Part Seven: Western Medicine's Fourteen Standards of Health and Traditional Chinese Medicine's Four-Dimensional View of Health
Teeth are clean, without cavities or pain, and gums are normal in color and do not bleed.
Hair is shiny and free of dandruff;
Muscles and skin are elastic, and walking is easy and powerful.
2. Fourteen Provisions
Having enough energy to cope with the pressures of daily life and work without feeling overly stressed;
Positive attitude, willing to take responsibility, and not picky about tasks, big or small;
Good at resting and has good sleep;
It can adapt to various changes in the external environment and has a strong adaptability;
It can resist common colds and infectious diseases;
Appropriate weight, well-proportioned figure, and coordinated neck, shoulder, and arm positions when standing;
Sharp reflexes, bright eyes, and no eyelid inflammation;
Teeth are clean, with no cavities, no pain, no bleeding, and normal gum color;
Hair is shiny and free of dandruff;
Muscles and skin are elastic, making walking easy and coordinated;
High moral character, good public morality, and moral cultivation;
Be responsible for your own and others' health, and ensure that your work, life, and entertainment do not affect or harm the interests and health of others.
Do not seize or steal other people's money, property, works, or research results;
No drug use, no promiscuity.
(II) The Health Concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine's understanding of health preservation can be simply described as "the unity of form and spirit," specifically manifested as a four-dimensional view of health encompassing physical, psychological, social, and moral aspects.
1. Physical and physiological health is the foundation of overall health.
Human health begins with physical health; only with a strong body can one have a vibrant spirit.
The human body is an organic whole, and its interior is filled with the opposition and unity of Yin and Yang.
"Yin-Yang balance" refers to the balance and coordination of Yin and Yang, which is the foundation of human physiological activities and the guarantee of human health.
If this balance is disrupted, the balance of Yin and Yang is lost, and the human body will develop diseases.
"Yin-Yang balance" is characterized by the well-developed and normal functioning of the various organs, meridians, and sensory organs that make up the human body; and an abundant supply of vital substances such as essence, qi, blood, and body fluids that maintain life activities, with endless biochemical processes and smooth circulation.
2. Mental health is an important aspect of health.
Medical experts and health practitioners have observed through long-term clinical practice that among all mental and psychological activities, emotions have the most direct, widespread, and common impact on health.
Normal emotional responses are a sign of good organ function and generally do not lead to disease.
When emotional changes exceed the body's own regulatory range, they can cause dysfunction of the internal organs and blood, leading to disease. This is known as "internal injury from the seven emotions," which is the main cause of illness.
The Ling Shu chapter "Ben Zang" emphasizes "harmony of will and mind," believing that a person's spirit and emotions should maintain an overall harmonious and healthy state.
The Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) and Su Wen (Plain Questions) chapters on the ancient innocence of the gods propose that "one should live peacefully and harmoniously with joy and anger" and that "when one is tranquil and empty, true qi will follow, and the spirit will be guarded within, from which disease can arise." They believe that emotional harmony is a sign of health and that regulating one's mental and emotional state can prevent disease.
3. Adapting to society is a higher requirement for health.
Traditional Chinese medicine places great importance on individuals fully utilizing their physical and mental potential and achieving a sense of satisfaction in the process of adapting to the social environment, thereby maintaining a stable emotional state and feeling happy.
This can stabilize qi and blood, strengthen internal organs, promote physical health, and allow one to enjoy a long and healthy life.
Health preservation requires people to be indifferent to fame and fortune in social life, to be humble and sincere in their interactions with others, to view the complex social environment with a peaceful mindset, and to live in harmony with the social environment.
For example, the "Suwen·Shanggu Tianzhen Lun" says: "They enjoy their food, are content with their clothing, and delight in their customs, without envying those of higher or lower status." Sun Simiao's "Qianjin Yaofang" also says: "Regarding fame and profit, they are as if they exist and yet do not exist; regarding neither fame nor profit, they are also as if they exist and yet do not exist."
4. Moral health is the highest form of health.
High moral character can maintain normal psychological and emotional activity, thereby promoting health and longevity.
In daily life, if people can regulate themselves according to social moral standards and make their clothing, food, housing, transportation, and mental and emotional aspects reasonable and moderate, they can achieve the goal of physical health and longevity.
The concepts of "pure virtue and complete Dao" proposed in the "Suwen·Shanggu Tianzhen Lun" and the views of Confucius such as "the gentleman is magnanimous, while the petty man is always anxious," "the benevolent are not worried," "the benevolent live long," and "great virtue will surely lead to longevity" are all examples of this.
II. A Health Standard that Combines Form and Spirit
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that a healthy person, possessing both physical and mental well-being, should meet the following two standards:
(I) Characteristics of Physical and Physiological Health
1. Bright and expressive eyes
The Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) chapter "Pulse Measurement" states, "The liver qi communicates with the eyes; when the liver is in harmony, one can distinguish the five colors." The Ling Shu chapter "On Great Confusion" states, "The essence of the five viscera and six bowels all flows upward to the eyes and becomes their essence." The condition of the eyes is closely related to the essence of the five viscera and six bowels.
Therefore, clear vision and bright eyes are the most obvious signs of healthy liver qi.
If you have blurred vision, dull eyes, or even a sluggish or slow gaze, it is a sign of deficiency of vital energy in the internal organs.
2. Rosy complexion
Complexion is a barometer of the state of one's Qi and blood.
When the internal organs function normally and there is sufficient qi, blood and body fluids, the complexion will be rosy; otherwise, when the internal organs are out of balance and qi and blood are deficient, the face will lack luster.
Chinese people belong to the yellow race, and a healthy complexion is characterized by a "reddish-yellow hue, bright and subtle."
If the complexion is pale, sallow, or dull, it indicates a deficiency of organ function and blood and qi.
3. Loud voice
The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter "On the Six Sections and Visceral Manifestations" states, "The lungs are the root of qi." The Suwen chapter "On the Generation of the Five Viscera" says, "All qi belongs to the lungs." The Jingyue Complete Works says, "Sound originates from qi." The pitch of the voice depends on the sufficiency of lung qi.
A loud and clear voice is a sign of healthy lung function.
If the voice is weak and feeble, it indicates a deficiency of lung qi.
4. Regular bowel movements
The Suwen (Plain Questions) chapter "On the Differentiation of the Five Viscera" states: "The anus is also the gate of the five viscera, and food and water should not be stored for too long." This means that the waste products of food digested by the spleen, stomach, and intestines should not be stored for too long, otherwise constipation will occur.
Urination is the main way to eliminate waste fluids after water metabolism, and it is closely related to organs such as the lungs, spleen, kidneys, and bladder.
Therefore, regular bowel movements and urination reflect normal organ function and indicate a healthy state.
If bowel movements and urination are irregular, it indicates a dysfunction of the internal organs.