Part 8: Characteristics of Physical Health: From Breathing to Appetite

5. Breathe slowly

The Yellow Emperor's Eighty-One Difficulties Classic (abbreviated as the Difficulties Classic) states: "Exhale through the heart and lungs, inhale through the liver and kidneys." Breathing is extremely closely related to the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.

Breathing at a steady, unhurried pace indicates that the internal organs are functioning well, which is a sign of good health.

If breathing is rapid or shallow, it indicates a disorder of the lungs and kidneys.

6. The pulse is slow and even.

The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter "On the Essentials of Pulse" states: "The pulse is the residence of blood." Blood circulates within the pulse, and the pulse reflects the condition of qi and blood.

A healthy person's pulse is a steady pulse, meaning it is calm, gentle, and neither too fast nor too slow.

7. Appropriate body shape

Physical form is related to the abundance of qi and blood.

Being underweight or overweight are both signs of illness. Overweight people often have qi deficiency, yang deficiency, and phlegm and dampness, while underweight people often have blood deficiency, yin deficiency, and excessive internal heat.

A well-proportioned body, neither too fat nor too thin, is a sign of good health.

8. Moisturizes the skin

The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter on flaccidity states: "The lungs govern the skin and hair of the body... The spleen governs the muscles of the body." The skin needs the nourishment of the internal organs, qi, blood, and body fluids.

Whether the skin is moisturized or not is related to the function of the spleen and lungs, as well as the condition of qi, blood, and body fluids.

Moisturized, elastic, and well-defined skin is a sign of good health.

If the skin is dry, sallow, and brittle, and the pores are loose, it indicates a dysfunction of the spleen and lungs, and a deficiency of qi, blood, and body fluids.

9. Strong teeth

The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter on flaccidity states that "the kidneys govern the bone marrow of the body," and that teeth are an extension of the bones.

Teeth rely on the essence of the kidneys for nourishment, and the strength of teeth is related to the kidney essence.

Strong, straight teeth are a sign of good health.

If teeth are loose, fall out, or are crooked, it is a sign of insufficient kidney essence.

10. Highly perceptive hearing

The Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) states, "Kidney Qi communicates with the ears; when the kidneys are in harmony, the ears can hear the five tones." The Ling Shu also states, "The twelve meridians and three hundred and sixty-five collaterals... their separate Qi flows to the ears and enables hearing." The function of the ears is related to the kidneys and the meridians and collaterals of the whole body.

Having sharp hearing and quick reflexes are signs of good health.

If hearing is reduced, dulled, or lost, it is a manifestation of insufficient kidney essence and dysfunction of the meridians.

11. Flexible waist and legs

The *Suwen* (Plain Questions) chapter "On the Essentials of Pulse" states, "The waist is the residence of the kidneys... the knees are the residence of the tendons." The *Suwen* chapter "On Atrophy" states, "The kidneys govern the bone marrow of the body... the liver governs the tendons and fascia of the body." The waist, legs, tendons, bones, kidney essence, and liver blood are closely related.

Flexible waist and legs and a composed gait are signs of good health.

If the kidney essence is deficient, one will experience lower back pain and weak bones, and be unable to stand for long periods of time; if the liver blood is deficient, one will experience knee pain and weak tendons, and difficulty in bending and stretching the limbs.

12. Hair is shiny

The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter on the Six Sections and Visceral Manifestations states: "The kidneys... their manifestation is in the hair," and hair is the surplus of blood.

The growth and loss, luster and dryness of hair depend not only on the nourishment of the kidney essence, but also on the nourishment of the blood.

Black and lustrous hair is a sign of good health.

If hair turns white, yellow, or falls out, it indicates kidney deficiency and blood deficiency.

13. Normal appetite

The stomach is responsible for receiving food, and the spleen is responsible for transporting and transforming it; they are the foundation of postnatal health and the source of qi and blood.

The Ming Dynasty physician Li Zhongzi wrote in his book "Essential Readings for Physicians: The Kidney as the Foundation of Prenatal Life and the Spleen as the Foundation of Postnatal Life": "With stomach qi (spleen and stomach function), one lives; without stomach qi, one dies."

A normal appetite and a pleasant taste when eating are signs of good health.

If you have a poor appetite or food doesn't taste good, it's a sign of spleen and stomach weakness or dysfunction.

14. Sleep and wakefulness are normal.

One is active during the day and sleeps at night. The state of being awake and asleep is closely related to the waxing and waning of the body's vital energy (ying and wei qi) and the regularity of the day-night cycle.

Being active during the day and sleeping soundly at night, with regular sleep and wakefulness, is a sign of good health.

If one is unable to exert oneself during the day or sleep at night, it indicates a deficiency and imbalance of the body's vital energy and defensive energy.

(II) Characteristics of Mental and Psychological Health

1. A cheerful mood

A good mental state is an important indicator of health, and a joyful mood has a positive impact on maintaining good health.

The "Suwen·Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun" states: "Humans have five internal organs that transform into five qi, which give rise to joy, anger, sorrow, fear, and worry." Mental and emotional activities are closely related to the qi and blood of the internal organs, and the material basis of emotional activities is the qi and blood governed by the five internal organs.

A cheerful mood and harmonious emotions are signs of good health.

If one is listless or emotionally unstable, the internal organs will become disordered and the qi and blood will be insufficient.

2. Good memory

Good memory is an important indicator of mental and psychological health.

The Ming Dynasty medical scholar Li Shizhen wrote in his "Compendium of Materia Medica" that "the brain is the residence of the primordial spirit." The "Ling Shu: On the Sea" states that "the brain is the sea of ​​marrow."

The kidneys govern bones and produce marrow, while the spleen governs the ascending of clear qi.

The brain is where essence and spirit converge, and memory depends on the essence of the kidneys and the qi and blood of the spleen and stomach.

A strong memory is a sign of good health.

If memory declines, it indicates a deficiency of kidney essence and qi, as well as a deficiency of spleen and stomach qi and blood.

3. Good adaptability

Another indicator of mental health is having good social adaptability.

The Northern Song Dynasty writer Su Shi wrote in his essay "On Marquis Liu": "He was not alarmed when suddenly confronted, nor angered when wronged without cause."

Being able to remain calm and deal with various changes in the social environment, and being good at self-regulation, is a sign of good health.

If one encounters various changes in the social environment and is unable to adapt, resulting in physical and mental fatigue or other discomfort, it indicates weakness of the internal organs and insufficient qi and blood.

4. High moral character

Moral health is the highest form of health.

The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter "On the Primordial Innocence of Antiquity" states: "Pure virtue and complete Dao." Confucius said: "The superior man is magnanimous and at ease, while the inferior man is always anxious and worried... The virtuous will surely live a long life."

A person's ability to regulate their behavior according to social norms, to be full of love and kindness, to be tolerant of others, and to be willing to help others are signs of good health.

(Deng Yi)

Basic Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Health Preservation

The basic principles of TCM health preservation are guidelines that, under the guidance of TCM theory and TCM health preservation science, are distinct from both modern preventive medicine and TCM clinical medicine, so that TCM health preservation practices have rules and regulations to follow.

The basic principles of traditional Chinese medicine for health preservation are detailed in six sections.