More

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
Dr. Maoshing Ni

GET UPDATES FROM Dr. Maoshing Ni
 

5 Ways To Age Naturally

Posted: 10/04/09 10:26 AM ET

Although 50% of the population in the United States will be over 65 by the year 2025, aging does not have to mean lower productivity and quality of life. In order to stay healthier longer, many people are seeking out the time-tested wisdom of Chinese Longevity Medicine. AGING MAY BE INEVITABLE, BUT POOR HEALTH IS NOT!

By the age of 40, people usually begin to experience a myriad of aging maladies such as heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, obesity, arthritis, stroke, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Others may simply feel tired, out of shape, anxious, depressed and unfulfilled. While modern medicine has neglected to address the effects of aging in any meaningful and fundamental way, Chinese Longevity Medicine has been making qualitative differences in improving the undesirable effects of aging in patients for centuries. Treatments range from acupuncture, tonic herbs and bodywork to dietary supplements, detoxification and psycho-spiritual guidance. By activating circulation, nourishing hormones, removing toxins and calming the nervous system, treatments promote regeneration and restore vitality.

You can begin to rejuvenate yourself right away. Here are five areas of self-renewal activities:

What You Eat: It is no surprise that diet is crucial to health and longevity. A diet that historically promotes longevity is high in fish and vegetables as well as mushrooms, seaweed, corn and buckwheat. It is low in animal products like meat and poultry.

What You Do: Tai chi practitioners live longer and remain healthier. Besides being enjoyable, tai chi makes you stronger. Recent studies have found that it increases energy, boosts immunity against viruses, lowers blood pressure and improves cognitive function among other benefits.

How You Heal: "First do not harm." This simple yet profound ancient wisdom still holds true today. How can healing be effective if harm is created alongside the cure? Prevention is the key to maintaining good health. If healing is required, seek natural remedies that "first do no harm."

Who You Are: Understanding your inherited and genetic vulnerabilities and the need for prevention gives you a head start on anti-aging. Chinese Longevity Medicine promotes self-responsibility and awareness-of yourself, your relationships and your health.

Where You Are: With environmental factors causing ever more damage to our well-being, it is important to know what to look out for. You can avoid chemical compounds if you buy organic foods and use glass and recycled paper products. It is also important to undergo periodic detoxification of your body.

***

Dr. Maoshing Ni (Dr. Mao) is the author of 'Second Spring' and the bestselling book 'Secrets of Longevity'. He practices acupuncture, nutrition and Chinese medicine at the Tao of Wellness in Santa Monica, California, an integrative medicine group that specializes in women's health and reproductive medicine. Dr. Mao co-founded Tao of Wellness with his brother, Dr. Daoshing Ni 25 years ago and together with their associates they have treated over 25,000 women. He is also the co-founder and Chancellor of Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Los Angeles. You may visit him at www.taoofwellness.com or call 310-917-2200.

 
 
 

Follow Dr. Maoshing Ni on Twitter: www.twitter.com/taoofwellness

Although 50% of the population in the United States will be over 65 by the year 2025, aging does not have to mean lower productivity and quality of life. In order to stay healthier longer, many people...
Although 50% of the population in the United States will be over 65 by the year 2025, aging does not have to mean lower productivity and quality of life. In order to stay healthier longer, many people...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 88
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Bloggers
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3  Next ›  Last »  (3 total)
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
malzor
07:18 PM on 10/09/2009
Where's the evidence for these claims? Also, I'm pretty sure your liver is the filter of your body, a very good one. Also, your colon isn't an nucks and crannies like an English muffin, what is all that detox nonsense about? Get natural sleep, reduce stress, eat food with nutritional value, etc, I'm pretty sure that's the best we can do until we can do genetic manipulation of our genes or new advanced biotech based on future science tech.
11:02 PM on 10/07/2009
"It is also important to undergo periodic detoxification of your body."
What do you mean by this?
Are you suggesting chelation therapy or something like that?
06:02 PM on 10/07/2009
Great advice. Especially the do no harm piece. Made me think of elective surgeries. Seems alot of doctors never learned the do no harm part and are doing harm for a buck. I had Lasik darn near killed me. Better to age naturally.
05:10 AM on 10/07/2009
While I do agree that Traditional Chinese Medicine is a yin to the yang of western medicine. They both have thier strengths and weaknesses but the good thing is the they have different strengths and weaknesses. This allows them to compliment eachother.

