The TCM thought of "treating pre-disease" covers the entire process of health and disease, mainly including three stages: first, "preventing disease before its occurrence" to avoid the onset of diseases; second, "preventing disease progression" to stop the development of existing diseases; third, "preventing recurrence after recovery" to avoid the recurrence of cured diseases.

TCM health preservation uses the natural properties of traditional Chinese medicines to regulate the ups and downs of qi, blood, yin, and yang in the human body. Attention should be paid to differences in age, constitution, and season when taking traditional Chinese medicines.

Medicine and food share the same origin. Common Chinese medicines that are both medicinal and edible include: honey, Chinese yam, lotus seeds, jujubes, longan pulp, wolfberry fruit, walnut kernels, poria cocos, ginger, chrysanthemum, mung beans, sesame, garlic, prickly ash, hawthorn, etc.

The five major acupoints for TCM health preservation are Tanzhong (CV17), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zusanli (ST36), Yongquan (KI1), and Guanyuan (CV4).

Basic methods of self-acupressure include: point pressing, kneading, pinching, grasping, rubbing, and tapping.

Gua sha (scraping therapy) can activate blood circulation, relax tendons, dredge collaterals, relieve stagnation, and dispel pathogens.

Cupping therapy can dispel cold and dampness, eliminate stasis, relieve swelling and pain, and remove toxic heat.

TCM Health Preservation: Healthy Lifestyle and Behaviors

Maintain a peaceful mind, adapt to social conditions, and live and work positively and optimistically.

Live a regular daily life, conform to the changing laws of morning and night, spring, summer, autumn, and winter in nature, and persist in it.

Key points for daily life in four seasons: go to bed late and get up early in spring and summer; go to bed early and get up early in autumn; go to bed early and get up late in winter.

Pay attention to the balanced collocation of nutrients such as grains, vegetables, fruits, and poultry meat in the diet, and avoid partiality for certain foods.

Chew food slowly, do not overeat, concentrate on meals, and keep a happy mood.

Eat a good breakfast, a full lunch, and a light dinner. Wash hands before meals and rinse mouth after meals.

Women have physiological cycles such as menstrual period, pregnancy period, lactation period, and menopause, and health preservation has its own characteristics in each period.

Do not smoke and drink cautiously to reduce the occurrence of related diseases.

People's feet age first; foot bathing has good health preservation effects.

Exercise moderation in sexual life: desire should not be suppressed, nor indulged.

People with weak constitutions can take appropriate tonics in winter. Do not overfeed children.

Common Health Preservation Contents

01 Emotional Health Preservation

A health preservation method to achieve physical and mental peace and emotional pleasure by controlling and regulating emotions.

02 Dietary Health Preservation

A health preservation method to obtain health by changing dietary patterns and selecting appropriate foods according to individual constitution types.

03 Exercise Health Preservation

A health preservation method to maintain health, enhance physical fitness, prolong life, and delay aging by practicing traditional TCM health preservation items. Common items include Tai Chi, Baduanjin (Eight-Section Brocade), Five-Animal Games, Six-Word Formula, etc.

04 Seasonal Health Preservation

Adopting corresponding health preservation methods according to the changes of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

05 Meridian and Acupoint Health Preservation

Based on TCM meridian theory, a health preservation method to dredge meridians and balance yin and yang through acupuncture, tuina (massage), exercise, etc., according to the functions and indications of TCM meridians and acupoints.

06 Constitution-Based Health Preservation

Formulating daily health preservation methods suitable for oneself according to the characteristics of different constitutions. Common constitution types include nine categories: balanced constitution, yang-deficient constitution, yin-deficient constitution, qi-deficient constitution, phlegm-damp constitution, damp-heat constitution, blood-stasis constitution, qi-stagnant constitution, and special constitution.

Common Recommended Health Preservation Methods

01 Knocking Teeth Method

When waking up every morning, clench the upper and lower teeth together: first knock the molars 30 times, then knock the front teeth 30 times. Helps strengthen the teeth.

02 Closing Mouth and Regulating Breath Method

Frequently close the mouth to adjust breathing, keeping it even and gentle.

03 Swallowing Saliva Method

Every morning, press the tongue against the upper palate or lick the upper palate with the tip of the tongue. When saliva fills the mouth, swallow it in several mouthfuls. Helps digestion.

04 Rubbing Face Method

Every morning, rub the hands until hot. Starting from both sides of the nose, move upward along the nose with the middle fingers, then separate the hands to both sides at the forehead and move downward along the cheeks. Repeat more than 10 times until the face feels slightly warm. Can make the face ruddy and shiny, and relieve fatigue.

05 Combing Hair Method

Insert the ten fingers of both hands into the hair, comb from front to back, and knead the head each time for 50-100 times. Helps dredge qi and blood and refresh the mind.

06 Eye Exercise Method

Rotate the eyeballs slowly clockwise and counterclockwise 10 times each; then look far away for a while. Helps improve eyesight and relieve eye fatigue.

07 Ear Covering Method

Cover both ears with hands, bow the head and raise it 5-7 times. Can make the mind clear and eliminate distractions.

08 Lifting Qi Method

When inhaling, slightly exert force to lift the anus and perineum upward; after a short while, slowly exhale and lower them. Do this 5-7 times a day. Beneficial to the circulation of qi.

09 Abdominal Massage Method

After each meal, use the palm to massage the abdomen clockwise around the navel about 30 times. Helps digestion and relieves abdominal distension.

10 Foot Palm Massage Method

Before going to bed every day, massage the foot palm with the thumb clockwise 100 times. Has the effect of strengthening the waist and consolidating the kidney.