Traditional Chinese Medicine for Elderly Care

Abstract

The elderly longevity in the past was focused on external and internal factors. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, it encompasses a variety of preventative and treatment techniques to help the elderly either recover, maintain, or become slower during the aging process. The preventive techniques are including (i) external factors such as acupuncture (針灸), massage (推拿), and exercises e.g. tai chi (太極) and qi gong (氣功); (ii) internal factors such as Chinese herbal medicine decoction. These treatments improve elderly physical performances are regarding 14 major meridians (經絡) in the body, which restores and regulates the vital energy, also called “qi” (氣). If the “qi” flows well, it indicates good body performance. Conversely, if the “qi” can’t flow in normal manner, this might exist some diseases inside the body.