I do have something that sticks in my mind though. Two of my grandparents lived into thier late 80's and the other two into thier mid 90's, and one is my grandpa. This is the generation that didn't throw out the bacon fat mind you.
While diet is important, it seems to me that being physically active (they worked hard all thier lives), not smoking and being overweight is a much bigger issue than just not eating beef.
02:28 AM on 10/07/2009
good tips maybe ill add some on my site, thanks!

http://www.helloamanda.com/
04:03 PM on 10/06/2009
In case you didn't see it earlier - someone put ina link to the Blue Zone studies.I saw this is on TV. There was a study done whereby they went all over the world to find where people lived the longest. They then looked at every aspect of their lives to determine why they lived longer and healthier lives compared with people who didn't. The results were quiote surprising. Here is a link.

http://www.prlog.org/10235925-nbc-reports-drinking-herbal-tea-leads-to-longer-healthier-life.html
02:18 PM on 10/06/2009
A great post! I think it is very important to detox your body and your mind. But let's take it one step further: While you're at it, detox your Spirit, your higher self...that part of you that sends you Wisdom Whispers to guide you through life.

The #1 way to begin this higher-self detox is to uncover your answer to the age-old question: What is the meaning of life? Hint: It's the journey of discovery, not necessarily the destination.

For a fun kick start, allow me to send you a free book download. Sign up today: www.noexpertsneeded.com

Living longer and healthier begins with sharing our hearts and giving back to society. Sharing my story with you is simply my way of giving back...

take care,
Louise Lewis, author
No Experts Needed: The Meaning of Life According to You!
www.noexpertsneeded.com
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
John Clotfelter
09:38 PM on 10/05/2009
Simple, straightforward and full of great information. Passing it on, thank you!
photo
brooklyncitizen
Quaerite primum regnum dei
09:19 PM on 10/05/2009
Just go vegan; seriously nothing like plant foods to keep one feeling youthful and looking youthful.
09:03 PM on 10/05/2009
I understand that many people are skeptical of the ancient arts of Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, some of the dismissive comments are made based on no personal knowledge, research or experience. Nine years ago, I had a serious bicycle accident that tore my carotid artery, resulting in a stroke. While the emergency trauma care I received from very qualified Western doctors undoubtedly saved my life, the scar and resulting blockage on the inside of my carotid was expected to remain unchanged after treatment. However, I happened to live in Santa Monica at the time and was a patient of Dr. Ni. His TCM treatments aided my recovery immeasurably. After two years, the internal scarring had all but vanished, as confirmed by MRI. My Western doctors had no explanation for it. But even they had no doubt that TCM had a valuable effect for me. Speaking from personal experience, Dr. Ni is immensely qualified. Follow his recommendations or don't. But be aware that he is a leader in this type of medicine. Disagree if you like. But please do so with respect.
06:29 PM on 10/05/2009
"Nourishing hormones"... ha ha ha ... Yes, go to the zoo and feed them.

Pseudo-holistic self-promoting mumbo-jumbo. Next.
06:29 PM on 10/05/2009
I agree with your suggestion and think they are invaluable to
a life of quality.

Ironically though, when I saw the sentence "AGING MAY BE INEVITABLE,"
it struck a chord of disagreement.

I realize that most people today consider the Bible a myth, but even where
there's smoke, something produced the smoke. In the Bible, in the very
early times, there are listings of people who lived 400 years, 600 years,
etc. Today, people are living to 100, 120.

As these scenarios unfolded in my mind, I wondered how could people
of early Biblical times lived so long. And as usual, the answer is in the
question.

Simple answer, there was no one around to tell them they couldn't.
No surveys, no theories, no litmus tests, no blood work, no official
'paper on aging.' They lived as long as they thought necessary. And
they stayed active in their world.
I like that.
02:19 AM on 10/06/2009
Just reinforces the obvious. The bible is a self serving distortion. People never lived to 400 or anything close.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
malzor
07:28 PM on 10/09/2009
The last bits of the bible were 135 A.D., the older bits like 800 B.C, so basically it's stories from 2000 to 3000 years ago. How many books do you have that you rely on from that time? Studying these ancient books you can find evidence of older traditions that were updated for newer times etc, a lot of that stuff only makes sense in the context of those ancient civs.

People lived to 600 years? Sure they did. Your DNA is stored digitally in amino acids by the way, because of environmental and technology changes the machine that we are can be expected to live to 80, back then you probably lived to 30 if you were lucky.
06:10 PM on 10/05/2009
In case you didn't see it earlier - someone put ina link to the Blue Zone studies.I saw this is on TV. There was a study done whereby they went all over the world to find where people lived the longest. They then looked at every aspect of their lives to determine why they lived longer and healthier lives compared with people who didn't. The results were quiote surprising. Here is a link.

http://www.prlog.org/10235925-nbc-reports-drinking-herbal-tea-leads-to-longer-healthier-life.html
04:01 PM on 10/05/2009
What???? I thought I was already aging naturally,, what kinda mess it this. Aging is a natural process anyway. Maybe am missing something.
03:06 PM on 10/05/2009
Simply timeless advice. Thank you :)