Do people’s legs age first? In fact, the core reason for human aging is…

Photo/Hao Yanfang Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Reviewer/Yu Qi, Professor of Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Figure 1 Copyright file, unauthorized reproduction

The legs are the first to age. Older people tend to have weak legs and feet, and they will be out of breath after walking for a long time. Some people even experience edema, coldness and numbness in the lower limbs.

It is mentioned in Huangdi Neijing Suwen that between the ages of 48 and 56, the muscles in the upper part of the human body will gradually relax, the nerves will not be as sensitive as before, causing the limbs to become less flexible than before.

Does aging really begin with not being able to walk? In fact, not being able to walk is just an external reaction of the body. The root cause is the inability of the five internal organs to produce qi and blood. Simply put, there is no food in the stomach to produce qi and blood, resulting in insufficient qi and blood, which cannot supply the limbs to move, and the physical manifestation is weakness in the legs and feet.

Everyone ages differently

Figure 2 Copyright file, no permission to reprint

Everyone's aging symptoms are different. Some people have bad legs and feet and can't walk; some people have bad stomachs and can't eat; some people have bad eyes and can't see clearly; some people have bad brains and are forgetful and confused; some people have bad spirits and can't sleep...

According to TCM, the "engine" of the human body's biochemical qi and blood is the five internal organs, and among the five internal organs, there is often a relatively weak one, which corresponds to the aging of our body. Of course, the concept of the five internal organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney) in TCM covers a much wider range than the corresponding organs in modern medicine, and their functions are much more complicated. TCM believes that the five internal organs each have corresponding functions, help each other, are indispensable, and have a joint effect.

If the kidney is the weakest among a person's five internal organs, then that person is prone to obvious problems related to kidney aging, such as heavy legs, cold feet, poor hearing, tinnitus and frequent urination.

If a person's five internal organs are the weakest, then the heart, which ages first, will make him more susceptible to problems related to the heart system, such as shallow sleep, palpitations, chest tightness, forgetfulness, and premature contractions (occasionally)[1].

How to age slower

Method 1 for delaying aging: Calming the five internal organs

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the first step to anti-aging is to calm and soothe the five internal organs, because the human body is an organic whole centered on the five internal organs. If any of the five internal organs has a problem, it will affect the other organs [1].

Method 2 for delaying aging: nourishing both body and spirit

Form refers to the body, and spirit refers to the emotions. Form and spirit co-nurturing refers to the joint care of the body and the spirit.

After the five internal organs are in harmony, the movements and changes of their essence and qi, and the resulting emotions such as joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, shock, and submission can be restored through the body's self-regulation and nourishment, without causing any special harm.

On the contrary, if emotional activity is too sudden, intense or prolonged, and exceeds the range of self-regulation, it will lead to dysfunction of the five internal organs, resulting in a variety of problems, and in severe cases, related diseases [2].

For example, anger often causes people to experience dizziness and blurred vision. Once it exceeds the range of self-regulation, especially in advanced age, serious conditions such as cerebral hemorrhage may occur.

For example, long-term fatigue and mental overwork can also affect physical health. The initial symptoms may be not wanting to talk, forgetfulness and dreaminess. However, if you do not pay attention to it and do not treat it in time, it will eventually lead to related diseases.

Method 3 to delay aging: respect the rules

After achieving the nurturing of both body and spirit, the next step is to respect the laws of nature.

There are four seasons in a year, and the climate is different, which has different effects on the internal organs. Therefore, only by obeying the changes of nature and making adjustments can we get what we want. Otherwise, it is very likely to accelerate aging and even cause disease.

In short, everyone's physical condition is different, the organs that age first are different, and the corresponding anti-aging methods are also different. I hope everyone can use the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine in life to find the health and anti-aging method that suits them best.

References:

[1] Zhao Jianxin, Tian Yuanxiang. Illustrated Huangdi Neijing. Chongqing: Chongqing Publishing House, 2009.

[2] Tang Yun. Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Guilin: Guangxi Normal University Press, 2004.