There is a saying about the growth pattern of humans, called "women at seven, men at eight". What does it mean? According to the Huangdi Neijing: "If one knows the seven losses and eight benefits, then the two can be adjusted. If one does not know how to use them, then it leads to premature aging."
This is a sentence from the book "Suwen · Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun", which means that if one understands the principles of health preservation involving seven losses and eight benefits, the yin and yang of the body can be balanced. If one does not understand these principles, premature aging may occur. So, what are the seven losses and eight benefits?
(1) The rise and fall of women at "seven"
The Huangdi Neijing divides the physiological rise and fall of women into stages of seven years. According to the Huangdi Neijing: "At the age of seven, a girl's kidney energy is abundant, and her teeth start to grow. At fourteen, the menstrual period begins, the Ren meridian is open, and the Tai Chong meridian is abundant. Therefore, menstruation occurs on time and pregnancy can happen. At twenty-one, the kidney energy is balanced, so the permanent teeth grow to their maximum length. At twenty-eight, the tendons and bones are strong, and the hair grows rapidly, making the body strong and healthy. At thirty-five, the Yangming meridian weakens, the face starts to look withered, and the hair starts to fall. At forty-two, the three Yang meridians weaken further, the face becomes even more withered, and the hair starts to turn white. At forty-nine, the Ren meridian becomes deficient, the Tai Chong meridian weakens, the Tian Gui (menstrual blood) is exhausted, and the Dao Di (uterus) loses its connection. Therefore, the body deteriorates and cannot conceive."
From the above descriptions, we can see several important stages in a woman's life. The first is the onset of menstruation. In ancient times, it was believed that girls would begin menstruating at the age of 14. The onset of menstruation marks the beginning of a girl's maturity. At the age of 14, a girl's hair is usually tied up, which is a sign of maturity. The reproductive period is also a crucial time for women. When is the best time for women to give birth? In ancient China, it was stipulated that "a woman should marry at the age of twenty." This is because at the age of twenty-one, a woman's kidney energy is balanced, and her body reaches its peak, which can last until the age of twenty-eight. At this time, the functions of the kidneys and liver are also at their peak, making a woman's body strongest. Therefore, it is best for women to complete their first childbirth before the age of 28.
Another critical period is menopause. At the age of forty-nine, the blood in the Ren meridian starts to become scarce, marking the beginning of menopause. At this time, the Tai Chong meridian weakens, and the Tai Chong meridian represents yang energy. When yang energy and yin blood become deficient, it leads to the inability to conceive.
(2) The rise and fall of men at "eight"
The Huangdi Neijing divides the physiological rise and fall of men into stages of eight years. According to the Huangdi Neijing: "At the age of eight, a man's kidney energy is strong, and his hair grows and teeth change. At sixteen, the kidney energy is abundant, and the Tian Gui arrives, leading to the overflow of essence and harmony of yin and yang, allowing for reproduction. At twenty-four, the kidney energy is balanced, and the tendons and bones are strong, so the permanent teeth grow to their maximum length. At thirty-two, the tendons and bones are at their peak, and the muscles are strong. At forty, the kidney energy weakens, and the hair starts to fall and the teeth become weak."
According to the Huangdi Neijing, a man's life follows an eight-year rhythm. In the beginning, a man is only one year older than a woman. However, at a certain age, there is a 15-year difference between a man who is 88 years old and a woman who is 77 years old. Like women, men also experience menopause, which occurs at the age of 88. At this age, "the teeth fall out." We know that teeth represent the kidneys, so when the teeth fall out, it indicates that the body's ability to retain essence and reproduce has disappeared. After the age of 64, it is crucial to focus on health preservation because there is no new growth or regeneration happening. Menopause is an important period in a man's life, and there are two other significant periods besides that. One is the onset of sexual development, which occurs at the age of 16. Although fertility is possible at this time, the body and mind are not fully matured, so it is not advisable to get married at this age. When is the best time for men to get married?
At the age of 24, a man's tendons and bones are even stronger, and the peak of life is from 24 to 32 years old. At the age of 32, the body reaches its peak, and the functions of the spleen and kidneys are enhanced. Therefore, traditional culture suggests that a man should marry at the age of thirty.
According to the Huangdi Neijing, human life can reach one hundred years, but not everyone can live to that age. People often say, "Seventy years in a lifetime is rare." This means that although modern research has proven that the average lifespan should be around 100 years, many factors can affect one's health, making it difficult to reach one hundred. Therefore, people should focus on health preservation and pay attention to the quality of life in order to achieve longevity.
