Health Preservation Methods of Ancient Herbalists: Enjoy what you have; do not seek fame and wealth.
Health Preservation method of old herbalist:Introduction.
Introduction: The hale and hearty ancient herbalists of traditional Chinese medicine—though their hair is completely white—still speak with full vitality. In the ancient works Huangdi Neijing (the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Canon), it states: "Sages treat disease before it manifests; renowned herbalists treat disease before it fully develops; ordinary herbalists treat disease only after it has taken hold."
The best way to cure disease is to prevent it before it begins. We should not wait until we are truly ill before considering how to treat it. A person who wishes to live a long life should not wait until old age to consider how to eat well and enjoy life—rather, one should maintain a positive attitude throughout life. Only then can one live a long and healthy life.
Health Preservation Methods of Ancient Herbalists: Enjoy what you have; do not seek fame and wealth.
Introduction: Diligence in Work: A person cannot exist in isolation from society; therefore, one must first be responsible for one’s work. Some people idle away their days, believing that constant leisure will extend their lifespan. Little do they realize that they have lost life’s meaning—without purpose or goals, how can one achieve longevity?
Indifference to Fame and Wealth: Long-lived ancient herbalists are generally indifferent to fame and fortune.
Happiness Lies in Contentment: To live a long life, it is essential to be content with what one has. Many people lack philosophical depth and remain perpetually dissatisfied with their circumstances—this leads to unhappiness. How can anyone live a long life if they are constantly in a negative emotional state?
The World Health Organization proposes the four cornerstones of health: psychological balance, balanced diet, moderate exercise, and tobacco cessation and alcohol moderation.
Indeed, the ancient herbalists’ emphasis on maintaining a sound mental state aligns with the “psychological balance” cornerstone. Moreover, their other lifestyle practices correspond closely with the remaining three cornerstones of health.
Reasonable Diet: The diet of ancient herbalists is predominantly vegetarian. Most importantly, they strictly regulate their food intake—no matter how delicious the dish, they never overeat; conversely, even when faced with food they do not particularly enjoy, they ensure adequate nutrition.
Tobacco Cessation and Alcohol Moderation: Fully aware of the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol, long-lived ancient herbalists—many of whom lived nearly a century—abstained from alcohol entirely. Some smoked lightly in youth but quit decades ago.
Moderate Exercise: A common excuse for insufficient physical activity is being too busy at work. However, health cannot wait—regular exercise is essential.
In addition to the above health practices—which align with the World Health Organization’s "Four Cornerstones of Health"—ancient herbalists also maintained highly regular daily routines. Many adhered strictly to a schedule of retiring by 10 p.m. and rising at 6 a.m.
Introduction: The hale and hearty ancient herbalists of traditional Chinese medicine—though their hair is completely white—still speak with full vitality. In the ancient works Huangdi Neijing (the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Canon), it states: "Sages treat disease before it manifests; renowned herbalists treat disease before it fully develops; ordinary herbalists treat disease only after it has taken hold."
The best way to cure disease is to prevent it before it begins. We should not wait until we are truly ill before considering how to treat it. A person who wishes to live a long life should not wait until old age to consider how to eat well and enjoy life—rather, one should maintain a positive attitude throughout life. Only then can one live a long and healthy life.
Introduction: Diligence in Work: A person cannot exist in isolation from society; therefore, one must first be responsible for one’s work. Some people idle away their days, believing that constant leisure will extend their lifespan. Little do they realize that they have lost life’s meaning—without purpose or goals, how can one achieve longevity?
Indeed, the ancient herbalists’ emphasis on maintaining a sound mental state aligns with the “psychological balance” cornerstone. Moreover, their other lifestyle practices correspond closely with the remaining three cornerstones of health.
Moderate Exercise: A common excuse for insufficient physical activity is being too busy at work. However, health cannot wait—regular exercise is essential.
