Four Health Mistakes That Are Taking You Further Away from Wellness

Introduction: Nourishing life, a verb, originally refers to a medical activity in Taoism where one cultivates life, enhances physical constitution, and prevents diseases through various methods to achieve longevity. The so-called "sheng" (生) means life, survival, and growth; the so-called "yang" (养) means nourishing, regulating, and supplementing. In short, nourishing life means to care for life and prolong it.

Let's now talk about some common misconceptions in the practice of nourishing life.

That diet therapy can cure all diseases

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds that the five grains are the foundation of nourishment, with fruits and vegetables as supplements. This means the human body mainly relies on the five grains for sustenance, while fruits and vegetables assist them. TCM nourishment is divided into internal and external. Internal nourishment cultivates the essence (精), qi (气), and spirit (神), while external nourishment cares for the skin, flesh, sinews, and bones. TCM places special emphasis on internal nourishment. However, so-called "health experts" today focus on external nourishment, such as how to eat and how to exercise. If there is a problem with internal nourishment, trying to solve it through diet is baseless.

Nourishing life by blindly copying others

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Everyone's constitution is different, so health preservation must pay attention to individual differences. TCM health preservation advocates for treatment based on syndrome differentiation. For instance, when tonifying the body, one must distinguish between qi deficiency, blood deficiency, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency through observation, listening/smelling, inquiring, and palpation, and then apply the corresponding methods of tonifying qi, blood, yin, or yang. The health supplements used will vary depending on age, season, and physical condition.

When choosing a health preservation method or supplements, it is best to have a professional doctor assess your constitution first. Only what is suitable for you is the best way to nourish life.

Choosing leisure places for health preservation

In recent years, TCM techniques such as massage, acupuncture, gua sha, and cupping have become popular highlights in many leisure clubs, beauty salons, bath centers, and weight-loss centers.

Doctors apply various treatment techniques to patients based on a medical diagnosis. The staff in the aforementioned places do not understand medical principles; they have only mastered some acupoints and massage techniques and cannot detect whether a patient has systemic diseases.

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Nourishing life only after getting sick

Since ancient times, TCM has focused on "treating the disease before it arises," emphasizing the prevention of illness when there is none. Many people believe that since they feel healthy and no diseases are found in check-ups, they don't need to practice health preservation. This is not the case.

TCM emphasizes regulation, and health preservation focuses on lifestyle. Experts believe that one should maintain a state of tranquility and emptiness and keep a good mental state. Secondly, one should have a regular daily routine. Irregular lifestyles have become a modern-day ailment and are one of the causes of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, obesity, and sub-health. Third, diet should be节制 (moderate); one should not overeat, diet indiscriminately, or be picky. A balanced diet is a crucial part of health preservation. Finally, exercise should be moderate. TCM has long had theories on health through exercise, but they emphasize "not going to extremes." Walking, Tai Chi, and the Five-Animal Frolics are all good forms of exercise.

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