Forbidden Secrets of Women’s Longevity (Pt. 3)

Editor’s Note: Part 1 of this three-part article appeared in the August issue. Part 2 ran in the September issue.

5. Lifestyle and Esoteric Practices to Conserve Jing (continued from Pt. 2)

Emotional Healing Techniques for Women

One of the most overlooked, but essential principles in TCM women’s health is the heart-kidney connection (xin shen xiang jiao). In TCM, aging is not just a physical decline, but also a spiritual and emotional transformation.

The ancient physicians of the imperial courts recognized that prolonged emotional distress accelerates jing depletion, leading to hormonal imbalances, premature aging and chronic fatigue. This understanding was particularly important for imperial women, who faced extreme psychological pressures – competition, isolation, and the burden of producing heirs; all of which could rapidly weaken the heart-kidney axis.

>Purging Excessive Emotions (Pai Xin Du – Releasing Heart Poisons): One of the most closely guarded palace secrets was the belief that negative emotions age a woman faster than external factors like diet or environment. Imperial physicians advised the empress and concubines to purge toxic emotions at regular intervals to prevent them from settling in the body and depleting jing.

Imperial Practice: The “Moon Reflection Ritual”

• Conducted during the full moon (associated with yin energy and kidney nourishment).
• The woman would sit by a body of water (or use a bowl of water) and gaze at the moon’s reflection, allowing her mind to empty suppressed grief, anger or heartbreak.
• This practice was believed to release emotional stagnation and restore jing, particularly for women who had suffered miscarriages, infertility or heartbreak.

Modern Adaptation: journaling under the full moon with the intention of releasing deep-seated emotions; water meditation (gazing at a still bowl of water while focusing on emotional release).

>The “Jade Heart” Meditation (Yu Xin Ding Jing – Calming the Jade Heart): This meditation was reserved for imperial women who suffered from excessive worry, racing thoughts or heartbreak, which were considered major causes of jing leakage and premature aging.

1. Sit in a quiet space, holding a small jade stone over the heart center (Ren 17, Shan Zhong).
2. Breathe deeply, imagining the jade absorbing emotional heat and excess fire from the heart.
3. Visualize cooling energy descending into the kidneys, restoring the connection between heart and kidney jing.
4. Repeat a silent mantra: “My heart is calm, my jing is full, my body is strong.”

Jade was chosen because it is associated with purity, coolness and emotional stability. The practice was particularly prescribed for women undergoing hormonal transitions, such as pregnancy, postpartum and menopause.

Modern Adaptation: holding a jade or rose quartz crystal during meditation; using self-massage on Ren 17 (Shan Zhong) to regulate heart qi.

>Strengthening the “Bao Gong” (Womb Palace) Through Daoist Sound Therapy: In Daoist alchemy, the uterus is called the bao gong (“Palace of Treasures”), and women practiced specific vibrational sound techniques to remove emotional stagnation from the womb and enhance reproductive jing.

Healing Sound for the Uterus: The “xu” sound was prescribed for menstrual regulation, postpartum recovery and menopause support):

• Sitting in a relaxed position, take a deep inhale.
• On the exhale, make a long, whisper-like “xu” sound, imagining cool white light filling the uterus. (Repeat six times before sleep.)

Modern Adaptation: practicing sound healing or humming to release tension in the pelvic area; combining this practice with Kidney 1 (Yongquan) and Ren 6 (Qihai) acupressure.

Practical Takeaway

Ancient Chinese physicians understood that a woman’s emotional health is directly tied to her reproductive health, hormonal balance, and aging process. The heart-kidney axis must be nurtured, as excessive stress, heartbreak or emotional suppression can drain jing faster than physical exertion.

“A woman who preserves her Jing does not merely live longer – she lives with radiant energy, emotional grace, and an unshakable presence.”

Throughout my years of treating women in my practice, I’ve found that modern lifestyles rapidly deplete jing. Women today burn through their reserves due to chronic stress, overwork and poor sleep. Yet the imperial women of ancient China lived by a different code – one rooted in balance, restoration and preservation. If we take even a fraction of their wisdom and apply it today, we can transform the way we age, the way we nourish our bodies and the way we cultivate lifelong vitality.

By combining imperial longevity secrets with modern TCM clinical practice, we as practitioners can help women preserve their jing, balance hormones, and slow premature aging caused by emotional stress.

Classical Chinese Medical Texts & Historical Sources

(Referenced in part 1 of this article)

1. Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), ca. 200 BCE.
2. Huangdi Neijing Suwen (Basic Questions of the Yellow Emperor’s Classic), Han Dynasty.
3. Tai Yi Yuan Jian (Imperial Medical Records of the Supreme Physician), Qing Dynasty.
4. Yu Lin Fang (Jade Forest Prescriptions), Ming Dynasty.
5. Nu Dan Jing (Women’s Alchemy Classic), Daoist text on female energy cultivation.
6. Sunü Jing (Classic of the Plain Girl), ancient Daoist text on sexual energy and jing preservation.
7. Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Ming Dynasty.
8. Dao De Jing (Classic of the Way and Virtue), foundational Daoist text on qi and longevity.

Modern Research & Scientific Studies on TCM and Longevity

• Zhou X, Liu J, Sun Y. Acupuncture for aging-related diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Trad Chin Med, 2021;41(3):245-260.
• Chen W, Cheng X, Li J, et al. He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) and its anti-aging effects: a review. Front Pharmacol, 2020;11:569.
• Xie H, Wang Z, Zhang Y. Du Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides) and its effects on osteoporosis prevention: a review of recent studies. Evid-Based Compl Alt Med, 2019:4583748.
• Wang S, Yin J, Xu Y, et al. Effects of Qi Gong on longevity and anti-aging: a meta-analysis of clinical trials. BMC Compl Med Ther, 2022;22(1):78.
• Li X, Gao J, Liu J, et al. Traditional Chinese medicine in gynecological disorders: a review on its mechanisms and applications. Front Endocrinol, 2020;11:516.
• Zhang Q, Wang W, Zhao X. The impact of herbal medicine on endocrine balance and reproductive health: a systematic review. J Ethnopharmacol, 2018;226:82-91.
• Liu P, Li J, Wang X. Dietary therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine and its effects on women’s health and aging. Nutrients, 2021;13(7):2196.
• Chan Y, Yao Y. The role of Daoist internal alchemy in female longevity: a historical and clinical perspective. Daoist Studies J, 2017;12(2):45-66.

Books on TCM, Women’s Health, and Longevity

• Maciocia G. Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine, 2^nd Edition. Churchill Livingstone, 2011.
• Flaws B, Kespi J. Women’s Health in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Blue Poppy Press, 2005.
• Kohn L. Daoist Nei Dan: Internal Alchemy and Longevity Practices. Three Pines Press, 2009.
• Ni M. The Tao of Nutrition. SevenStar Communications, 1995.
• Reid D. The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity: A Modern Practical Guide to the Ancient Way. Simon & Schuster, 1994.