Part Nine: The Principles of Health Preservation: Harmony Between Man and Nature and the Balance of Yin and Yang

The harmony between heaven and humanity, and the balance of yin and yang.

"The correspondence between man and nature" is a fundamental academic concept in the "Inner Canon of Medicine" and the essence of traditional Chinese medicine's health preservation.

"Harmonizing Yin and Yang" is the general principle of traditional Chinese medicine for health preservation, disease treatment, and rehabilitation.

I. Correspondence between Heaven and Man

Humans have a connected and corresponding relationship with the heavens and earth. Regardless of the four seasons, the day and night, the movement of the sun and moon, or the geographical environment, all kinds of natural changes will have a certain impact on the human body.

Human survival and development should be based on harmony with the laws of nature.

If people can follow the natural way to maintain health, the yin and yang inside and outside the body can achieve balance and harmony, the physiological activities of each organ can be regular and orderly, and the body can be healthy; if they cannot follow the natural way, the yin and yang inside and outside the body will be out of balance, the physiological activities of each organ will be disordered, and health will be threatened.

The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter "On Preserving Life and Completing the Form" states: "Humans are born from the Qi of Heaven and Earth and are formed by the laws of the four seasons." This illustrates that we must adapt to changes in nature and the human body, and those who practice health preservation should pay attention to maintaining health according to the seasons.

Wang Bing's "Supplement to the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic: Basic Questions" states: "Therefore, those who cultivate health must carefully follow the timing of Heaven."

He also pointed out the dangers of not conforming to the four seasons: "If one does not follow the harmony of the four seasons and repeatedly violates the harm of the eight winds and loses the way, then the natural spirit will perish before it lasts long."

To achieve good health, one must achieve harmony between humanity and nature, ensuring that the body's internal environment is in harmony with the external natural environment.

Only when the internal and external environments are in balance and harmony can normal physiological functions be maintained.

If the natural climate undergoes abnormal changes and the body's functions are unable to adjust and adapt, the unity of the body's internal and external environments is disrupted, leading to disease.

II. Harmonizing Yin and Yang

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health preservation is based on the concept of the unity of opposites and interdependence of yin and yang. It believes that the internal organs, meridians, qi, blood, and body fluids must be kept relatively stable and in harmony in order to maintain the normal physiological state of "yin-yang balance" and thus ensure the body's health.

Whether it's regulating one's mental state, daily life, diet, or exercise, or using medicinal cuisine, medicine, acupuncture, massage, etc., all are inseparable from the principle of balancing Yin and Yang, with the aim of "achieving balance".

Harmonizing Yin and Yang includes the balance of Yin and Yang within the human body, as well as the balance of Yin and Yang between humans and nature, such as day and night, and the four seasons.

In terms of the balance and harmony of Yin and Yang in the four seasons, mental and emotional health maintenance should be outgoing and enthusiastic in spring and summer, and introverted and reserved in autumn and winter; daily life health maintenance should be to go to bed late and get up early in spring and summer, and to go to bed early and get up late in autumn and winter; clothing health maintenance requires wearing thin clothes in hot weather and thick clothes in cold weather; dietary health maintenance should include more cooling foods in spring and summer, and more warm foods in autumn and winter; exercise health maintenance should include more exercise in spring and summer, and less exercise in autumn and winter; and so on.

For example, the "Suwen·Treatise on Regulating the Spirit in Accordance with the Four Seasons" states, "Nourish Yang in spring and summer, and nourish Yin in autumn and winter."

Nourishing both body and spirit, with nourishing the spirit as the priority.

"Form" mainly refers to the shape and organs of the body, such as the internal organs, meridians, essence, qi, blood, body fluids, five sense organs, nine orifices, limbs, tendons, skin, flesh, and bones.

The word "god" has a broad and a narrow meaning. This refers to the narrow meaning of "god," which mainly refers to spirit, consciousness, thinking, and emotional activities.

A strong physique is the material guarantee for abundant energy and a cheerful mood, while abundant energy and a cheerful mood are necessary conditions for a strong physique.

Therefore, to maintain physical health, one must pay attention to both physical and mental well-being.

