The Root of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wisdom: In-depth Analysis of the Balance of Medical Principles and Emotions, the Law of Yin-Yang Evolution, and the Secret Techniques of Breathing Yang Qi [i]

First, one must have a deep understanding of one's own body, not only understanding some medical and pharmacological principles, but also understanding life and reason [i]. Only with a deep understanding of life can one avoid being too stubborn and understand that birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural course of life; only by understanding that illness originates from the mind can one fundamentally change a weak state and strengthen the body [i]. The deepest connotation of Chinese culture is not transcendence, but integration into daily life [i]. In the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine, a person is not a machine, but an "inner landscape" [i]. The trend of health preservation is coming, but the correctness of the exercise method is not a big deal; if you really feel uncomfortable, you can stop. However, the internal organs cannot speak, and once you take the wrong medicine, it is a matter of life and death [i]. This is what traditional Chinese medicine often refers to as understanding medical principles, which requires special attention [i]. Traditional Chinese medicine uses medicine according to the individual, and the treatment of diseases emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment. Doctors must judge the level of syndrome differentiation and medication when prescribing medicine, and medicine should not be taken indiscriminately [i]. For the treatment of diseases, one must also understand reason [i]. Many people nowadays rely excessively on medicine. In reality, illness is a two-way combination of our soul and body, and curing illness also requires us to have a spiritual awakening [i]. Understanding reason leads to understanding the importance of cherishing life [i]. In fact, every life inherently possesses the ability to heal itself, and this ability stems from inner confidence, optimism, and awareness [i]. When experiencing physical discomfort, the first step is to reflect on one's lifestyle and change unhealthy habits; this is the key to health [i]. The great Song Dynasty poet Lu You's secret to health preservation was: "In old age, one should refrain from sensual pleasures and be cautious in eating and drinking" [i]. He paid great attention to dietary regulation, emphasizing "coarse foods," eating more vegetables, and firmly believing that porridge was an excellent health food [i]. Lu You advocated counting breaths to fall asleep, washing his feet with hot water every night before bed, and continuing to exercise his limbs even in old age [i]. What is the most core element of Traditional Chinese Medicine? What is this thing that cannot be done without it? It is Yin and Yang [i]! The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic states: "Yin and Yang are the way of heaven and earth, the guiding principles of all things, and the parents of change" [i]. Yin and Yang are the most fundamental and essential elements that influence all aspects of our lives [i]. Yang is characterized by activity, externality, and warmth; Yin is characterized by stillness, internality, and coldness [i]. Understanding the relationship between Yin and Yang involves three aspects: (1) The mutual opposition of Yin and Yang: The victory or defeat of Yin and Yang, or their imbalance, will lead to the occurrence of disease [i]. Even in the normal physiological state of the human body, the two opposing aspects of Yin and Yang are mutually exclusive and struggle against each other [i]. (2) The interdependence of Yin and Yang: The upper part is Yang, and the lower part is Yin. Yang depends on Yin, and Yin depends on Yang. Each side is the basis for the existence of the other [i]. (3) The waxing and waning of Yin and Yang: Yin and Yang are not in a static state, but are always in a state of change and movement [i]. If this "waxing and waning" relationship exceeds a certain limit, disease will begin from here [i]. Ancient Chinese philosophers believed that humans are no exception. The body surface is Yang, and the internal organs are Yin [i]. The functional activities of the internal organs are Yang, and the nutrients are Yin [i]. Under normal conditions, the human body maintains a balanced and coordinated state between various yin and yang, namely "yin and yang in harmony" [i]. In essence, the occurrence of disease is the loss of balance between yin and yang in the human body [i]. Balance is the prerequisite for health [i]. The prerequisite for healthy balance is the balance of yin and yang in the human body [i]. The balance of yin and yang is actually the foundation of life activities [i]. This balance is manifested in nature as the balance of yin and yang qi transformation, and in the human body as the balance of yang qi and yin essence [i]. If we can follow the yin and yang qi transformation of nature to balance yin and yang, then we can achieve twice the result with half the effort [i]. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic proposes nourishing yang in spring and summer, and nourishing yin in autumn and winter [i]. The yang qi of the human body mainly governs the body surface during the day [i]. Yang qi begins to be active in the early morning, reaches its peak at noon, and then retreats and stays inside in the evening [i]. How should we breathe in Yang energy? At sunrise, face east and take deep breaths; Yang energy can enter the body through the pores. At noon, when the sun is directly overhead, let the sun's essence enter the body through the Baihui acupoint. At sunset, when the red glow rises, try to absorb as much of the sun's energy as possible, taking advantage of this last chance of the day. [i] The most important principle of health preservation is to maintain the Yin-Yang balance of life. [i]