Here, I offer you a brief insight into ancient Chinese wisdom, and show with the aid of some examples, how well it resonates with the results of modern medical reearch. If you take away a flavour of this short article and change just one thing in your life as a result, then your . . . → Read More: Longevity and Health Preservation]]>

Here, I offer you a brief insight into ancient Chinese wisdom, and show with the aid of some examples, how well it resonates with the results of modern medical reearch. If you take away a flavour of this short article and change just one thing in your life as a result, then your time reading it will have been well spent.

The Chinese have long been interested in lengthening life and maintaining youth, and this has informed medical practice since ancient times. “Chang shou” or long life, is considered a blessing of heaven: it is a reward to be reaped for following the teachings of traditional Chinese medicine, about work, rest, diet, dress etc. (For some specific examples of these teachings, please read some of my Seasonal Tips.)

The idea of such preventative medicine appears in the classic texts of two millenia ago: “To wait for the battle before forging the weapons, to wait until one is thirsty before digging the well, is this not too late?” It is often said that people in those days, would therefore attend for acupuncture and advice at regular intervals during the year, most usually at the change of seasons, because that is when we are more vulnerable to imbalance.

Now we shall look at just two categories from a long list which the Chinese refer to as the causes of disease: these will be our emotional life, and our diet/eating habits.

Emotions are considered in Chinese medicine, to harm us when we experience them too intensely or for too long: to be annoyed about a speeding ticket the day you have opened the envelope, would be alright; to be completely enraged or to still be angry six months later, would not! “When faced with something exasperating, one should calmly consider which is more important, anger or health.” (Cao Tong, Qing dynasty AD 1644-1912). Indeed modern research shows a bout of intense anger increases the risk of a stroke within 2 hours, by a factor of 14 (Neurology Journal 2004), and increases by a factor of 17, the likelihood of a potentially fatal heart rhythm disturbance (Circulation Journal 2004). By comparison, “Laughing makes you ten years younger.” (Chinese saying)

For good health and a sense of well being, we need to promote a harmonious flow of Qi in the body. This is achieved by meditation, relaxation, exercise, happiness, and by cultivating a free flow of all our emotions, such that particular ones do not significantly linger or predominate. “Flow with whatever is happening and let your mind be free. Stay centred by accepting whatever you are doing.” (Chuang Tzu c. BC369-286)

A lack of the more positive feelings, is seen as equally unhelpful: “People have illness because they do not have love in their life and are not cherished.” (Sun Simiao AD581-682) From the modern medical profession,”Those who feel lonely, depressed or isolated, are 3 to 5 times more likely to suffer premature death or disease. I don’t know of anything else across medicine that has such a broad and powerful impact.” (Dr Dean Ornish, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California.) In the UK nowadays, depression is one of the top five conditions people seek acupuncture treatment for.

Turning to diet, Chinese medicine can guide not only what we eat, but how we eat it. The ancient Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, advised “The five cereals are staple food; the five fruits are auxiliary; the five meats are beneficial; the five vegetables should be taken in abundance.” 2500 years later, these priorities resonate strikingly with the UK’s “5-(portions of fruit & veg) a-Day” campaign. Over the centuries, subsequent texts reveal sophisticated developments in the use of food, including the transition to cooked food, made possible by drilling wood to create fire. Yi Yin in the Shang dynasty (BC1600-1046) emphasised that physicians should use the right kinds of food to help cure disease; food had now become equal to medicine.

Foods today are chosen to support the patient’s Qi, balance yin and yang, and to treat illness. So when recommending particular foods to a patient, an acupuncturist will take account of a host of factors, including the person’s complaint, age, constitution, living and working environment etc. You do not have to be unwell to benefit from advice on the most appropriate diet for you; we should all choose foods which help maintain our health.

Finally, there is how we eat. Never skip breakfast. “People who eat breakfast are significantly less likely to be obese and suffer from diabetes than those who usually do not.” (American Heart Association’s 43rd Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease & Prevention). Eat sitting and relaxed. Eat slowly and chew your food well. (“The stomach has no teeth”- Chinese saying.) Eat only to 7/10 full.

Below, you will find some modern medical research from which you might wish to take a few healthy living tips.

Nearly 135 000 people . . . → Read More: Eat your Greens and Live Longer]]> A study carried out in China, has shown that eating more vegetables is associated with lower mortality rates, particularly from heart disease. The strongest protective effects seemed to come from higher consumption of cruciferous vegetables (also known as the brassica family), which include broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, radish and turnip.

Nearly 135 000 people participated in the study. Overall, the greater an individual’s fruit and vegetable consumption, the lower their risk of death, especially from cardiovascular disease. People whose diets included the most vegetables, were 15% less likely to have died during the five year study. Although benefits were observed in both men and women, in women in particular, the risk of dying was 22% lower in those who ate the most cruciferous vegetables compared to those who consumed the least.

(Cruciferous Vegetable Consumption is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Total & Cardiovascular Disease Mortality. Am Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 2011.)

A total of 416 000 individuals took part in the study between 1996 and 2008. They were categorised into five bands according to their activity levels: inactive, or low, medium, high, very . . . → Read More: Fifteen Minutes Exercise per Day Improves Lifespan]]> Researchers in Taiwan have found that exercising for as little as 15 minutes per day, can increase life expectancy by three years.

A total of 416 000 individuals took part in the study between 1996 and 2008. They were categorised into five bands according to their activity levels: inactive, or low, medium, high, very high activity. Compared to the inactive group, those in the low activity group (15 minutes exercise per day) showed 14% reduced mortality and a three year longer life expectancy. Every additional 15 minutes exercise per day, was associated with a further 4% reduction in mortality and a 1% reduction in cancer.

(Minimum Amount of Physical Activity for Reduced Mortality and Extended Life Expectancy: A Prospective Cohort Study. The Lancet, online pub, 16 August 2011.)

A total of 833 adults were included in the review, which looked at eleven controlled trials. Exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalisation, increased energy . . . → Read More: Extra Benefits of Exercising in Nature]]> A systematic review by UK authors, suggests that exercising in the natural environment offers greater improvements in mental and physical wellbeing, compared to exercising indoors.

A total of 833 adults were included in the review, which looked at eleven controlled trials. Exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalisation, increased energy and positive engagement, along with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. People also expressed greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity, and stated a greater intent to repeat it.

(Does Participating in Physical Activity in Outdoor Natural Environments have a greater effect on Physical and Mental Wellbeing than Physical Activity Indoors? A Systematic Review. Environmental Science & Technology Journal, March 2011.)