🌿 Folk Prescriptions

The practice of human health preservation has ancient origins, but a systematic theoretical framework began with the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon (hereinafter referred to as "Inner Canon"). The health preservation theories and methods within the Inner Canon are an essential component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and many of its profound insights are still widely referenced and promoted today.
Below, I share some personal reflections on the principles, guidelines, and methods of health preservation as described in the Inner Canon:
1. The natural pattern of kidney qi fluctuation is the theoretical foundation of TCM health preservation
The Inner Canon states: "At seven years old, a girl’s kidney qi becomes strong, her teeth change and her hair grows; at fourteen, heavenly water arrives, ... at twenty-one, kidney qi becomes balanced, ... at twenty-eight, the body reaches full vigor, ... at forty-nine, the Ren meridian weakens, the Chong meridian declines, and heavenly water is exhausted." Innate essence inherited from parents is stored in the kidneys; this essence transforms into qi, known as innate qi or kidney qi. Innate essence generates heavenly water—when kidney qi develops fully, heavenly water matures, endowing both men and women with reproductive capacity. Once kidney qi peaks and begins to decline, reproductive function gradually diminishes. When kidney qi falls below a certain threshold, heavenly water wanes, leading to loss of reproductive ability. Physically, this manifests as signs of aging from robustness to decline. As stated in Ling Shu: "When humans first come into being, they first form essence; once essence forms, brain marrow develops. The kidneys serve as the root, the vessels as nourishment, the tendons as strength, the flesh as a wall, and the skin becomes firm while hair grows long." This indicates that innate essence develops into the organs, meridians, and tissues of the body. In Ling Shu, "True Qi" is described as what one receives from heaven, combined with grain qi to nourish the body. This establishes the foundation for later TCM theories regarding the kidneys governing reproduction, growth, and aging, and their role as the source of innate constitution. It also provides crucial theoretical support for exploring aging through kidney qi depletion, assessing aging progression via reproductive function, and preventing premature aging through sexual moderation and essence conservation.
2. "Harmony between Heaven and Humanity" is the essence of TCM health preservation
"Harmony between Heaven and Humanity" is a fundamental academic concept in the Inner Canon, and "Qi connects with Heaven" is part of this view. Vital energy links with heaven; humans and nature form an integrated whole. The coordinated activities of the internal organs, meridians, and vital essence, spirit, and mind also constitute a unified system, forming orderly life processes. Thus, abnormalities in the natural environment or disruptions in human physical and mental activity can affect physiological functions and lead to illness. For example, Ling Shu says: "Humans correspond with heaven and earth, and align with the sun and moon"; Su Wen says: "Five zang organs correspond to the four seasons, each receiving specific influences." The Inner Canon further notes: "Liver flourishes in spring, heart in late summer, spleen in summer, lung in autumn, and kidney in winter"; it also states: "Spring qi resides in the meridians, summer qi in the channels, late summer in muscles, autumn qi in the skin, and winter qi in the bone marrow." Illness depletes the organs, meridians, and vital essence, spirit, and mind, leading to pathological aging. Therefore, Su Wen says: "Uncontrolled joy and anger, excessive exposure to cold and heat, will undermine life’s foundation."
Thus, respecting and adapting to natural laws is essential to reduce disease and achieve good health and longevity. Su Wen says: "Heaven covers, earth bears, all things are complete, and nothing is more precious than humanity. Humans are born from the qi of heaven and earth, shaped by the laws of the four seasons," which succinctly summarizes the relationship between humans and nature. TCM health preservation theory is built upon this principle of harmony between humans and nature.
3. Fundamental Methods of TCM Health Preservation
Following Yin and Yang: The essence of human life lies in the balance of Yin and Yang energies, which must also harmonize with the natural Yin-Yang cycles. Thus, health preservation should follow the changes of heaven and earth. Within a day, as Yin and Yang shift, metabolism changes accordingly. The Inner Canon states: "Divide a day into four seasons: morning as spring, midday as summer, afternoon as autumn, and midnight as winter." It also says: "Yang qi governs externally during the day; at dawn, human qi arises; at midday, yang qi peaks; in the west, yang qi weakens, and the pores close." This shows that yang energy tends outward during the day and inward at night. Hence, Su Wen says: "Nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter." "Transmit spirit, absorb celestial qi, and attain spiritual clarity"—this reveals the essence of health preservation: internally, maintain focused spirit; externally, adapt to nature, maintaining harmony between humans and nature. Only then can yang qi be consolidated, so that even if pathogenic factors invade, they cannot harm the body.
If this principle is violated, internal imbalance in organ, meridian, blood, and qi may occur, causing dysfunction in the nine orifices; externally, muscle congestion and poor smoothness, weakened defensive qi, and loose pores allow pathogens to invade, weakening the body and leading to numerous diseases and shortened lifespan. As Ling Shu explains: "Most diseases worsen in the morning, improve during the day, worsen in the evening, and become severe at midnight." "In the morning, human qi begins to rise, disease qi weakens, hence improvement; at midday, human qi strengthens, overcoming pathogenic factors, hence stability; in the evening, human qi begins to decline, pathogenic factors begin to arise, hence worsening; at midnight, human qi enters the organs, pathogenic factors dominate the body, hence severity."
