Dosage and usage of four traditional Chinese medicines for health preservation and longevity

The pursuit of longevity has never stopped. In order to extend lifespan, we exercise, adjust our diet, and eat some foods that promote longevity. In daily life, some traditional Chinese medicines have good health benefits and can help you live longer. Below, we will look at four traditional Chinese medicines that can help you live longer.

1. Astragalus, a traditional Chinese medicine for promoting longevity

Astragalus is sweet and slightly warm in nature. It enters the spleen and lung meridians. This herb can replenish qi and raise yang, strengthen the defensive qi and consolidate the exterior, promote diuresis and reduce swelling, and nourish the five internal organs. Long-term use can strengthen bones and body, and treat various qi deficiencies. In the Qing Dynasty imperial court, astragalus was often used to replenish the middle qi and nourish the blood.

Modern research shows that Astragalus can promote both non-specific and specific immune functions, enhancing the body's resistance; it can prolong the average lifespan of silkworms and fruit flies, increase the number of passages of human fetal kidney and suckling mouse kidney cells and human fetal lung diploid cells in vitro, and extend the survival time of each generation of cells. These are all strong indications of the anti-aging effects of Astragalus.

Dosage and administration: The general dosage of Astragalus membranaceus is 3-9g. In severe cases or when necessary, it can be 30-120g.

Take 480g of Astragalus membranaceus alone, decoct it thoroughly in water, then refine it into a paste with honey. Take 10g daily, dissolved in boiled water. This is for those who are weak and prone to external pathogens.

Precautions: Do not use if you have chest tightness or are prone to anger; do not use if you have a cold that has not yet healed.

2. Ginseng, a traditional Chinese medicine for prolonging life

Ginseng is sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly warm. It enters the heart, lung, and spleen meridians. Its function is to greatly replenish vital energy, strengthen qi and consolidate the body, and rescue from critical conditions. It can be used after serious or prolonged illness, in critical moments when the body is weak and on the verge of collapse; it can also be used for those with weak speech, shallow breathing, spontaneous sweating, frequent colds, poor appetite, abdominal distension, loose stools, shortness of breath and reluctance to speak, fatigue in the limbs, muscle wasting, sallow complexion, pale tongue with thin white coating, and slow, weak pulse-in traditional Chinese medicine terms, spleen and lung qi deficiency. Taking ginseng can thus replenish the spleen and benefit the lungs.

Ancient physicians regarded ginseng as a sacred tonic for longevity. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states that it "primarily nourishes the five elements, calms the spirit," and "brightens the eyes, opens the heart, and enhances intelligence; long-term use lightens the body and prolongs life." Therefore, the ancients bestowed upon it the beautiful name of "longevity herb." In modern times, many popular anti-aging and longevity-promoting traditional Chinese medicines on the market also rely heavily on ginseng.

A decoction made solely from ginseng is called Dushen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction). It has the effect of invigorating qi and preventing collapse. Elderly and weak people can strengthen their bodies and resist aging by taking this decoction regularly.

Ginseng slices can be taken and dissolved in the mouth daily to nourish the body, prevent disease, enhance the body's resistance, and have a certain effect on improving cognitive decline, memory loss, and slow thinking in the elderly.

3. Chinese herbal medicine for prolonging life – yam

Sweet in taste and neutral in nature, yam enters the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians. The renowned physician Li Shizhen, in his *Compendium of Materia Medica*, stated that yam has the effects of "benefiting kidney qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, stopping diarrhea, resolving phlegm, and moisturizing the skin and hair." *Rihuazi Materia Medica* says it "assists the five internal organs, strengthens the bones, enhances willpower and calms the mind, and treats seminal emission and forgetfulness." *Medicinal Properties Explained* further states: "Yam is warm and nourishing without being abrupt, slightly fragrant without being drying, and gradually regulates the lungs. It is remarkably effective in treating chronic cough due to lung deficiency." *Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica* states that yam "nourishes the middle jiao, benefits qi and strength, strengthens muscles, and with prolonged use, sharpens hearing and vision, lightens the body, reduces hunger, and prolongs life." Zhang Xichun of the Qing Dynasty highly praised it, saying that it "can nourish yin and promote diuresis, lubricate and astringe, thus it can tonify the lungs, kidneys, and spleen and stomach. Moreover, its special protein content makes it a top-grade tonic." This product has the effects of strengthening the spleen and lungs, consolidating the kidneys and replenishing essence. Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people who are weak and prone to illness can benefit greatly from taking yam regularly.

The book *Saqianzhai's Prescriptions* records a recipe for yam porridge, which involves cooking 45-60g of dried yam slices and 60-90g of japonica rice together into porridge. This porridge can be eaten year-round, either morning or evening, and should be consumed warm. Regular consumption of this porridge can strengthen the spleen and replenish qi, stop diarrhea and dysentery, and is beneficial for conditions such as senile diabetes and chronic nephritis.

Yam can be eaten alone or used to prepare nourishing foods. Yam stewed with chicken is known as "longevity dish" in folk medicine and has high nutritional value for the human body.

4. Poria cocos, a traditional Chinese medicine for prolonging life

Poria cocos has a sweet and bland taste and a neutral nature. It enters the heart, spleen, and kidney meridians. This herb has the functions of strengthening the spleen and stomach, calming the mind and soothing the nerves, and promoting diuresis and eliminating dampness. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that "long-term use calms the soul and nourishes the spirit, preventing hunger and prolonging life." The *Puji Fang* records a method for longevity through long-term use of Poria cocos. Physicians throughout history have regarded it as a commonly used longevity-promoting herb because of its mild medicinal properties. It benefits the heart and spleen, promotes diuresis and eliminates dampness, and is neither too drastic nor too strong in its tonifying and diuretic effects. It can both support the body's vital energy and eliminate pathogenic factors. Therefore, it is considered an excellent mild tonic.

Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty lived to the age of 74. Besides the natural factor of being a woman, her longevity was attributed to her consistent consumption of medicinal cuisine. Of the 13 publicly available tonic recipes, Poria cocos was used most frequently, exceeding 78%. Because Poria cocos cakes have both a fragrant aroma and medicinal properties that promote health and longevity, they became a famous delicacy in the Qing Dynasty court.

When consuming poria cocos, grind it into a fine powder, take 15g, and cook it with rice porridge, which is called poria cocos porridge. Li Shizhen said, "Poria cocos powder porridge clears the upper body and nourishes the lower body." Regularly eating poria cocos porridge is beneficial for senile edema, obesity, and cancer prevention.

Furthermore, the *Complete Collection of Prescriptions for All Diseases* records a formula: Grind white poria into a very fine powder, mix with white honey, apply every night, and wash off in the morning. This can moisturize the skin, beautify the complexion, and remove dark spots. It is also recorded that when used with angelica dahurica in ointments and face creams, long-term use can prevent aging and wrinkles, leaving the face radiant and effective. The *Experienced Prescriptions* records that when poria is used with atractylodes lancea, it can "darken the beard and hair, preserve complexion, strengthen muscles and bones, improve eyesight and hearing, dispel wind-related ailments, moisturize the skin, and with prolonged use, make one agile."

The above introduces four common Chinese medicines that can help promote longevity and how to consume them. These medicines are all relatively common and beneficial to the health of the elderly.