In the Traditional Chinese Medicine classic “Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine” (dated about 210 BCE.), it describes that men and women have their own separate ageing life cycles.
The 8 Year Cycle of Ageing for Men
Age 8 — Kidney Qi (the energy resources that you are born with) is abundant. Teeth and hair will grow strong.
Age 16 — Kidney Qi grows and fills with Vital energy (hormones). The reproductive system is activated and thus the possibility of conception.
Age 24 — Kidney Qi is developed. Bone structure is strengthened and strong. Teeth become well developed.
Age 32 — The whole body has developed to its optimal condition.
Age 40 — The body starts to gradually decline for the peak condition. Hair and teeth begin to fall out and become dry.
Age 48 — Kidney Qi and Yang energy (the whole body’s functions) further declines. The complexion becomes withered and hair turns white.
Age 56 — Liver energy declines. The tendons become rigid and less flexible. The development of deficiencies in sexual hormones, and the reproductive functions weaken.
Age 64 — Vital energy becomes weak. Hair loss, bones and tendons become fatigued. Teeth begin to fall out and the body becomes decrepit.
The 7 Year Cycle of Ageing for Women
Age 7 — Kidney Qi (the energy resources that you are born with) is abundant. The teeth and hair grows strong.
Age 14 — Vital energy (hormone) arrives. All channels in the body are filled with Qi and blood. Menstruation starts and the reproductive system is activated.
Age 21 — Kidney Qi is balanced. The teeth and body grow to the full height.
Age 28 — Kidney Qi is at its peak. Bones, muscles and hair grow strongly. This is the most fertile phase of a women’s life cycle.
Age 35 — The body beigns to decline gradually from the peak condition. The meridian channels on the face begin to decline. The face begins to age and hair starts to fall out.
Age 42 — All Yang channels further declines. The face continues to age and the hair starts to turn white.
Age 49 — Qi and blood declines and menstruation dries up. The ability to conceive is lost. Physical appearance becomes old.
One of the most famous Classics of Chinese Medicine the Huangdi Nei Jing, often translated as The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine, begins with a question from the wise Yellow Emperor to his chief physician. The Emperor asks why it is that in ancient times people could live for one hundred years without any showing any signs of senility, while in his era contemporaries become old at the age of fifty?
It is estimated that the text was written in about 210 BCE. If the Emperor’s ancient people already knew how to live to the age of one hundred without showing signs of ageing, they certainly knew a thing or two about living and ageing well. In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory the speed of ageing is largely governed by the strength of our Kidney qi and Essence. The stronger the reserves of qi in the Kidneys the more slowly and gracefully we age. Kidney qi becomes compromised naturally as we age – and that is something we can’t prevent. But the Kidneys are also weakened by factors we can control like stress, overwork, an excessive lifestyle, lack of sleep and, even, an overactive sex life.
Accordingly, the impact of these cycles can be offset by proper health cultivation such as:
Food
Reduce the amount of ultra-processed and processed foods and beverages we can eliminate added sugars and chemicals from our diet (a good indication is when they have vast amounts of ingredients, and a very long shelf life). Often processed snacks and foods purchased in fast food, are layered with seed and vegetable oils, which are not supportive of health. Replacing such with things like Ghee, Beef Tallow, Lard, etc for cooking and olive oils for salads etc are helpful. Accordingly to TCM, grains (not GMO), dark leafy vegetables, shrimp, seaweed, fish (natural not cultivated and from clean waters), lamb and duck as examples are nutrient for Kidney Qi. Regulation of sexual activities also helps.
Sleep
Garnering sufficient deep and healthy sleep, usually at the right times like 9-11pm 1-3am are good for repairing, nourishing and re-booting. For simplicity, guiding principle if time is not precise – is when the sun is up so should we and when it is down, good time to rest.
Movement
It is important to always have movement, and preferably differentiated movement. Some build cardio, some strength, some stretching and so forth. Variety keeps all parts in fluidity and circulation and the cardio system in good check too.
Mindfulness
Reflection and deep breathing exercises, with different objectives or focus. help to remove the monkey mind of worry, concern and over-thinking. Keep it simple, breath deeply and clear the mind. Sometimes activities like solving maths problems, or even crosswords and puzzles, help to cultivate the mind.
Social connectivity
Social interactions help to assist with health cultivation as well. physical and present connectivity (not so much the digital kind that can have an opposite effect of damaging the eyes as doors to the liver. The liver a vital organ in good health.
