Classical Chinese Medical Books Annotations

Author: (Qing) Cao Tingdong, (Yuan) Hu Sihui
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Quality of Life, Life Themes; Prolonging Health, Widely Expected; Desire to Eat, Practice to Live, Appropriate Scale, Effortless Permanence! The Constant Practice of Elderly Care: This book is written in classical Chinese and is not suitable for readers with lower cultural attainment or weak medical knowledge. We have annotated, translated, and provided a brief reading summary of the original text, making it convenient for readers. A specialized work on elderly health preservation. Also known as Notes on Health Preservation. Authored by Cao Tingdong of the Qing Dynasty. Five volumes. The first two volumes discuss the appropriateness of daily routines and activities, the next two list practical items for daily use, and the final volume includes a rice porridge recipe book for health maintenance and disease treatment. It advocates that health preservation should adapt to daily living habits and not force unnatural practices; that health preservation practices should be integrated into daily routines and trivial matters; and emphasizes the importance of regulating the spleen and stomach, advocating for rice porridge, listing 100 rice porridge recipes (14 self-created), and emphasizing that elderly health preservation should focus on calming the mind and nurturing nature. The book's discussions are insightful yet practical and applicable. The references cited cover 307 classical works, including Confucian classics, historical records, philosophical treatises, and poetry collections. This book is a significant Qing Dynasty work on health preservation and is highly praised by later generations. The Constant Practice of Elderly Care is a specialized work on elderly health preservation written by Cao Tingdong, a prominent literary figure of the early Qing Dynasty. Cao was known as Jiaoren, styled Liupu, and also called the Layman of Cishan. Born in 1699 into a prestigious family in Jiaxian, Zhejiang, he was a gentle, diligent, and erudite scholar skilled in calligraphy and painting, living to over 90 years old. After suffering from illness at the age of 74, he wrote this book while lying in bed. Cao's approach to health preservation has the following characteristics:
1. Believing that the guiding principle of health preservation lies in nature. Cao never relied on medicine or Qigong for health preservation, adhering solely to the principle of nature to maintain harmony and enjoy a long life. He advocated that health preservation should align with daily habits without any forced effort. Cao criticized the Han Dynasty poem "Strive to Eat More Rice," arguing that "the elderly should not reduce their food intake, and adding more would only disturb their stomach qi. Moreover, striving feels forced—even if one meal can be added, it will not be sustained afterward, to what avail?" He pointed out, "Eat according to your appetite, dress for comfort." This is the essence of health preservation.
2. Emphasizing that the focus of health preservation should be on daily routines and diet. He noted that prolonged sitting causes stagnation in meridians, and during idle time, walking slowly around the room for dozens of laps can activate the joints, promote blood circulation, enhance leg strength, and prevent the harm of "sitting too long injures the flesh." The book states that when walking, one should first stand up, shake the clothes, stabilize the breath, and perform Qigong, then walk slowly, and finally stroll leisurely. This ensures unobstructed qi flow and doubled energy. After meals, when food lingers in the stomach, it is essential to walk slowly for hundreds of steps to aid digestion. Avoid conversing while walking to prevent qi from becoming erratic. Walk and stand alternately, maintaining a relaxed and effortless posture. The distance of strolls should be gauged by one's stamina, avoiding forced effort. After returning home, one should rest briefly on the couch and drink a warm drink to harmonize the body. These methods are highly suitable for the elderly.
3. Highlighting the role of regulating the spleen and stomach in restoring vitality. Cao believed, "The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal health, and for the elderly, regulating them is crucial." Since a weak stomach qi leads to all diseases and a sufficient spleen yin heals all ailments, ancient methods of regulating the spleen and stomach emphasized diet, as "food is medicine." Cao linked dietary regulation to daily life. For example, in summer, upon waking, avoid immediately filling the stomach with food but first drink rice porridge to moisten the lungs. In winter, sit wrapped in clothes for a while, drink warm drinks like milk, lotus seed soup, or jujube soup to nourish the spleen, or consume a small amount of yellow wine to invigorate the stomach. During seasonal changes, it is even more important to regulate the spleen and stomach. After the summer solstice and before the autumn equinox, avoid rich and greasy foods, and be cautious with cold fruits and vegetables to prevent harming the spleen and stomach. On a daily basis, the elderly should eat and drink moderately, as a well-functioning spleen easily digests and transforms food into essential fluids. Even highly nourishing foods can harm the spleen if overconsumed. If the elderly occasionally fall ill, they should eat foods with healing properties, while general foods should be consumed sparingly to keep the stomach relatively empty, allowing meridians to circulate more easily and vitality to gradually return, "weakening minor pathogens."
4. Praising the benefits of rice porridge for elderly health preservation and disease treatment. Cao noted that rice porridge benefits the body, especially the elderly. Eating a small bowl of plain rice porridge on an empty stomach daily can moisten the mouth and stomach, "the benefits are immense." This method is simple, easily accessible, and suitable for both health preservation and disease treatment. The book suggests that rice porridge is best eaten on an empty stomach or as dinner but should not be followed by other foods. Avoid overeating rice porridge, as it may not cause stagnation in the stomach but can lead to a bloated feeling, indicating stomach dysfunction. Rice porridge should be eaten warm, and a slight sweat during consumption helps promote blood circulation. Avoid music or gifts to encourage eating, as this diminishes the benefits of the porridge. If the taste is too bland, a pinch of salt can slightly improve it. Additionally, in terms of spiritual care, the book advises the elderly to calm their minds, avoid anger, be content, and develop self-counseling skills to ensure physical and mental health and extend life to a hundred years.
The Essential Principles of Diet and Nutrition: The Essential Principles of Diet and Nutrition is a specialized work in China on food nutrition, therapeutic foods, and food preparation methods. Authored by Hu Sihui, a Mongol physician during the Yuan Dynasty, it was first published in the first year of the Zishun era (1330). It was later transmitted to Japan and frequently reprinted during the Ming and Qing dynasties, gaining widespread popularity. Hu Sihui served as the imperial dietitian, overseeing court culinary affairs. He compiled and organized ancient medical theories, extensively collected dietary methods from Mongol, Uyghur, and other ethnic groups, and wrote this book based on his experience. The book emphasizes a preventive approach and the use of food for health preservation, adhering to the principle of avoiding mineral and toxic medicines. It advocates selecting harmless, non-contradictory, long-lasting, and nourishing ingredients to achieve disease prevention and health maintenance. The book is divided into three volumes. The first volume discusses health preservation and taboos, dietary restrictions during pregnancy, for nursing mothers, and for alcohol consumption, while listing over 100 traditional dishes, soups, noodles, and rice porridge recipes with therapeutic descriptions. The second volume selects various therapeutic foods prepared with Chinese herbal medicines, including recipes and therapeutic functions. The third volume includes illustrations explaining the taste (sweet, pungent, bitter), nature (warm, neutral, cold), functions, and therapeutic effects of 24 grains, 39 fruits, 46 vegetables, 31 domestic and wild animals, 17 poultry and birds, 17 fish, 13 medicinal wines, and over 30 seasonings, noting their toxicity or lack thereof. This set also includes The Green Manual for Longevity, The Record of Cultivating Nature to Prolong Life, and The Three Essentials of Health Preservation.