The Theoretical Basis |
Sun SiMiao: “Cultivate the disposition to preserve health” Sun SiMiao, a great expert on medicine and life cultivation, wrote a great work “Qian Jin Fang”, or Valuable Prescriptions, which has been handed down. Besides, he wrote treatises on life cultivation such as “SheYang Zhen Zhong Fang”, or Handy prescriptions for Life Cultivation. The comprehensive regulation methods are adopted in his life cultivation techniques such as dietary therapy for life cultivation, promotes of health with moderate sexual life (Sexual life promotes health), regulation of the mind for promotion of activities, massage, etc. The content is very rich. The application of these life cultivation methods is based on the theory of “cultivation of disposition” (regulating emotions, taking prevention before the onset of diseases). Sun SiMiao lived to be 101. Li DongYuan: “Regulate the spleen and stomach”
Li DongYuan, the founder of the school of Nourishing Earth (Spleen) of the four medical school in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, also emphasized that the protection of splenogastric functions is the important principle for prolonging life. This means: firstly, regulation of diet protects and nourishes the spleen and stomach; secondly, emotional regulation protects the spleen and stomach; thirdly, in preventing and treating diseases, protection of the spleen and stomach should be taken into consideration. This theory has laid a foundation for health preservation, especially for senile life cultivation. Li DongYuan died at the age of 71. Zhu DanXi” “Nourish and protect yin” Zhu DanZi put forth a well-know theory concerning the human health --- “Yang is usually in excess while Yin is constantly insufficient in the human body.” He especially emphasized the importance of protecting essence. Particularly, he warned people time and again of the impairment of Yin duo to excessive sexual life. The specific measures for protecting Yin include confrming to seasonal variations to regulate and nourish the mind and qi, eating bland diet to avoid promoting fire and promoting dampness, abstinence from sexual desires for conservation essence to extinguish renal fire and eliminate lust. Zhu DanXi died at the age of 77. Li ShiZhen: “Stand hard work to extend life span”
Li ShiZhen of the Ming Dynasty is not only famous for “Bencao Gang Mu”, or Compendium of Material Medical, but also had a good command of the comprehensive application of life cultivation techniques. He had very rich discussions concerning life cultivation with drugs and the diet, collected many dietary therapeutic methods. Li ShiZhen advocated that senior citizens should reinforce and tonify primordial qi, regulate the spleen and stomach, use prescriptions with warming and tonic actions to prolong life. He hisself earnestly practiced his advocation of “standing hard word to prolong life.” One the one hand, he made nothing of hardships, traveled across mountains and rivers to seek for medical materials. On the other hand, he also strengthened his constitution in his way. Li ShiZhen lived to be 75. |
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