Yang sheng (health preservation), known in ancient times as she sheng (nurturing life), refers to preserving and regulating the body in order to prevent disease and prolong life. As early as more than two thousand years ago, Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) already recorded extensive theories and methods of health preservation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Huangdi Neijing (abbreviated as Neijing) was compiled during the Warring States period over two millennia ago. It summarised medical achievements prior to the Qin and Han Dynasties, established the theoretical foundation of TCM, and provided systematic discussions on human physiology, the occurrence of disease, pathological changes, treatment principles, and therapeutic methods. Health preservation is also an important component of the Neijing. The first chapter of the Suwen (Plain Questions), entitled Shanggu Tianzhen Lun (Discourse on True Vitality in Ancient Times), is a dedicated treatise on health preservation, clearly demonstrating the emphasis placed on this subject in the Neijing.

Prevention of disease is one of the primary aims of health preservation. The Neijing places great importance on disease prevention and advances the well-known theory of “treating disease before it arises”. In Suwen, the chapter Siqi Tiaoshen Dalun (Great Treatise on Regulating the Spirit in Accordance with the Four Seasons) states: “Thus, the sage does not treat disease after it has already arisen, nor does he regulate disorder after it has already developed. Rather, he treats disease before it arises and regulates disorder before it manifests. To administer medicine after disease has formed, or to attempt regulation after disorder has developed, is like digging a well when already thirsty or forging weapons when battle has begun — is it not too late?”

TCM holds that the occurrence of disease, in a certain sense, results from the struggle between healthy qi and pathogenic qi. Healthy qi refers to the body’s capacity to resist disease, while pathogenic qi refers to the factors that cause illness. By supporting healthy qi and avoiding pathogenic qi, disease is less likely to occur. The process of health preservation is therefore the process of supporting healthy qi and preventing the invasion of pathogenic qi.