When is the best time to start a traditional Chinese medicine regimen? Grasp the rhythm of life and follow the way of nature

Traditional Chinese medicine health care emphasizes "treating the disease before it's too late" and believes that the earlier you start health care, the better. However, different age groups need to focus on different methods. The core principle is to comply with natural rhythms, such as the four seasons, day and night schedule, etc. In childhood, the focus is on cultivating physical fitness, in adolescence it is necessary to regulate stress, in middle age the focus is on replenishing qi and blood, and in the elderly it is important to harmonize yin and yang. The key is to choose the appropriate method according to individual constitution (such as Qi deficiency, dampness and heat, etc.) rather than blindly supplementing or following the trend.

Life Stages and Health Preservation Opportunities: From "Children's Skills" to Longevity

The ancient Chinese medicine book "Huangdi Neijing" puts forward the life cycle theory of "seven years for women and eight years for men", indicating the key points of health maintenance at each stage. Children (0-14 years old) can strengthen the spleen and stomach through chiropractic and diet therapy; youth (15-35 years old) need to soothe the liver and relieve stagnation to avoid staying up late and depleting yin and blood; middle-aged people (36-55 years old) should pay attention to dredging the qi and prevent "three highs"; old age (after 56 years old) should mainly rest and practice gentle exercises such as Baduanjin. Deng Tietao, a well-known expert in traditional Chinese medicine, once emphasized: "Keeping good health is like saving money. Don't overdraw when you are young, but you can use it when you are old."

Four Seasons Health Timetable: The Wisdom of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms

The twenty-four solar terms are important time coordinates for traditional Chinese medicine health preservation. In spring (beginning of spring to beginning of summer), you should soothe the liver and nourish yang, and you can drink chrysanthemum and wolfberry tea; in summer (beginning of summer to beginning of autumn), you need to clear away heat and remove dampness, and mung bean and coix seed porridge is recommended; in autumn (beginning of autumn to beginning of winter), you want to moisten the lungs and prevent dryness, and it is suitable to eat white fungus lily; in winter (beginning of winter to severe cold), to warm and nourish the kidneys, you can use angelica, ginger and mutton soup. Research by Professor Wang Qi’s team at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine found that people who adjust their work and rest according to the solar terms can reduce the incidence of chronic diseases by 40%.

Golden time for daily health: Twelve hour health regimen

According to the Ziwu flow theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the day is divided into 12 health-preserving periods: Mao hour (5-7 o'clock) is suitable for defecation, Chen hour (7-9 o'clock) is for breakfast to nourish the stomach, noon hour (11-13 o'clock) is a nap to nourish the heart, and You hour (17-19 o'clock) is for exercise to strengthen the kidneys. Li Shizhen, a physician in the Ming Dynasty, recorded in "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Getting up early in spring and summer and getting up late in autumn and winter are in harmony with Yang Qi." Modern research shows that people who adhere to the habit of "early to bed and early to get up" have cortisol levels that are 30% lower than those who stay up late.

Health care starts now: personalized plans are more important

No matter when you start a regimen, the key is to choose a plan based on your body type. People with qi deficiency can always keep astragalus, those with yin deficiency are suitable for Ophiopogon japonicus, and those with damp and hot constitutions should use adzuki beans. The well-known Chinese patent medicines Tongrentang Liuwei Dihuang Pills (kidney-tonifying) and Guangyu Yuangui Lingji (anti-aging) must be used according to the doctor's advice. Health preservation does not have to be limited to a specific age. As the "Health Preservation Theory" says: "It is not too late to make up for it." Establishing good living habits, combined with moderate exercise (such as Tai Chi) and emotional regulation (such as meditation), is the best start to health care.

References:
1. "Huangdi Neijing", a medical classic from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period
2. Deng Tietao "TCM Health" Guangdong Science and Technology Press
3. Wang Qi's "Nine Constitutions of Health" People's Medical Publishing House
4. Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica", a medical work of the Ming Dynasty
5. Clinical data source: China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences 2022 Health Research Report