The spirit plays a leading role in the physical body, while the heart governs the mind and is the sovereign organ. The "Suwen·Linglan Secret Canon" clearly states: "When the ruler is wise, the people are at peace, and nourishing life in this way will lead to longevity... When the ruler is unwise, the twelve officials are in danger... The body will be greatly harmed, and nourishing life in this way will bring disaster..." Therefore, it is said that both the body and the spirit should be nourished, with nourishing the spirit taking precedence.

I. Nourishing both body and spirit

Based on the close relationship between form and spirit, traditional Chinese medicine has formed the principle of "nourishing both form and spirit" for health preservation.

Nourishing both body and mind means not only paying attention to the maintenance of the physical body, but also to the nourishment of the spirit and emotions, so that the body is strong, the energy is abundant, and the emotions are unobstructed. The two complement each other and achieve a balanced and unified development of both body and mind.

(I) Cultivating the Spirit Through Tranquility

Throughout Chinese history, health practitioners have attached great importance to the relationship between the spirit and human health, believing that a calm and peaceful spirit can lead to health and longevity.

The spirit has the power to manage all things and govern all affairs, and is often in a state of being easily agitated and difficult to remain still. Therefore, cultivating tranquility and nourishing the spirit is particularly important.

The "Suwen·Shengqi Tongtian Lun" states that "when one is calm and tranquil, the pores close and resist, and even strong winds and harsh poisons cannot harm one." The Yuan Dynasty physician Luo Tianyi emphasized in "Weisheng Baojian" that "when the mind is disordered, a hundred diseases arise; when the mind is calm, all diseases cease." The Southern Dynasty physician Tao Hongjing pointed out in "Yangsheng Yanming Lu·Jiaocheng Pian" that "the calm live long, and the restless die."

There are many ways to cultivate inner peace and health, such as self-cultivation, maintaining an optimistic outlook, and regularly practicing meditation.

(II) Nourishing the Body Through Movement

The "Lüshi Chunqiu: Da Yu" emphasizes that "if the body does not move, the essence will not flow; if the essence does not flow, the qi will stagnate." Zhang Zihe, a physician of the Jin Dynasty, pointed out in "Rumen Shiqin" that "the circulation of blood and qi is the most important thing." Zhang Zhongjing, the medical sage of the Eastern Han Dynasty, proposed that "when the true essence of the five internal organs is unobstructed, a person will be at peace."

Appropriate and moderate labor and exercise can strengthen muscles and bones, improve the health of internal organs, unblock meridians, regulate qi and blood, cultivate a strong will and courageous spirit, and maintain an optimistic personality. It is very beneficial for strengthening the body, reducing disease, maintaining health, and prolonging life.

There are many ways to exercise to maintain physical health, such as labor, walking, brisk walking, aerobics, and regular exercise.

Zhang Jiebin's "Classified Canon with Supplementary Wings: Medical and Yi" emphasizes: "All principles of the world originate from movement and stillness."

Ancient Chinese health practitioners have always attached great importance to the balance between activity and rest, advocating for a proper combination of activity and stillness.

From the "Do not overwork" in the Inner Canon of Medicine to Sun Simiao's "The way to nourish one's nature is to always desire a little labor," both emphasize the importance of moderation in movement and stillness. Only by organically combining the physical and mental aspects, as well as movement and stillness, and achieving a balanced approach to health preservation, can we conform to the objective laws of life's movement and benefit from strengthening the body, preventing disease, and prolonging life.

II. Nourishing the spirit is paramount

The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter "On the Primordial Innocence of Antiquity" states: "When the spirit is guarded within, how can illness arise?" The Lingshu (Spiritual Pivot) chapter "On the Natural Lifespan" states: "Those who lose their spirit die, while those who gain their spirit live."

This demonstrates the important role that "God" plays in human life activities.

"Gaining spiritual strength" and "guarding spiritual strength" can maintain health, prevent disease, and prolong life; conversely, if the spirit is damaged, one will fall ill, and if one loses spiritual strength, one will die.

Traditional Chinese medicine has always advocated nourishing both the body and mind, with nourishing the mind being the priority.

For example, the "Yiwen Leiju·Yangsheng" states that "the highest level is to nourish the spirit, the next level is to nourish the body," and Sun Simiao's "Ten Essentials of Nourishing Life" places "cherishing the spirit" first.

Therefore, nourishing the spirit should be the top priority in health preservation.