Aging
Promoting Longevity with Chinese Medicine
Aging is predictable in all living organisms; however, the rate of aging can vary greatly depending on our intrinsic genetic profile and our extrinsic lifestyle throughout the passing years.
Many experts would suggest that there is little we can do to influence our genetic patterns, but it is generally accepted that we can influence familial disease patterns such as heart disease using preventative lifestyle practices. For best outcomes using self-care to promote longevity, combine associated Aroma Acu-Sticks® to acu-points, topical remedies, and good lifestyle practices.
Aroma Acu-therapy™ for Aging Well
Kidney 3
Apply the Water Element Aroma Acu-Stick® to activate Acupressure Point KI 3
Why? Acu-point Kidney 3 is the Source Point of the Kidney energetic organ system that stores Essence which when depleted allows for aging according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Stomach 36
Apply the Earth Element Aroma Acu-Stick® to activate Acupressure Point ST 36
Why? Acu-point Stomach 36 calms the mind, nourishes Qi and Blood, fortifies the Spleen, and boosts vital energy. It is a major point for boosting the immune system and maintaining wellness.
Large Intestine 4
Apply the Metal Element Aroma Acu-Stick® to activate Acupuncture Point LI 4
Why? LI 4 works together with Liver 3 to invigorate the circulation of Blood and Qi and when the two points are used together the therapy is referred to as the "Four Gates" and helps to promote the correct flow of Qi and Blood throughout the body.
Liver 3
Apply the Wood Element Aroma Acu-Stick® to activate Acupressure Point LV 3
Why? LV 3 is the energy source point for the Liver energetic organ system that is able to normalize the Liver function as Liver Qi Stagnation is often the root cause of dozens of diseases and pain conditions.
Pericardium 6
Apply the Fire Element Aroma Acu-Stick® to activate Acupuncture Point Pericardium 6
Why? Acu-point PER 6 calms the mind and helps to normalize emotional imbalances which can lead to body-level disharmonies according to the Five Elements Theory of Chinese medicine.
Related Articles:
Major Patterns of Imbalanced that Develop While Aging
Ancient Chinese emperors gleaned longevity insights with the assistance of sages and healers of the time. These methods promoted vigor, beauty, and disease prevention and were closely guarded royal family secrets. The confidential modalities have been uncovered over the centuries including Food Therapy, exercise, meditation, self-acupressure. Because of this treasure trove, we can all experience a better quality of life into our elder years.
Kidney Yin Deficiency and Dryness and Aging
Some of the most common signs that we associate with aging are due to Kidney Deficiency. These include, but are not limited to a loss of hearing, dry wrinkled skin, and an inability to regulate body temperature and stay warm. Kidney Yin is naturally diminished as we age unless we regularly practice acupressure at acu-point KI 3, take Kidney tonic herbs, reduce stress, improve sleep, and eat a nourishing whole-foods diet. Facial cupping with essential oils and botanical increases blood circulation and collagen production resulting in soft bright skin.
Related Article: Kidney Yin Deficiency
Acupressure Point Combination Strategy:
- Apply the Water Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Kidney 3
- Apply the Water Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Kidney 7
Stomach Yin Deficiency and Aging
This is a common condition seen in the elderly and manifests itself as a feeling of hunger, but no real appetite and a sense of nausea when food is presented. Stress, drinking alcohol, and poor diet can lead to this condition. Yin of the body originates as Kidney Yin, so one would tonify Kidney Yin in these types of conditions.
Acupressure Point Combination Strategy:
- Apply the Water Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Kidney 3
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 36
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 44
Blood Stagnation and Aging
Good blood circulation is important at any age, but tends to slow down as we age. In Chinese medicine, the theoretical concept of Blood is similar to the western concept, but it embodies a larger group of functions. While it does carry nutrients and oxygen to the entire body, it also plays an intricate part in moving Qi. Blood stagnation can play a role in nearly any disease or pain syndrome in Chinese medicine.
Related Article: Blood Stagnation and Blood Deficiency
Acupressure Point Combination Strategy:
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 36
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Spleen 10
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 3
Heart Health and Aging
If Heart Blood and Qi become stagnant, the Heart Blood will begin to heat up and damage the actual organ itself. Heart Heat is often implicated with chronic heart disease. Another condition occurs when we become more an more Qi Deficient as we age and the Heart no longer has sufficient Qi to pump blood or function correctly.
The Heart also houses the mind at night and sleep disturbances or insomnia would indicate a Heart imbalance according to Chinese medicine.
Related Article: Heart Health
Liver Yin Deficiency and Aging
Many of the symptoms associated with aging are due to Liver Yin Deficiency such as arthritis and joint pain, cataracts and glaucoma, and high blood pressure. Kidney Yin Deficiency is depleted as we age and is the basis of all Yin of the body; therefore, chronic Kidney Yin Deficiency can contribute to Liver Yin Deficiency.
When healthy, the Liver organ is awash with Blood in Chinese medicine; this keeps it cool. Blood is a Yin substance. Liver Yin is also consumed by chronic stress which can result in Liver Yin Deficiency.
