Chapter Ten: The Health Preservation Principles of Nourishing the Internal Organs, with Emphasis on the Spleen and Kidneys

To nourish the internal organs, the spleen and kidneys are of paramount importance.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the human body, which has vitality, is an organic whole centered on the five internal organs, especially the five viscera.

When the functions of the internal organs are in harmony, the body is healthy, rarely gets sick, and often lives a long life; when the functions of the internal organs are disordered, the body is weak, often gets sick, and often dies young.

Therefore, maintaining the coordination of organ functions is an important principle of health preservation.

In addition, since the spleen is the foundation of acquired constitution and the kidney is the foundation of innate constitution, the spleen and kidney play a particularly important role in the process of life activities; therefore, when nourishing the internal organs, the spleen and kidney must be given top priority.

I. Nourishing the Internal Organs

The physiology of the internal organs is characterized by "storage" and "excretion". The five organs of the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and kidneys are mainly responsible for generating and storing essence, qi, blood, body fluids and spirit. The six organs of the gallbladder, stomach, large intestine, small intestine, bladder and triple burner are responsible for receiving and transforming food and water and excreting waste.

The coordination between the internal organs is achieved through interdependence, mutual restraint, and the relationships of mutual generation and control.

The internal organs are both generated and controlled, thus maintaining a balance and coordination to ensure the smooth functioning of physiological activities.

Only when the body's functions of storing and purging are properly balanced can it have a sufficient source of nutrition to ensure the normal functioning of its life activities.

A malfunction in any link can affect overall life activities, thus impacting health and causing disease.

From a health and wellness perspective, regulating the internal organs is achieved through a series of scientific and effective health preservation methods.

The content of regulating the internal organs for health preservation generally includes two aspects: First, strengthening the synergistic effect of the internal organs to enhance the vitality of the body's metabolism; second, correcting the disharmony and deviation of the internal organs. When there is occasional disharmony between the internal organs, timely conditioning should be carried out to correct the deviation.

Nourishing the internal organs is one of the basic principles of health preservation and is implemented in various health preservation methods. For example, in the four seasons health preservation, it is emphasized that the liver should be nourished in spring, the heart in summer, the spleen in late summer, the lungs in autumn, and the kidneys in winter. In the mental and emotional health preservation, it is emphasized that emotions should be relaxed and that the five emotions should not be excessive and should not harm the five internal organs. In the dietary health preservation, it is emphasized that the five flavors should be balanced and not excessive, so as not to harm the five internal organs.

All of the above are specific implementations based on the principle of regulating the internal organs.

Second, the spleen and kidneys are of paramount importance.

When it comes to health preservation and conditioning the internal organs, the spleen and kidneys should be the primary focus.

(I) Nourishing the Spleen and Stomach

Traditional Chinese medicine considers the spleen and stomach to be the "foundation of acquired constitution" and the "source of qi and blood production".

Therefore, the human body's internal organs, meridians, physical form, sensory organs, essence, qi, blood, body fluids, and spirit all depend on the spleen and stomach. The strength or weakness of the spleen and stomach is related to the strength or weakness of the body's vital energy, the strength or weakness of the body, and the length of life.

A healthy spleen and stomach ensure sufficient absorption of nutrients from food, resulting in abundant qi and blood, strong organ function, robust physique and spirit, and longevity. Conversely, a weak spleen and stomach lead to insufficient absorption of nutrients from food, deficiency of qi and blood, dysfunction of organ function, physical weakness and spirit, illness, and short lifespan.

Modern research suggests that the function of the spleen and stomach is closely related to the digestive, respiratory, urinary and reproductive, nervous, circulatory, and immune systems.

The spleen and stomach are the foundation of life and health. Therefore, Li Dongyuan, a medical scientist of the Jin Dynasty, clearly pointed out in his "Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach" that "internal damage to the spleen and stomach leads to a hundred diseases."

Nourishing the spleen and stomach is an important guarantee for strengthening the body, improving health, and prolonging life.

Nourishing the spleen and stomach requires invigorating the spleen and nourishing the stomach yin; regulating diet and adapting to temperature changes; regulating emotions and soothing the liver and spleen; regular exercise to strengthen the spleen and stomach; and so on.

Specifically, diet, daily life, mental state, as well as medicinal cuisine, medicine, acupuncture and massage, and traditional fitness techniques can all help to strengthen the spleen and stomach.

(II) Nourishing the Kidneys

Traditional Chinese medicine considers the kidneys to be the "foundation of innate essence".

The essence of the kidneys is not only the source of life for procreation and promotes human growth and development, but also the most important basic substance for maintaining human life activities.

The functions of kidney essence can be summarized into two aspects: kidney yin and kidney yang. Kidney yin and kidney yang are the foundation of yin and yang in the body. The strength or weakness of kidney yin and kidney yang directly affects a person's health and the aging process.

When the kidney essence is abundant, the spirit is vigorous, the body is healthy, the vitality is strong, and one can enjoy a long life. When the kidney essence is deficient, the spirit is weak, the body is weak and prone to illness, the vitality is weak, and one's lifespan is short and premature.

Modern research suggests that the kidneys are closely related to the gonads, immune system, autonomic nervous system, thyroid gland, adrenal cortex, and hypothalamus. When the essence and qi of the kidneys are depleted, these functions will become disordered, which can lead to various pathological changes and premature aging.

Therefore, Yu Tuan, a medical scholar of the Ming Dynasty, said in "Medical Transmission: Questions on Medicine": "When the kidney essence is abundant, life is prolonged; when the kidney essence is deficient, life is short."

Zhang Jiebin's "Classified Canon" says: "Those who are good at nourishing life must cherish their essence. When the essence is abundant, the qi is strong. When the qi is strong, the spirit is complete. When the spirit is complete, the body is healthy. When the body is healthy, there are few illnesses. When the spirit and qi are strong, one becomes stronger with age. All of this is based on the essence."

One should not deplete one's essence. Abstinence can prevent excessive leakage of kidney essence. Preserving essence and protecting the kidneys is a key aspect of maintaining health, preventing aging, and combating physical decline.

Among the various methods of health preservation in traditional Chinese medicine, such as moderation in sexual activity, abstinence in sexual intercourse, qigong exercises, medicine, and medicinal diets, all are concrete manifestations of the health preservation principle of abstinence and preserving essence to nourish the kidneys.

Unblock the meridians and harmonize qi and blood

Meridians are the channels through which Qi and blood circulate.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that only when the meridians are unobstructed can qi and blood circulate throughout the body; only when the meridians are unobstructed can the inside and outside be connected, yin and yang be intertwined, and the internal organs be interconnected, thereby nourishing the internal organs, generating qi and blood, distributing body fluids, removing waste, and regulating the spirit, so as to ensure the smooth progress of life activities and vigorous metabolism.

Therefore, unobstructed meridians and harmonious qi and blood are closely related to life activities. Unobstructed meridians and harmonious qi and blood have thus become important principles of traditional Chinese medicine for health preservation and are found in various health preservation methods.

The following are articles 11-20.