The book "Su Wen: On the Mysterious Origins of the Universe" points out: "At the age of seven, women's kidney energy is abundant, and their teeth grow longer; at the age of 14, the Heavenly Pool Meridian opens, the Tai Chong Meridian becomes vigorous, and menstruation occurs regularly, resulting in pregnancy... At the age of 49, the Heavenly Pool Meridian becomes deficient, the Tai Chong Meridian weakens, the Heavenly Pool is depleted, and the Earth Path is blocked, leading to physical deterioration and infertility." This shows that the growth, development, pregnancy, and aging of women are closely related to the Heavenly Pool. In traditional Chinese medicine, the Heavenly Pool refers to the estrogen that we are familiar with. Estrogen is mainly secreted by the ovaries.
The ovaries are the main organs that maintain female secondary sexual characteristics and are located on both sides of the uterus. Although the ovaries bring troubles of menstruation to women, they perform many important functions, the most important of which is the production of eggs and estrogen, which are the foundation of women's youth, beauty, and health.
From puberty to premenopause, the ovaries undergo cyclic changes in morphology and function. After women mature, the ovaries secrete estrogen and progesterone to regulate menstruation. At the same time, estrogen also promotes the development and maintenance of female secondary sexual characteristics, allowing women to radiate youthful vitality. Imbalance of estrogen affects menstruation in various ways. Many people's skin tends to be dry, dull, and lackluster a few days before and during menstruation. Fine wrinkles become more visible during this period due to a decrease in estrogen. Just like the earth, if it doesn't rain for a long time and lacks the nourishment of rain and dew, it will dry up and eventually crack. Moreover, insufficient estrogen can also cause symptoms such as reduced menstrual flow and low mood. If we compare menstruation to a car, then the ovaries are the engine. If the ovaries are weak and fail to produce enough hormones, the car of menstruation will not start or will stop due to engine failure. As women enter middle age, ovarian function begins to decline, hormone secretion levels decrease, and menstruation eventually stops. Breasts become soft and atrophied, and other sexual characteristics regress, causing women to gradually lose their youthful radiance.
As women age, around 45 to 50 years old, ovarian function naturally declines, and the body begins to age. However, there is no need to panic about this, as it is a normal physiological phenomenon that cannot be prevented. However, some white-collar women around the age of 35 have already shown signs of premature aging, such as reduced menstrual flow, dry skin, and irritability, which are caused by premature ovarian failure. The appearance of any disease has its warning signs, and menstruation is the warning sign of ovarian failure. Before the ovaries begin to age, women may experience a process of reduced menstruation leading to amenorrhea. Therefore, we should pay attention to changes in menstruation and take care of our ovaries through menstrual regulation in order to delay premature aging. Some women are careless about their menstruation and do not pay much attention to it. They may even think that it doesn't matter if it comes or not, and it's better if it doesn't. This mentality is completely wrong. Just like taking care of flowers, we must take good care of them, watering them every day and occasionally taking them out to bask in the sun. Only then will the flowers bloom beautifully. Don't wait until the flowers wither before watering and fertilizing them, because no matter how hard you try at that time, the flowers will not revive. When we are young, we must always take care of our menstruation and not wait until serious consequences arise before we start to worry.
So, how can we effectively delay aging? In fact, massaging the Zusanli acupoint can help us preserve our youthful appearance. Zusanli is the meeting point of the Stomach Meridian. By massaging it, we can promote blood circulation, regulate the flow of Qi and blood, enhance the body's metabolism, harmonize the functions of the internal organs, and strengthen the body's resistance to diseases. Regularly massaging Zusanli will definitely bring benefits. In Japan, Zusanli has become a well-known acupoint for anti-aging and longevity. The specific method is to use the thumb or middle finger to press and massage the Zusanli acupoint for 5 to 10 minutes each time. Pay attention to creating a feeling of soreness and heat in the acupoint. Massage it every day.
Massage is simple and easy to do. It can be done anytime and anywhere, without any side effects. The key is to be persistent. At the same time, we can also delay aging through our diet. Of course, there are certain principles to eating as well. Here, I recommend a walnut and black sesame porridge.
Walnuts and black sesame belong to the "black five" nutrient foods and are good for nourishing the kidneys. Walnuts not only nourish the blood vessels and promote hair growth, but also improve brain function, alleviate memory decline, and are indeed a precious thing for women who face high work pressure and mental exhaustion. Black sesame, as praised by Li Shizhen in "Compendium of Materia Medica," can "eliminate all chronic illnesses in a hundred days, make the body and face radiant and never hungry for a year, restore black hair in two years, and regenerate teeth in three years." Its anti-aging effect is evident. To make this porridge, you will need 50 grams of walnut kernels, 25 grams of black sesame, and 150 grams of glutinous rice. Crush the walnut kernels, roast the black sesame, and add them to the cleaned rice. Add an appropriate amount of water and cook into porridge. Consume it daily. It can be eaten as breakfast, dinner, or as a snack.
