Tietao Deng, born in 1916, a national prestigious master of Chinese Medicine, is a tenured professor and PhD supervisor at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. He has been dedicated to TCM theory and practice over 70 years. Now, he is still kept in good shape with lustrous and bright eyes, good listening, clear and orderly mind and steady walking. What`s his secret? 

Nurturing a good heart

Our living conditions have been improved much than before, however, the disease prevalence continues to increase, especially for people in sub-health condition. Deng said they failed to nurture a good heart due to their pursue of many unrealistic desires. Heart controls blood circulation and the spirit which keeps a free movement of Qi in the human body. Therefore, Having a good spirit and clearing the mind of grudges will relax the heart and harmonize Qi and blood. This is the most important secret of Deng’s health in longevity. In addition, Prof. Deng practices meditation and breathing exercise everyday, especially before getting off bed. He also practices calligraphy, both benefit mind, bones and sinews.

Ba Duan Jin

Exercise is essential for a healthy body. Deng said this movement generates yang which promotes growth, development, reproduction and delays aging and death. Sedentary lifestyle for a long time results in fatigue and low energy because body yang fails to be generated. Therefore, he insists on exercising Ba Duan Jin everyday. He also develops it into a more popular and easier style called Deng`s Ba Duan Jin. Lots of fans from far away came to Guangzhou just for the CDs of Deng`s Ba Duan Jin.

 Balanced diet

Deng has no food preference and takes a large varieties of foods. He likes to eat walnuts but only one or two everyday which is good for tonifying kidney yang and withholding essence, warming lungs to cease panting and wheezing, moistening the intestines to promote defecation. Drinking green tea everyday and having porridge once a week are also his habits.

Taking a shower 

Deng sticks to take a shower by alternating hot and cold water,warm water at first and cool water secondly. Difference in water temperature shouldn’t be large. The Aged and people with high blood pressure shouldnot follow suit.  

Lavipeditum

Deng said, if human body is a tree, of course, feet are the roots. Roots dried beforethe death of trees. Feet senesce before body’s aging. So lavipeditum with warm water quite benefits pedal blood circulation for the aged.We can add the following herbs while boiling water to increase efficacy: Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (niu xi) 30g, Rhizoma Ligustici Wallichii (chuang xiong) 30g, Radix Angelicae Dahuricae (bai zhi) 10g, Ramulus cum Uncis Uncariae (gou teng) 30g, Spica Prunellae (xia ku cao) 10g, Fructus Evodiae (wu zhu yu) 10g, Cortex Cinnamomi (rou gui) 10g.

Deng warns that medication is not panacea,thus we must make the best use of TCM measures to preserve our health.