Adapting to techniques, eating with moderation, living with regularity. Su Wen says: "Ancient people who understood the Dao followed Yin and Yang, adapted to techniques, ate with moderation, lived with regularity, and did not overexert themselves, thus enabling body and spirit to remain harmonious, achieving their natural lifespan and reaching a hundred years." Adapting to techniques means mastering various health preservation methods correctly. There are numerous types of health preservation techniques, differing by school and method. Some rely on self-cultivation, such as qigong, daoyin, self-massage, and various martial arts. Others use external forces or tools, such as acupuncture, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Regardless of the method used, two points are critical: First, each technique has unique goals, characteristics, and applications; therefore, one must choose based on personal circumstances, considering age, time, and place. Second, each technique requires specific methods and requirements; mastering its skills and essentials is crucial—usually guidance is needed, otherwise deviation or even mental disturbance may occur. Eating with moderation involves balancing the five flavors, avoiding bias, adjusting to temperature, and regulating hunger and fullness. Living with regularity means having a structured routine in work and life. Not overexerting oneself refers to moderate physical, mental, and sexual labor, ensuring body and spirit remain harmonious. Thus, health means freedom from physical pain and emotional distress, achieving a balanced physiological state. Growth, maturity, aging, and decline are inevitable life processes, and aging is unavoidable due to natural limits. However, through health preservation, one can maintain harmony between body and mind, and between physical structure and function—this is physiological aging, historically called "longevity in health." Even when appearance and vitality no longer match youth, one can still maintain functional independence and mental clarity. To achieve this, prevention of premature aging is key. Environmental hazards, reckless behavior disrupting internal organs, depleting essence and qi, allowing internal pathogens to flourish and external pathogens to invade, resulting in conflict between true and false qi, depletion of essence and qi, and disconnection between body and spirit—leads to early aging, i.e., pathological aging, which also forms the theoretical basis for the modern concept of sub-health.
Serene detachment and inner tranquility. Su Wen says: "Ancient sages taught: avoid harmful winds and evil influences at appropriate times; live in serenity and emptiness, let true qi flow freely, guard your spirit internally, and how could illness arise?" Serene detachment primarily involves emotional regulation, maintaining calm and peaceful mindset, eliminating distractions, and preventing extreme emotional fluctuations that disrupt normal qi movement, preserving a favorable internal environment for qi transformation. The Inner Canon particularly emphasizes mental cultivation among various health preservation methods. Mental activities originate from the five zang organs and can also influence them, affecting physiological functions. Thus, Ling Shu says: "Intent and will regulate spirit, gather soul and spirit, adjust to cold and heat, and harmonize joy and anger." "When intent and will are harmonious, spirit remains focused, soul and spirit do not scatter, anger and regret do not arise, and the five zang organs remain free from pathogenic invasion." Therefore, Su Wen says: "The heart is the sovereign official, where spirit and clarity emerge... when the sovereign is clear, the ministers are at peace; thus, health preservation leads to longevity." "If the sovereign is unclear, the twelve officials are in danger; pathways become blocked, and the body suffers great damage; thus, health preservation brings disaster." The Inner Canon regards the heart as the master of spirit; regulating the heart to ensure clarity underscores the importance of mental cultivation in health preservation, a principle followed by later physicians.
Timely avoidance of pathogenic factors. Although many factors affect human health and longevity, illness is undoubtedly a major cause. Thus, reducing disease and maintaining health is a crucial aspect of health preservation. Examining TCM etiology, it can generally be summarized into three categories: internal causes, external causes, and non-internal, non-external causes. Avoiding these pathogenic factors allows the body to remain healthy, thereby achieving health preservation goals.
Su Wen says: "Avoid harmful winds and evil influences at appropriate times." This refers to external causes. Humans live in nature; the six climatic factors are normally beneficial for the growth of all things. But abnormal changes in these six factors become the Six Evils, leading to illness. Additionally, there are other external pathogenic factors such as epidemic qi. Thus, avoiding external pathogenic influences is a key principle in TCM health preservation.
Emotional injury—emotional disturbances causing illness—is an internal cause in TCM etiology. Human emotions, under normal conditions, are natural responses to external stimuli. Whether in ancient texts or clinical observations, cases of illness caused by emotional imbalance are numerous. Therefore, for health preservation, regulating emotions and emphasizing mental cultivation is an indispensable key aspect. Non-internal, non-external causes in TCM etiology include diet, labor, rest, and external injuries. Normal life activities always follow the principle of moderation. Any excess or deficiency in life processes can lead to illness. Dietary imbalances such as irregular eating, unclean food, or biased preferences, and issues related to labor and rest such as overwork or idleness, are significant triggers for disease. Therefore, in diet, one should follow the principle of "carefully balancing flavors"; in labor and rest, one should "seek physical activity, but not to extremes." At the same time, avoid all kinds of external injuries, thus achieving "adhering to the Dao properly, enjoying a long life."
The health preservation theories and methods in the Inner Canon are an essential part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. With social development and rising living standards, the pursuit of health and longevity has become a common goal. TCM health preservation theories and methods help people realize this goal. They also provide effective theoretical and practical approaches for preventing and managing the widespread sub-health condition seen in modern populations.