Related Article: Liver Health
Wei Qi Deficiency and Aging
Recent scientific studies have demonstrated that the immune system has a tendency to weaken as we age (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3582124/) stating,"Following their production in the bone marrow and thymus, naive B and T cells migrate to secondary lymphoid tissues such as the spleen. This process is particularly robust in the young in order to generate a diverse immune repertoire and to fill peripheral lymphoid compartments. In contrast, primary lymphopoiesis in the elderly is significantly diminished.
This is interesting because the "Essence" in Chinese medicine is responsible for the creation of marrow. Huangdi’s Canon of Medicine, a text dating back two thousand years, explained that “Bone marrow firmed, then qi and blood are abundant.” It is a common concept that as we age our Essence is depleted and we begin to decline. Wile Chinese medicine does not have an "immune system", the immune response was recognized long before western medicine made it in to a category. Beyond Essence, Chinese medicine has the Wei Qi that takes on some of the characterizations of the immune system.
10 Ways to Age Well Naturally
1.) Nourish Yourself
What we see as aging, such as our personal appearance, flexibility, strength and so on, is simply a reflection of the aging that is occurring on a cellular level internally. As our age advances, our cells ability to divide and make new cells slows or halts. This is why it is necessary to provide the nourishment needed to support healthy cells. Chinese food therapy and tonic herbs help to nourish the body on a cellular level.
2.) Build Blood and Qi in the Body
One of the most common patterns of imbalance in the elderly is 'Blood and Qi (Chi) Deficiency'. Qi is the vital energy and warmth producing quality of the body that allows the animation of the human body. All of the organs must receive abundant Qi and Blood to thrive and function properly. Signs of Blood Deficiency include dry skin, dizziness, palpitations, withered skin, lusterless complexion, pale lips, a weak pulse, insomnia, tight muscles, inflexible joints, and thinning brittle hair. Blood is made up mainly of water, and water has amazing isolate properties; this is why older people who are Blood Deficient are intolerant of temperature fluctuations, and are always too hot or too cold.
3.) Eliminate Toxins from the Body
Exposure to toxins can occur from environmental exposures such as pollution, occupational hazards such as paint, hair dyes, or chemicals, or pesticides in our foods. Many toxins act as free radicals and cause cellular damage in the body speeding up aging. Other pesticides and toxins seem to interfere with the mechanisms that stimulate the division of cells in the body. Cell division is the way you regenerate new cells that keep you youthful. Typically the body eliminates toxins through the liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, and lymphatic system and so on. It is when the body becomes overwhelmed with toxins that the systems of elimination stop functioning optimally, and toxins become lodged more internally in the body.
4.) Get a Good Night's Sleep
Researchers from the University of Chicago Medical Center found that lack of sleep produces changes in the bodies, even in teens, that are related with premature aging. "We found that the metabolic and endocrine changes resulting from a significant sleep debt mimic many of the hallmarks of aging," said Eve Van Cauter, Ph.D., professor of medicine at the University of Chicago and director of the study. "We suspect that chronic sleep loss may not only hasten the onset but could also increase the severity of age-related ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and memory loss."
There are many underlying causes of insomnia and sleep disturbances. One of the reasons that Chinese medicine is able to treat insomnia with such great success is because it has a number of practical theories that actually address the root causes of sleep disorders. It should be noted that in Chinese medicine a normal pattern of sleep would be the ability to fall asleep on your own around 10 or 11 PM, and stay asleep for 7-8 hours without interruption. Any other sleep pattern would be considered abnormal, and would be part of a pattern of imbalance.
5.) Reduce Stress
The part of the DNA that controls cell aging is called a telomere. If you think of a strand of DNA as a shoelace, the telomere is the plastic tip on the end that provides protection to the DNA. Telomeres naturally get thinner and fray as we age, and the more worn they become, the less protection they provide. Chronic stress has been shown to speed up this process resulting in the premature death of cells, rather than normal rejuvenating mechanism of cell division.
Stress is a normal part of our lives, and it is more specifically how we deal with stressors that determine if stress is going to affect us negatively. Many people find the stress involved with life drama stimulating, but creating drama is often an effort to avoid dealing with past emotional traumas. It is possible to re-program the nervous system so that it is not so over-reactive to normal stressors. Some of the most common ways to maintain a healthy nervous system are exercise and breathing meditations.
6.) Avoid Drugs (recreational or pharmaceutical), Cigarettes and Alcohol
We've all heard that a couple of glasses of red wine is good for us and no-one has proven that smoking in moderation (4 cigarettes a day) will have a dramatic negative impact on your health, it goes without saying that the over consumption of these substances can have a negative impact on your health.
