ABC of Traditional Chinese Medicine Disease Prevention and Health Preservation
The "Huangdi Neijing" compiles the health preservation wisdom of pre-Qin philosophers, exploring longevity from a medical perspective and establishing numerous theories and methods.
Natural View: "Harmony between Heaven and Humanity." Humans must follow natural laws to maintain normal physiological functions. "Opposing nature brings disasters; following it ensures no illness—this is true enlightenment." Adapt to seasonal changes: nurture in spring, nourish growth in summer, collect in autumn, store in winter. Follow the principles of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, nourishing yin in autumn and winter." Align with nature to preserve natural life, achieving unity between humans and nature.
Prevention View: "The wise treat disease before it occurs, prevent chaos before it arises. Treating illness after it develops, curing disorder after it forms, is like digging a well when thirsty or forging weapons after battle—too late!" This emphasizes proactive prevention. "Avoid external pathogenic factors at appropriate times; maintain tranquility and emptiness, so true qi flows freely; guard your spirit internally, and illness will never arise!" Avoid external evils (six exogenous pathogenic factors) and internal emotional disturbances to achieve prevention before illness.
Movement and Stillness View: "Balance movement and stillness for longevity." Advocate holistic cultivation of body and spirit, adjusting according to seasons. In spring: "Go to bed late and rise early, walk widely in the courtyard"; in summer: "Go to bed late and rise early, do not resent the sun"; in autumn: "Go to bed early and rise early, rise with chickens"; in winter: "Go to bed early and rise late, wait for sunlight."
Dietary Therapy View: "Food is paramount for people." Promote "moderate diet" to preserve the postnatal source of the spleen and stomach. As "Overeating harms the spleen and stomach," leading to impaired transformation and generation, easily causing myriad diseases. Caution against imbalanced tastes and extreme preferences.