Nourishing life with yang sheng techniques

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Yang sheng is a method of nourishing life for longevity. It has its roots deeply embedded into Chinese Medicine philosophy. It is a simple practice that anyone can do. It focuses on preventing illness and disease rather than treating it. Yang sheng is a way of life and can be a powerful tool when engaged in daily. These small daily activities or processes help to stimulate the bodies natural healing abilities.

 Yang sheng techniques includes acupressure, tapping, combing, massaging with out without tools such as a gua sha, tai qi or Qi gong and eating for nourishment and seasonal local diet. It also encompasses living according to the season and natural rhythm of life ensuring adequate rest and personal life fulfillment.

Below you can read some simple Yang Sheng techniques. You can also read more about diet in the food as medicine section.

Tapping the body initiates the bodies Qi and mobilises the blood circulation. 

You can tap your chest, like tarzan to stimulate the Lung energy. Tap down the sides of your body and legs, when feeling stressed or tap your kidney area on the back to boost your deep internal energy system.

Acupressure is a wonderful tool that can be used in the ease of you own home and at any time of day. It easy to administer and can be powerful therapy, aiding in the treatment of dis-ease in the body. In acupressure, you simply stimulate the points but applying pressure with your fingers. You can press the point with gentle to hard pressure, alternatively you can use a circular motion to massage the point. Stimulating each point for about 1-2 minuets is enough to be of therapeutic value. 

The point on this picture is a great point to help with clarity of thought or also to relax the spine.

Gua sha is a part of Chinese Medicine which you may know as scraping. Traditionally, it is used on the body for pain and blockages as well as in the beginnings of a cold. The gua sha is scraped along your skin to stimulate the microcirculation of the tissue, which increases blood flow and returns unhealthy, stagnant blood circulation back into normal circulation to be processed. 

At home, you can use a ceramic soup spoon with oil to scrap your neck,shoulders, arms, legs or any where that is sore and holding tension. If you have your own gua sha, it can also be used as a beauty tool. Check out my beauty therapies page for more info about gua sha for the face!

Combing therapy is also a simple therapy focusing on the head. Many of the meridians in the body, directly or indirectly connect with the head, scalp and brain. By combing and stimulating the scalp, it can have a global effect on the body’s health. 

A simple yang sheng technique involves  combing the scalp  up to 100 times before going to bed. This will calm the mind and allow a peaceful sleep. You can also use your comb to stimulate lymphatic flow on the body.

Soaking your feet is not only a way to nourish and support your Kidney energy (Think of your backup generator) but also a great way to help get a better nights sleep! Sleep is an important topic in Chinese Medicine and plays an important part in detoxing the body and giving it the ability to regenerate.

Fill a bucket with hot-warm water (Be careful not to burn yourself),  throw in a handful of salt or ginger if your feeling cold, and relax! This is best done right before bed! Once your water is no longer warm - never let it get cold, take your feet out, put on socks, and go to bed!