Aging refers to the accumulation of changes in a person over time, including physical, social and psychological changes. Illness is not necessarily a part of aging, although sickness often is a result of lifestyle choices, poor nutrition, a degraded food supply system, environmental toxins and pathogen exposure. All of these factors include inflammation, a natural process meant to preserve good health but increasingly being seen as the root of most disorders including diabetes, dementias, cardiovascular problems, impairments to sleep and distortion of mood. Healthy aging starts early in life and involves reducing our exposure to aging factors and keeping our immune system reacting optimally.
Conventional, allopathic medicine recognizes the causes of unhealthy aging but is given the charge of treating the symptoms and diseases that are the aftermath of these exposures. Recent government efforts have been made to promote prevention, although our model of healthcare does not provide financial incentives for this. Western Naturopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, alternatively, focus on preservation of health and prevention of illness.
Natural Treatment Approaches
Western Naturopathic Approach: CHS believes Wellness and healthy aging is best achieved through a combination of dietary management, natural treatments for inflammation and disease prevention, regular laboratory testing, regular physical exercise and nurturance of emotional health.
Proper nutrition often requires more than a well-designed natural diet. Physical conditions, genetics, medicines we take, lifestyle and environmental exposures deplete specific nutrients. Stress is a particularly significant contributor to premature aging. Exercise and social support are vital to maintaining a healthy psychological outlook, although our modern world seems to make an unhealthy level of stress inevitable.
Our immune system is called on to clear our bodies of invaders, harmful chemicals and pollutants. Inflammation is a natural part of this process, making it possible for immune components to recognize invaders. Optimal aging calls for minimizing exposure to inflammatory agents as well as making certain specific nutrients are available to support a healthy response.
We believe everyone, young and old, should take a basic group of specific nutrients daily for optimal wellness. Additional nutrients may be needed to nurture our adrenal glands, the gatekeepers for stress management, and for supporting all of our endocrine system. These nutrients are not found in adequate quantities or appropriate forms in multivitamins and CHS does not recommend any such poor compromise.
Wellness also requires that we be aware of early signs and symptoms of imbalances and that we NOT discount an ache or pain as being just a result of aging.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history of exploring aging issues. From a TCM standpoint, aging is a process of losing kidney qi and essence. Kidney here is not just the anatomic entity of the two kidneys we have in our lower backs but an energy subsystem called the kidney meridian. Kidney qi and essence is seen as responsible for brain development and function, including hearing, bone matrix, and function of bone marrows, sexual function and capacity to conceive, and regulation of the urinary tract and the bowels. This meridian reflects the mental functions of will power and motivation and emotions derived from fear.
The speed of aging is proportional to the strength of kidney energy. If Kidney Qi is strong, aging does not occur quickly. The principle of oriental medical anti-aging treatment is to tonify and regulate Kidney Qi and in turn, enhance the immune system and prevent aging.
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Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Information provided by CHS is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Any information given is only intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from scientific world literature. You are encouraged to make your own health care decisions based upon your own research of the subject and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.