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Prevention
预防 〔預防〕 yù fáng
Diet and lifestyle measures to ensure the avoidance of illness and injury. Prevention emphasizes balanced diet, a balance between activity and inactivity, and control of emotions.
In the Chinese view of health and sickness, prevention has always played an important part. The Nèi Jīng speaks of treating disease before it arises
(治未病 zhì wèi bìng). This means not only nipping illness in the bud but also preventing it altogether. In Chinese medicine, and indeed in Chinese culture in general, attention is paid to control of emotions and adapting to seasonal changes; balance between exertion and rest and a balanced diet are considered essential to staying healthy and staving off illness. A key notion in the Chinese conception of keeping fit is balance.
Balanced Diet
In Chinese medicine and culture, there is no clear-cut distinction between medicine and food. Different foods, like medicinals, are considered to affect the body in different ways. Generally, foods are less extreme in nature than medicinals prescribed for illness. Their suitability is judged mainly in terms of their cold or cold nature. Most green vegetables are cold, while ginger, garlic, scallions, and Chinese chives are warm. Among meats, chicken and especially goat’s meat or lamb are warm, pork and beef are balanced, while duck and goose are cold. Excesses of either hot or cold foods can cause yīn-yáng imbalances. Diet should also take account of constitution (see constitution).
Activity and Inactivity
Chinese medicine places great emphasis on balance between exertion and rest. Adequate sleep is essential for good health. Lack of sleep causes yīn vacuity, while excessive sleep causes yáng vacuity. Exertion during the daytime enhances the flow of qì and blood, helping to keep the body healthy. For those whose work does not entail sufficient exertion, physical exercise is beneficial.
Chinese medicine has always valued exercise. As early as the Hàn Dynasty, the famous five-animal exercises (tiger, deer, monkey, bear, and bird) were devised. From these, many other forms of exercise were developed, including
| A Saying About Prevention |
|---|
| Classic metaphors that emphasize disease prevention date back to the Nèi Jīng. Waiting for disease to manifest before commencing treatment was compared to waiting for the enemy to arrive at one’s gate before forging weapons or waiting until one is thirsty to begin digging a well. |
Finally, temperance in sex and childbearing is also considered important. Sex taxes men especially, because semen is a form of essence and excessive ejaculation therefore depletes the essence of the body. Childbearing, on the other hand, is damaging to women. In Chinese culture, women usually rest for at least one month after childbirth. This practice is called
(坐月子 zuò yuè zǐ). Postpartum recuperation is discussed under dietary therapy.
Adapting to the Seasons
Adapting to the seasons includes three aspects: clothing, food, and exercise.
- It is essential to wear clothing that is adequate for the prevailing weather. Excessively thick clothing in summer or excessively thin clothing in winter can cause illness.
- As to foodstuffs, cool-natured foods are appropriate in summer, while warm-natured foodstuffs are appropriate in winter. For example, lamb is warm in nature; hence a good food for the winter.
- Strenuous physical exercise is recommended for spring and summer. Mild exercise is recommended for autumn and winter.
Control of Emotions
Chinese medicine considers excessive emotions as damaging to the body’s health. It regards specific emotions as capable of producing specific pathologies. In Chinese culture, excessively emotional behavior tends to be frowned on more than in other cultures. The calm, balanced temperament of most Chinese people has not gone unnoticed in the West. In the Chinese view, people stay happier and healthier when they learn to take adversity and hostility in their stride.
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