Oksana Gryvnak, R. TCMP, RAc
For over seven years, I have had the honor of guiding women through their healing journeys – navigating the pain of severe menstrual cramps, the heartache of fertility challenges, the sorrow of miscarriage, the complexities of pregnancy and postpartum recovery, the upheaval of perimenopause, and the emotional depths of the “second spring.”
It is incredibly humbling to witness these transformations, yet it can be frustrating to see how a lack of public knowledge about essential wellness practices and the natural rhythms of the female body leads to unnecessary suffering. With greater awareness and support, many of these challenges could be alleviated, enabling women to navigate life’s transitions with more balance and resilience.
Among all these challenges, one concern stands out: aging. Women are often taught to dread the passage of time, viewing it as a decline rather than a transformation. However, in traditional Chinese medicine, aging is not merely an inevitable decline into frailty; it is a process profoundly influenced by our constitutional strength, lifestyle and environment.
The secret to graceful aging lies in the preservation and cultivation of jing (essence) – the cornerstone of vitality, longevity and overall well-being. By understanding the significance of jing and embracing time-honored practices such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and qi cultivation, we can help change women’s view of aging from fear to empowerment; from loss to renewal.
For centuries, the imperial courts of China safeguarded their most treasured secret – not gold, not silk, but the elusive key to eternal youth and vitality. Hidden within the private medical manuscripts of empresses, concubines and Daoist priestesses were intricate formulas, breathwork techniques and acupuncture protocols aimed at preserving jing.
What insights did the imperial physicians of ancient China possess that we have since forgotten? Modern medicine focuses on genetics, hormones and nutrition to combat aging, yet ancient Chinese physicians recognized a deeper truth: Longevity is not just about diet or exercise; it is also about the artful conservation of jing.
The Huangdi Neijing describes the gradual decline of kidney jing, leading to gray hair, weakened bones, cognitive decline, and hormonal imbalances. But within its cryptic passages lies the blueprint for slowing and even reversing these effects.
This article unveils the forgotten wisdom of imperial health physicians, integrating classical TCM theory, acupuncture, herbal medicine, Daoist inner alchemy, and rare court beauty practices. Whether you are a practitioner looking to enhance patient outcomes or a scholar seeking deeper knowledge of TCM’s longevity principles, these insights will challenge conventional aging paradigms and reveal timeless methods to preserve vitality, enhance reproductive health and sustain energy well into later years.
The ancients believed that a person who masters jing masters time itself. Let us explore how...
Imperial Women’s Health Secrets and Historical Strategies
Throughout Chinese history, imperial consorts and empresses had access to the most refined longevity techniques, many of which were recorded in palace medical manuals such as the Tai Yi Yuan Jian (Imperial Medical Records of the Supreme Physician) and Yu Lin Fang (Jade Forest Prescriptions). These texts reveal strategies that were reserved for royalty, ensuring youthfulness, vitality and reproductive strength well into advanced age.
The preservation of jing is a multifaceted approach integrating qi gong, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle modifications. Ancient imperial longevity practices offer unique insights into jing conservation, many of which remain clinically relevant today. By applying Daoist energy practices, acupuncture, and palace longevity strategies, modern practitioners can enhance women’s health, slow aging and optimize vitality.
1. Acupuncture for Kidney Jing Preservation
Acupuncture enhances jing preservation by tonifying kidney qi, harmonizing yin-yang balance, and promoting blood circulation to the marrow, brain and reproductive system. Key acupoints include:
- Kidney 3 (Taixi) – Strengthens kidney qi and nourishes both yin and yang
- Kidney 6 (Zhaohai) – Tonifies kidney yin and regulates hormonal balance
- Du 4 (Mingmen, Gate of Life) – Stimulates kidney yang and supports vitality
- Ren 4 (Guanyuan) – Nourishes prenatal jing and reproductive health
A meta-analysis of acupuncture’s effects on aging-related conditions suggests that kidney-focused acupuncture can improve bone density, enhance cognitive function and regulate endocrine pathways (Zhou et al., 2021).
