🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Longevity and good health are universal aspirations. Traditional Chinese medicine has long studied health preservation. Since the *Huangdi Neijing* over 2,000 years ago, numerous physicians, Daoists, and Buddhists have deeply explored and elaborated on health principles, gradually forming a systematic theory of TCM health preservation. In summary, there are eight key principles:
1. Emotional Well-being: To live long and healthy, emotional balance is essential. Tao Hongjing wrote in *Record of Health Preservation and Longevity*: “The greatest danger to health is excessive worry and sorrow. Only those who maintain inner harmony can live long.”
2. Abstaining from Greed: Health preservation requires stillness, placing the mind in a state of quietude, free from distractions. It also demands noble character and an open heart. Sun Simiao said: “Those who fail to live long, or die prematurely, do so because they neglect self-care, exhaust themselves pursuing fame and profit.” Thus, the wise avoid obsessive desires, eliminate idle thoughts, seek nothing beyond necessity, and focus each morning on good deeds rather than calculating money.
3. Moderation in Intimacy: Refers to practicing restraint in sexual activity. Human growth and development rely on kidney essence. When kidney essence is abundant, life force thrives and resistance to disease is strong. To preserve kidney essence, one must control sexual desire. Indulgence in lust and excess will damage essence, harm the body, and shorten life.
4. Adaptation to Seasons: Living in harmony with nature is fundamental to health preservation. The *Lüshi Chunqiu* says: “Longevity comes not from extending life artificially, but from completing one’s natural span. The key to fulfilling one’s span lies in eliminating harm.” Harm refers to abnormal climates—such as inappropriate weather patterns, extreme cold, heat, dryness, or dampness—known in TCM as the “Six Evils.”
5. Balanced Diet: The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal health. Irregular eating damages them, leading to illness and premature aging. The *Huangdi Neijing* warns: “The origin of yin lies in the five flavors,” “Overeating injures the intestines and stomach,” “Excessive salt causes blood to thicken and change color; too much bitterness causes skin to dry and hair to fall out.” Sun Simiao offered comprehensive and scientific advice on diet: “Do not eat to fullness; keep meals simple,” “Always eat warm food,” “Prefer light, clear, sweet, and bland foods.” He also emphasized dietary methods and hygiene: “Chew food thoroughly, do not swallow hastily,” “Avoid loud talking while eating,” “Rub your face and abdomen after every meal,” “Never eat raw vegetables, raw rice, small beans, stale food, or turbid alcohol,” “Avoid raw, sticky, or slippery foods.” These practices are crucial for protecting the spleen and stomach, preventing food poisoning, avoiding infectious diseases, and promoting longevity.
6. Regular Exercise: Humans are integrated wholes. Regular movement energizes the body and strengthens health. Already in Han Dynasty, Hua Tuo advocated exercise to prevent illness, stating: “The human body must be active; movement helps digest food, promotes blood circulation, and prevents disease.” Sun Simiao in *Qianjin Fang* said: “The art of health preservation lies in slight exertion,” “Keep the body active, but never to exhaustion.” He urged people to move regularly to prevent illness and extend life.
7. Following Natural Temperament: To live long, one must follow age-appropriate self-care. Sun Simiao observed: “After age fifty, yang declines daily, vitality wanes. Mental power weakens, memory fails, laziness sets in, plans become ineffective. Vision and hearing deteriorate, progress slows, everything falls apart, the mind grows restless, forgetfulness and irritability increase, and temperament shifts.” This teaches us that aging brings physiological and morphological changes. We must care for and understand the elderly, following their natural inclinations to support them in enjoying their later years.
8. Medicinal Substances: Life is subject to diverse constitutions, and illness is inevitable. Thus, taking medicinal substances is part of health preservation. Ancient people valued herbs and formulas for disease prevention, treatment, and longevity. Yet, health preservation must not rely solely on medicine. As Sun Simiao warned: “Even if one takes medicines daily without mastering the art of self-cultivation, one cannot achieve longevity. Even jade elixirs and golden pills cannot extend life.”