What else should we pay attention to in TCM health preservation
1. "Follow"
Health preservation follows the seasons. The ancients believed that the changes in the human body are consistent with the cyclical nature of the four seasons, so diet, daily routine, clothing, food, housing, and transportation must be suitable for the season. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon says, "Follow the timing and the advantageous geographical position." Here, "timing" refers to the yin and yang of the four seasons, specifically, nurturing yang in spring and summer, and nurturing yin in autumn and winter. Health preservation in the four seasons should conform to the characteristics of birth, growth, harvest, and storage. In spring, all things come to life, so it is important to nurture the liver and yang; in summer, it is the season of growth and the main focus is on nurturing the heart, sleeping late and waking up early, avoiding anger, and sweating when necessary; in midsummer, it is hot and humid, so it is important to pay attention to nourishing the spleen and resolving dampness; in autumn, it is the season of harvest, so it is important to nurture the lungs and yin, go to bed early and wake up early, and keep a calm mood, otherwise it may harm the lungs; in winter, it is important to focus on nourishing storage, the kidneys, and yin, get plenty of sunlight, and go to bed early and wake up late.
2. "Calm"
Let the mind calm down. Modern people like to live in a lively and bustling manner, with every minute of the day filled, fearing loneliness and solitude. In fact, this kind of restless life is extremely detrimental to health. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon says, "Calm and empty, true qi follows it, spirit guards within, and illness stays away." When a person calms down, they can reduce many unnecessary consumption, especially the consumption of "qi", and achieve "energy-saving" for the body. Only in this way can diseases be prevented and life be prolonged. It is recommended to slow down the pace of life, and practice sitting quietly and closing the eyes to nourish the body and cultivate a calm mind.
3. "Cultivate"
Cultivate oneself and do good deeds to reduce worries. The Book of Changes says, "A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have good fortune; a family that accumulates bad deeds will surely have misfortune." In fact, people who usually accumulate virtue and do good deeds, and have a broad-mindedness, often get along harmoniously with the world and can reduce many troubles and have a pleasant mood. Therefore, cultivating oneself and cultivating one's character, being kind to others, and being indifferent to fame and fortune will result in health, happiness, and longevity.
4. "Regulate"
Practice deep and long breaths. People are inevitably faced with factors such as nutritional imbalance, excessive fatigue, and invasion of pathogenic factors. This is when "regulation" comes into play. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon says that one should regulate the spirit and will according to the changes of the four seasons, and regulate the seven emotions and six desires. It also emphasizes the regulation of breathing, known as "breath regulation", by practicing breath control. It is recommended to practice deep, slow, and even breathing. You can practice "lower dantian breathing" by inhaling through the nose and using intention to send the breath to the lower dantian located 1.5 inches below the navel. Then slowly exhale. While practicing "lower dantian breathing", swallowing saliva and regulating saliva can enhance the health benefits.
5. "Nourish"
Having both nourishment and elimination is the healthiest approach. The ancients advocated using nourishing medicines to regulate yin and yang, organs, and Qi and blood. The principles are as follows: first, identify the syndrome; second, prioritize nourishing through diet; third, combine nourishment and elimination.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that all foods have the function of regulating the body. From the perspective of taste, sour foods nourish the liver, bitter foods nourish the heart, sweet foods nourish the spleen, pungent foods nourish the lungs, and salty foods nourish the kidneys. From the perspective of color, red foods nourish the heart, black foods nourish the kidneys, yellow foods nourish the spleen, green foods nourish the liver, and white foods nourish the lungs.