2. Herbal Medicine for Jing Replenishment
TCM utilizes jing-tonifying herbs to slow the aging process, often incorporated into classic formulas:
- He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) – Traditionally used for gray hair reversal, jing restoration and anti-aging effects via modulation of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function (Chen et al., 2020).
- Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa) – A kidney yin and blood tonic that supports bone marrow, cognitive and hormonal regulation.
- Gou Qi Zi (Lycium barbarum, goji berry) – Rich in antioxidants; enhances mitochondrial function, immune resilience and neuroprotection.
- Du Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides) – Strengthens bones, tendons, and kidney qi; used for osteoporosis prevention (Xie et al., 2019).
3. Dietary Therapy for Jing Conservation
In the imperial courts of ancient China, diet was not merely about nourishment – it was medicine, alchemy and a carefully orchestrated ritual to preserve jing and extend life. The empress, concubines and high-ranking ladies of the Forbidden City followed meticulously designed dietary protocols based on TCM principles, seasonal adjustments and Daoist longevity practices.
These meals were designed not only to prevent disease, but also to nourish the kidneys, strengthen the blood and enhance reproductive vitality – ensuring they remained youthful, fertile and energetic.
Key Dietary Principles for Jing Preservation
A. Yin-Yang Balance and the Five Elements: Each meal was carefully planned to balance yin and yang and support the body’s natural cycles. According to imperial dietary records, different foods were assigned to the five elements, ensuring full-spectrum nourishment:
- Water (kidney & jing): Black sesame, walnuts, seaweed, black beans, He Shou Wu (Polygonum), and goji berries
- Wood (liver & blood): Dark leafy greens, chrysanthemum tea, and Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis)
- Fire (heart & shen): Red dates, saffron, and lotus seeds for emotional balance and vitality
- Earth (spleen & digestion): Millets, yams and fermented foods to strengthen qi production
- Metal (lungs & skin): pears, almonds and white fungus for skin hydration and immunity
B. Seasonal Adjustments to Nourish Jing: The palace followed a strict seasonal eating regimen, adjusting foods to align with cosmic and natural rhythms:
- Winter (kidney & jing restoration) – Hearty broths, bone marrow soups, black sesame, walnuts, and ginseng to replenish reserves during the most yin season
- Spring (liver & detoxification) – Green vegetables, sprouts, chrysanthemum tea, and gentle liver-cleansing herbs to remove stagnation and rejuvenate qi
- Summer (heart & shen nourishment) – Lighter meals with lotus seeds, mung beans, cooling fruits, and saffron to prevent excessive heat accumulation
- Autumn (lungs & moisture retention) – Pears, almonds, white fungus, and honey to nourish fluids and prevent dryness
C. Anti-Aging Herbal Elixirs: Palace medical texts such as Yu Lin Fang and Tai Yi Yuan Jian describe specialized jing-preserving herbal tonics:
- Phoenix Elixir (Feng Huang Dan) – A blend of He Shou Wu, Shu Di Huang, and Dang Gui; used to keep hair black, regulate menstruation and maintain skin elasticity
- Golden Essence Soup (Jin Jing Tang) – A highly classified imperial tonic made with Lu Rong, Gou Qi Zi and Huang Qi; used for youthful energy, fertility and strong bones
- Moon Dew Tea (Yue Lu Cha) – A Daoist-inspired formula containing white peony, chrysanthemum and wild ginseng; designed to calm the shen, enhance sleep and promote skin radiance
TCM dietary therapy aligns with modern research on mitochondrial health and oxidative stress reduction, essential for longevity.
Editor’s Note: A complete list of classical Chinese medical texts and historical sources; modern research and scientific studies on TCM and longevity; and books on TCM, women’s health and longevity accompanies part 3 of this article. Part 2 is scheduled to run in the September issue.
