Yang Sheng - Self-care - Ecosse Acupuncture

In the days of old, the sages treated disease by preventing illness before it began… If someone digs a well when thirsty, or forges weapons after the battle has already begun, are not these actions too late?
The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (Huang Di Nei Jing)

Yang Sheng may be the most important concept in TCM and the culture of Chinese health. The Chinese word “Yang” means to nurture, take care of, and nourish; “Sheng” means life, birth, and vitality. Together “Yang Sheng” means to nurture or nourish life — fostering health and well being by nurturing body, mind and spirit in harmony with the natural rhythms, and with universal laws. Sometimes Yang Sheng is also translated as health preservation, life cultivation, or life nourishment.

Yang Sheng underly all traditional Chinese medicine and self-cultivation practice. It touches on all aspects of healthy living – the foods we eat, the thoughts and feelings we hold, the manner of working with the body, breath and energetic life force. Yang Sheng embraces the whole of Chinese health practices: herbal medicine, acupuncture, Qi Gong exercise, Tuina massage, breathing and meditation, therapy, even human inter-relationships. Rather than simply treating disease and sickness, we focus on the attainment of optimal health and harmony.

An introduction to Mindfulness / Tranquility Meditation

The 8 Brocades Qi Gong

An easy 15 Minutes Routine for Better Health

One of the most effective and fascinating exercise that I’ve used is the Eight Pieces of Brocade or Ba Duan Jin. (It is called so because, after practicing the sequence, it feels like one is wearing a dress made of a rich soft, silk fabric). More videos

An introduction to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Diet

I once asked my herbal teacher Pr Shulan Tang what was the difference in between nutrition and herbal medicine. She simply answered that herbal medicine uses plants that you would not naturally eat like barks and twigs. It makes sense!

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The accomplished person dispels trouble before it arises and restores order to an illness before it has become a disease. For medicine to take place in advance of affairs is as important as not chasing in the aftermath of what has already passed away.

Excerpt from Sun Simiao’s volume 27 on “Nurturing the Heavenly Nature”
Sūn Sīmiǎo was a Chinese physician and writer of the Sui and Tang dynasty