7.) Limit Your Exposure to the Sun
The sun is a life giving force that has been villainized of late. While over-exposure to the sun's rays will cause skin damage, exposing the skin to 15 minutes or so of sunlight daily insures the healthy production of Vitamin D that is vital to bone density and strength. Many elderly people in living facilities go for months without daily sun exposure, thus hastening their decline. In Chinese medicine, it is everything in moderation rather than a linear standard of bad-good, black-white solutions. If you have sun damaged skin, consider Total Redemption Nourishing Cream.
8.) Maintain a healthy weight with whole foods and regular exercise
The CDC lists the following increased health risks in overweight and obese individuals:
- Hypertension
- Osteoarthritis
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of Type 2 diabetes)
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Sleep apnea
- Respiratory problems
- Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
9.) Exercise
Walking, Tai Qi, Qi Gong, and yoga increase blood circulation, decrease stress, maintain flexibility, all while helping to maintain a healthy body weight. Running is not considered a wise exercise method, especially as we age, because it depletes the 'Kidney Essence' that is central in aging in Chinese medical theory. Moderate weight lifting can help with maintaining bone mass and muscle strength, but heavy lifting and extreme workouts deplete the body of Qi and Blood and should be avoided. Brisk walks of around 10-15 miles per week are optimal for healthy aging.
10.) Learn New Things
Part of healthy aging is maintaining clear thinking. While the understanding of how the brain actually functions is a scientific work in progress at this time, many studies are showing that we are able to create new pathways and synapses in the brain throughout our life; this effort is especially important as we age. Avoiding senility can be as simple as reading new books, learning a new language, taking an art class, and even taking a walk in the woods.
Healthy Aging Strategies
While aging may be inevitable, aging well is a choice. It takes time and practice to learn new lifestyle patterns; don't expect to create all new healthy habits overnight. Simply, begin to implement one or two new things every few weeks to implement these healthy aging tips.
Diet
A diet of organic whole foods rich in vegetables, beans, and whole grains is vital for longevity. Avoiding processed foods, sugars, and saturated fats is necessary for promoting wellness. Healthy unsaturated fats are desirable, but highly refined and hydrogenated oils are detrimental to your health. These eating patterns are not new ideas, and are based on eating real foods.
Vitamins
Because nutrient absorption decreases with age, even organic foods may not provide us with enough vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals are necessary as catalysts that allow us to break down, absorb, and utilize our nourishing foods. A one-a-day from the corner drug store may not be the best choice, so visit your local health food store for vitamins and minerals that your body can easily absorb. Make sure to boost your Vitamin C intake to at least 1,000 mgs. as Vitamin C helps to maintain the tenacity of our cells. Micro-minerals, such as those found in seaweed, increase the cellular adaptability to stresses and environmental changes.
Antioxidants
Free radicals are unstable cells that bounce around causing cellular damage internally and speed aging. Aging can also result from an accumulation of genetic errors due to damage from free radicals; the resulting changes in DNA result in cell mutations and malfunctioning; Cancer cells would be an example.
Anti-oxidants have the molecular compounds to stabilize the free radicals and stop the damage from occurring. Medicinal herbs are rich in antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and esters in the essential oils of herbs. Some common sources of anti-oxidants include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, and Manganese. Vegetables, tonic herbs and fruits are rich in antioxidants and are the safest way to ingest them.
Until there is such a time that advances in gene therapy can promise to replace all of our worn out parts, it is our personal responsibility to maintain health and wellness with good personal lifestyle choices. Aging is a normal process that leads to our eventual deaths and there is an 'anti anti-aging movement' underway that reveres aging while promoting healthy aging life practices.
Villeponteau, B., Matsagas, K., Nobles, A. C., Rizza, C., Horwitz, M., Benford, G., & Mockett, R. J. (2015). Herbal supplement extends life span under some environmental conditions and boosts stress resistance. PloS one, 10(4), e0119068. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119068
Akinyemi AJ, Oboh G, Ogunsuyi O, Abolaji AO, Udofia A Curcumin-supplemented diets improve antioxidant enzymes and alter acetylcholinesterase genes expression level in Drosophila melanogaster model..Metab Brain Dis. 2018 Apr; 33(2):369-375. Epub 2017 Aug 28.
Chen, W., Wang, J., Shi, J., Yang, X., Yang, P., Wang, N., Yang, S., Xie, T., Yang, H., Zhang, M., Wang, H., & Fei, J. (2019). Longevity Effect of Liuwei Dihuang in Both Caenorhabditis Elegans and Aged Mice. Aging and disease, 10(3), 578–591. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2018.0604
Liu, Y., Weng, W., Gao, R., & Liu, Y. (2019). New Insights for Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Aging-Related Diseases: Herbal Medicine as Potential Therapeutic Approach. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2019, 4598167. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4598167
Agatonovic-Kustrin, S., Kustrin, E., & Morton, D. W. (2019). Essential oils and functional herbs for healthy aging. Neural regeneration research, 14(3), 441–445. https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.245467
Ayaz M, Sadiq A, Junaid M, Ullah F, Subhan F, Ahmed J. Neuroprotective and anti-aging potentials of essential oils from aromatic and medicinal plants. Front Aging Neurosci. 2017;9:168.
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.