Start of Winter, winter is here, and the New Year is just around the corner. Many elderly people will experience a variety of symptoms, both physical and psychological, and most of these will be health-related. Since ancient times, many medical texts have stated that after the age of sixty, one's spirit and health require proper nourishment. So, how can the elderly maintain their health during the Start of Winter?
I. Nourishment of the Spirit (Contentment, modesty, and remaining active in old age)
Maintain a mindset of "modesty and courtesy, respecting others and holding oneself in high esteem" and "contentment prevents disgrace, knowing when to stop avoids peril." This means being open-minded and magnanimous in dealing with the world, being modest and kind, being content with life without excessive desires, and keeping a young heart while being old—loving life, maintaining self-confidence, and exercising the mind often. The Song dynasty physician Chen Zhi, in his book "New Book for Caring for the Elderly," included a poem: "Your own illness, you must know it yourself; your body's illness, you must heal it with your own mind. When the state of mind is calm, the body is also calm; when the mind gives birth to illness, that is when illness is born." The poem warns us that only by engaging in psychological self-care can we prevent emotional and mental disorders.
II. Dietary Regulation (Prudent regulation of food)
1. Diverse Diet: A reasonable combination of grains, fruits, meat, and vegetables, with appropriate selection of high-calcium foods.
2. Light Diet: Considering the elderly's weak spleen and stomach, it is not advisable to eat rich, greasy, or overly salty foods. From a modern nutritional perspective, the elderly's diet should follow the "three mores and three lesses": more protein, vitamins, and fiber; less sugar, fat, and salt.
3. Warm and Soft Diet: The elderly's Yang energy declines daily, and the spleen prefers warmth and dislikes cold. Therefore, it is advisable to eat warm foods to protect the spleen and kidneys. Due to loose or missing teeth and difficulty chewing, soft-cooked foods are also recommended.
4. Small and Frequent Meals: "For those of advanced age, one should not eat to fullness at once, but should eat frequently, so that the essence of grain endures." This advocates for small, frequent meals for the elderly to ensure adequate nutrition without harming the spleen and stomach.
III. Nourishment in Accordance with the Seasons (Following the four seasons and adapting to cold and heat)
It advises the elderly to "follow the methods of nourishment for the four seasons,顺应 the five elements' cycles of growth and decline, respectfully care for oneself, and be diligent without slackness." This means that heaven, earth, the four seasons, and all things affect human life. To achieve balance in nature, one must first follow the laws of nature, adapt to the seasonal climate changes, and understand that "the best thing for a person is to always wish to live a happy life." Only in this way can one remain vigorous in old age and live a long life.
IV. Daily Routine (Regular daily routine, not overexerting oneself)
"A regular daily routine nourishes the spirit, and not overexerting oneself nourishes the essence." If the elderly can arrange their daily routine reasonably, they can preserve their spirit and energy. Moderate work and rest can nourish their kidney essence. One should try to follow the principles: "walk at a moderate pace, do not strain your hearing, do not strain your vision, do not sit for too long, and do not lie down until exhausted."
V. Medicinal Assistance (Strengthening the foundation of innate constitution and protecting the acquired energy)
An important condition for health and longevity is a strong innate constitution and sufficient acquired nourishment. Due to the decline in bodily functions in the elderly, in addition to other aspects of conditioning, some medicines can help strengthen their bodies. Medicinal nourishment should focus on strengthening the foundation of innate constitution and protecting the acquired energy. The "innate foundation" refers to the kidneys, which are the foundation of life. Abundant kidney energy means a strong metabolic capacity and a slower rate of aging. The "acquired energy" refers to the spleen and stomach, which are the source of Qi and blood production; all nutrients needed for the body's life activities depend on the spleen and stomach for supply. Therefore, the focus of medicinal nourishment for the elderly should be on protecting the spleen and kidneys. The principles of medication should follow: more tonifying and less purging; the medicine should be mild and the dosage small; focus on the spleen and kidneys, while also considering the five organs; classify the types of tonification and adjust Yin and Yang; master the seasons and observe patterns; prefer pills, powders, pastes, and pellets, and use fewer decoctions; combine medicine with food and guide according to the situation. Only by using medicine in this way can one correct imbalances, prevent diseases, and extend life.