By Darren Holman L.Ac, MAOM
Chinese medicine views aging as the combination of three different processes;
- Weakening of digestive power that Chinese Medicine calls spleen energy deficiency. This diminishes the body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrition for the maintenance of the body. A decrease in this energy can lead to digestion and elimination problems, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and general weakness.
- Weakening of the energy that regulates growth and development and sexual function that Chinese Medicine calls Kidney energy deficiency. A decrease in this energy can lead to low back and knee problems, hearing problems, sexual dysfunction, hair loss, and urinary problems.
- Stagnation of energy and blood that are responsible for continual maintenance of the body. This energy and blood becoming sluggish can result in pain, stiffness, depression, headache, emotional problems, heart attack, and stroke.
Chinese Medicine can address these three factors of aging, and how you can utilize Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and a few simple exercises to maintain a vigorous, healthy, pain free body into and through out your golden years. An emphasis on diet, exercise, flexibility, breathing, and qi gong (the Chinese name for energy building exercises.) is important.
