Su wen (Basic Questions) compared waiting until one had fallen ill to seek treatment, to trying to govern after massive social unrest, or making weapons only after a war had begun. It is better to avoid illness where possible by maintaining good health than to treat illness after it has already happened and begun to cause harm.

There are three types of preventive treatment:

First, are measures to be taken to avoid illness entirely - known as yang sheng (health preservation).

Second, are timely treatments during the early stages of an illness which can prevent it from worsening. A holistic treatment approach is required to protect unaffected organs against the spread of the illness. For example, diseases that affect the liver can easily be transferred to the spleen, so it is important to strengthen the spleen during treatment, in order to guarantee a healthy organ that is resistant to those diseases.

There are substantial differences between preventive treatment and the treatment of diseases already in progress. Preventive treatment takes place before falling ill, while disease treatment addresses an existing illness after it has been contracted. All in all, it is more important to nip a disease in the bud before it takes hold.

Ever since Huangdi Neijing, health preservation and disease prevention have been the core principles of Chinese medicine. In Zhuangzi – Neipian (The Inner Chapter of Zhangzi), sheng referred to life, living and growing, while yang means preserving, caring, nourishing and protecting. Together, yang sheng (health preservation) is defined as nourishing life, strengthening health and preventing diseases through a variety of methods, in order to enjoy a long and healthy life.

Chinese tradition holds that the relationship between humanity and nature is the key to preserving health. People should maintain a disciplined lifestyle and proper diet by observing the law of nature and the changing of the seasons. External evils (diseases) can be avoided as long as this balance with nature is achieved.

Mental health is the most important element in the concept of health preservation in Chinese medicine. It is important not to let oneself be overwhelmed by the seven emotional factors, namely joy, anger, grief, bliss, anguish, fear and fright. Dietary adjustments, herbal tonics, acupuncture, massage and Qi-Gong are just some examples of the wide range of traditional health preservation practices

To learn more about health regimens, you are welcome to attend the Chinese Medicine Information Day.