🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Since ancient times, people have wished for good health and long life, even resorting to mystical rituals, but these efforts proved futile. From the perspective of modern science and the current level of human material and cultural living standards, it is possible to extend human lifespan universally, with the key lying in anti-aging. As Dr. Gerald Greer, Director of the National Institute on Aging, stated: "Our greatest effort so far has been to better understand the aging process; this endeavor will inevitably lead to new technologies that will greatly extend average human lifespan." Currently, through research, organization, and advancement of traditional medicine, many folk remedies and proven prescriptions for anti-aging and longevity have been discovered and are introduced below. [Formula One] 60 grams black sesame, 90 grams honey, 120 grams cornmeal, 50 grams white flour, 2 eggs, 15 grams yeast. First, stir-fry black sesame until fragrant and grind into powder. Mix with cornmeal, honey, flour, egg liquid, and yeast, then add water to form a dough. Ferment at 35°C for 1.5–2 hours, then steam for 20 minutes. This formula strengthens the stomach and liver, promotes red blood cell growth, and regular use helps prevent aging. According to the "Biographies of Immortals," an ancient woman named Lu, over eighty years old, remained youthful, capable of walking 300 li daily and outrunning deer and roe deer. Her secret to longevity was consuming cakes made primarily from sesame seeds. Black sesame is considered the finest variety. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Consuming black sesame for 100 days eliminates all chronic diseases; after one year, skin and face become lustrous and hunger-free; after two years, white hair turns black; after three years, lost teeth regrow." Black sesame contains the highest level of vitamin E among plant-based foods. Vitamin E promotes cell division and delays cellular aging by neutralizing accumulated "free radicals" within cells, thus exerting anti-aging and life-extending effects. Scientific experiments show that vitamin E can extend the lifespan of experimental animals by 15%–75%. [Formula Two] 15 grams yam, 120 grams black sesame, 125 grams rock sugar, 60 grams glutinous rice, and milk as needed. Wash and soak glutinous rice for 1 hour, drain and dry. Cut yam finely, stir-fry sesame until fragrant. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, add water and milk, mix well, grind into fine paste, filter out the pulp, pour back into pot, simmer gently until boiling, add rock sugar, continuously stir into a smooth paste. Take 2 tablespoons twice daily. This formula nourishes the spleen and kidneys, moistens the intestines, and alleviates dryness, suitable for arteriosclerosis, frail constitution, premature graying of hair, constipation. Regular consumption by the elderly nourishes the body and resists aging. [Formula Three] 100 grams chicken breast meat, 75 grams silver ear fungus, 100 grams clear honey, 50 grams each of milk, cucumber, carrot, 25 grams starch, 5 grams monosodium glutamate, 25 grams sesame oil, 50 grams peanut oil, 10 grams each of sugar and cooking wine, 5 grams each of ginger and scallions. Chop chicken breast into mince, place in bowl, add egg white, milk, and starch, mix well. Soak silver ear fungus in warm water until soft, remove stems, wash clean, cook with chicken broth until tender, then remove. Slice cucumber and carrot. Heat peanut oil to six-tenths hot, add prepared chicken mixture, wait for it to float, then remove, blanch briefly in boiling water to remove excess oil, drain. Heat sesame oil, sauté scallion and ginger, add chicken mince, silver ear fungus, cucumber slices, carrot slices, chicken stock, and seasonings, bring to boil, simmer slightly, thicken sauce, drizzle with clear oil, serve. This formula nourishes all five viscera, suitable for weak spleen and stomach, lung yin deficiency, especially beneficial for the elderly, promoting health and longevity with anti-aging effects. Recent studies indicate silver ear fungus enhances immune function, and its polysaccharide BC shows certain inhibitory effects on cancer cells. [Formula Four] 50 grams goji berries, 500 grams baijiu (Chinese liquor). Clean goji berries, place in bottle, pour in baijiu, seal tightly, store in cool, dry place, shake once every 3 days, drink after 15 days. Take 10–30 ml per serving, or adjust according to personal tolerance, not exceeding recommended amount, twice daily. This formula nourishes liver and kidneys, suitable for liver-kidney essence deficiency and early aging. [Formula Five] 1 live softshell turtle, 10 grams cordyceps, 20 dried jujubes. Cut turtle into four large pieces, boil in pot, remove, cut open limbs, peel off leg fat, wash clean. Clean cordyceps, soak jujubes in hot water. Place turtle in soup bowl, top with cordyceps, jujubes, seasonings, wine, salt, scallion segments, ginger slices, garlic cloves, and chicken stock, steam in steamer for 2 hours. Remove, discard scallions and ginger, consume with meals, twice daily. This formula nourishes yin, strengthens qi, tonifies kidneys, solidifies essence. Regular consumption by the elderly enhances physical strength, prevents aging, and prolongs life. [Formula Six] 10 grams each of dried silver ear fungus, black wood ear fungus, and oyster mushroom, 30 grams rock sugar. Soak all three mushrooms, wash clean, remove impurities, place in bowl, add rock sugar and sufficient water, steam for 1 hour until fully cooked. Can be consumed in portions or all at once, twice daily. This formula nourishes yin, tonifies kidneys, moistens lungs, suitable for vascular sclerosis due to kidney yin deficiency, eye bleeding, hypertension, cough due to lung yin deficiency. Regular consumption resists aging. [Formula Seven] Appropriate amount of American ginseng, slice thinly; add during cooking of vegetable soups, eat together with food. This formula nourishes yin, boosts qi, strengthens constitution, treats weakness and qi-yin deficiency. Regular use has anti-aging effects. [Formula Eight] 100 grams prepared rehmannia root, 150 grams thousand-year green, 120 grams black mulberry fruit, 60 grams black sesame, 200 grams Chinese yam, 30 grams each of southern candleberries and Sichuan pepper, 15 grams ginkgo nuts, 45 grams great victory seeds, 2000 grams high-quality wine. Grind all herbs finely, wrap in fine muslin cloth, place in clean container, soak in wine for 7 days, strain to obtain juice for later use. Drink 1–2 cups warm on empty stomach, twice daily. This formula nourishes liver and kidneys, prevents aging, suitable for liver-kidney deficiency, premature graying of hair, declining vision and hearing, early aging. [Formula Nine] 4 grams oolong tea, 24 grams sophora flower, 24 grams winter melon rind, 40 grams polygonum multiflorum, 20 grams hawthorn flesh. Place oolong tea in vessel, boil remaining herbs in water, extract juice, use to brew tea, drink as beverage. This formula resists aging, prevents disease, promotes health; regular use enhances vitality and longevity. [Formula Ten] 100 grams oatmeal, 15 grams polygonatum, appropriate amount of honey. Soak polygonatum in cold water, boil for 20 minutes, extract juice; boil again with fresh water for 20 minutes, extract juice. Combine both juices, add oatmeal, simmer slowly into thick porridge, add honey before eating. This formula clears heat, calms wind, commonly used for anti-aging, as this medicinal diet treats atherosclerosis.<Anti-Aging>