TCM's Concept of Preserving Health

 

Health preserving is a concept in Chinese traditional medicine to enhance physical fitness, prevent diseases, postpone aging and prolong the life by spiritual toning, therapeutic diets and medicated diet, healthy exercises and other methods. Such concept takes the natural point of view in ancient China as the theoretical basis, such as Five Elements Theory, Yin-yang Theory, Pneumatism and Connecting with Macrocosm.

The ancients believe that all things in the world are generated from the five substances: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. This Five Element Theory also can be applied to explain the uniformity of mutual connection between human viscera and tissues as well as between human body and the external environment.

The ancients also believe that, all things in the world can be divided by Yin and Yang. If apply to medicine, this Yin-yang Theory will define such substances and functions that driving, warming and exciting the human body as Yang, while such substances and functions that condensing, moisturizing and inhibiting the human body as Yin. Yin and Yang rise and fall by restricting each other to achieve dynamic balance. If this balance is damaged, disease will produce.
The ancients also believe that the Qi is the source of changes of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements; they believe that man and nature communicate and correspond to each other. The theory of Pneuma and Man-Heaven Correspondence has been also applied to the understanding of human life activities, as well as the explanation for the mutual restraint and effect of man and nature.
The concept of health preserving is the product of such natural views. It is in light of this concept that people established the rich and effective methods of health preserving, such as spiritual toning, guiding and breathing, health care in four seasons, food and medicine diets for health preserving , thus forming a miracle of the traditional Chinese medicine - Health Preserving Theory.