Ang kalusugan at pagpapalawak ng buhay ay pangarap ng lahat. Ang tradisyonal na sining ng medisina ng Tsina ay may matagal na pag-aaral sa pagpapanatili ng kalusugan, mula sa "Huangdi Neijing" noong 2,000 taon na nakalipas, at maraming mga doktor, Taoist, at Buddhist ay nagbukas ng detalyadong at malalim na pagsusuri sa mga paraan ng pagpapanatili ng kalusugan, na nagresulta sa isang sistema ng mga konsepto sa pagpapanatili ng kalusugan. Sa pangkalahatan, mayroong walong mahahalagang prinsipyo:
One, Emotional Well-being: Para sa isang tao na maging malusog at matanda, ang pagkakaisa ng emosyon ay isang mahalagang kondisyon. Ayon kay Tao Hongjing sa "Yangsheng Yan Shou Lu": "The greatest thing in cultivating health is avoiding excessive sorrow and grief, for those who can maintain balance and harmony will surely live long."
Two, Control Desires: The practice of health involves stillness, allowing the body and mind to be free from distractions, focusing on a single thought. It also requires noble character and an open heart. Sun Simiao said: "Those who do not cherish themselves fully, exhausting their emotions and desires, seeking fame and profit, will either die young or meet untimely death." Thus, those who truly practice health "should not be overly eager for what they desire," "have no idle thoughts," "do not seek too much where they go," and "start the day by speaking only of good things, not worrying about money first."
Three, Moderation in Sex: Refers to self-control in sexual activity. Human growth and development rely on kidney essence; when kidney essence is abundant, life continues endlessly, and vitality and resistance to disease are strong. To preserve kidney essence, one must moderate sexual desire. If one indulges in lust and excess, it will inevitably damage the essence, harm the body, and shorten life.
Four, Adaptation to Seasons: Humans live within nature, and adapting to seasonal changes is a crucial aspect of health preservation. As stated in "Lüshi Chunqiu": "Longevity is not achieved by shortening life but by completing its full span. The key to completing the span lies in eliminating harm." Harm refers to abnormal climate conditions such as inappropriate weather, extreme cold, heat, dryness, and dampness, known in traditional Chinese medicine as the "Six Evils."
Five, Dietary Moderation: The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal health. Irregular eating habits damage the spleen and stomach, leading to illness and early aging. The "Nei Jing" discusses the dangers of irregular diet extensively: "The origin of yin lies in the five flavors," "Overeating harms the intestines and stomach," consuming too much salt causes blood vessels to constrict and change color, consuming too much bitterness leads to dry skin and dull hair..." Sun Simiao provided a more comprehensive and scientific discussion on dietary guidelines, including "Do not eat too much," "Keep meals simple," "Always prefer warm food," "Favor light, sweet, and bland foods," and detailed descriptions on eating methods and hygiene: "Chew food thoroughly, do not swallow raw food hastily," "Do not talk loudly while eating," "Always rub your face and abdomen after meals," "Avoid raw vegetables, raw rice, small beans, stale or spoiled food, and cloudy wine," "Never eat raw, sticky, or slippery foods." These practices are vital in preventing spleen and stomach damage, food poisoning, and infectious diseases, and contribute significantly to longevity.
Six, Regular Exercise: Humans are a dynamic whole; regular exercise keeps the body energetic and strong. Already in Han Dynasty, Hua Tuo advocated physical exercise to prevent disease. He stated: "The human body needs movement; moving helps digest food, promotes blood circulation, and prevents illness." Sun Simiao also said in "Qianjin Fang": "The art of cultivating health is to always engage in slight labor," "The body should always be active, but avoid overexertion," reminding people to keep their bodies active to prevent illness and extend life.
Seven, Following Natural Rhythms: To stay healthy and live long, one must follow the natural rhythms of age. Sun Simiao analyzed old age: "At fifty years old, yang energy gradually declines, weakening daily. Mental strength fades, memory deteriorates, laziness increases, and everything feels unsatisfactory. Vision and hearing become unstable, progress slows down, and life becomes disordered. The mind feels empty, forgetful, irritable, and personality changes." This teaches us that as people enter old age, they undergo physiological and morphological changes. We must care for and understand the elderly, adapt to their nature, and help them enjoy their remaining years.
Eight, Medicinal Supplements: Life is subject to different constitutions, and since disease is merciless, it is inevitable. Therefore, taking medicinal supplements is also part of health preservation. Ancient people emphasized using medicinal supplements to prevent and treat diseases, prolong life, and developed many formulas for longevity. However, health preservation cannot rely solely on supplements; otherwise, "even if one constantly takes medicinal supplements without understanding the art of cultivating health, one cannot achieve longevity," and "even if one consumes jade elixirs and golden pills, one cannot extend life."
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