What is the secret of a long, happy, healthy life? Longevity with martial arts, superfoods and herbs
Holistic medicine and Qigong: the secrets of 256 year-old Li Ching Yuen
Can anyone live for more than a hundred years?
This phenomenon is very rare. Official records state that there is a man who even more than doubled this! A Chinese herbalist Qigong kung-fu master Li Ching Yuen(1677-1933) practiced martial arts and consumed superfoods and herbs achieving longevity never heard of before.
Li Ching Yuen’s recipe for longevity:: martial arts, superfoods, medicinal mushrooms and herbs.
Herbalist kung-fu master with 23 wives and 200 children
Master Li Ching Yuen began his career as a herbalist at the age of 10 gathering herbs in mountain ranges and learning their potency for longevity. For almost 40 years, he lived on a diet of herbs such as Lingzhi medicinal mushroom (Reishi, Ganoderma lucidum), goji berry, wild ginseng, he shoo wu, gotu kola and rice wine. These herbs and superfoods like Cordyceps sinensis and Spirulina platensis boost and fortify our immune systems like steroids, but in a healthy, natural, beneficial way.
At the age of 71, he started teaching martial arts for Chinese armies. Li married 23 times and was a father to over 200 children.
The Turtle-Pigeon-Dog Triangle
Animals play a key role in Kung-fu, and Master Li, also referred to animals when he revealed part of his secret to well-being.
He referred to another 3 animals: the Tortoise-Pigeon-Dog “triangle”. His good advice was:
“Keep a quiet heart, sit like a turtle, walk sprightly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog.”
“Keep a quiet heart, sit like a turtle, …”
“…walk sprightly like a pigeon …”
“…and sleep like as dog.”
Living stress free is of extreme importance, as negative thoughts or emotional stress are the main causes of 70% of (psychosomatic) illnesses. Thinking about what we want makes universal energy flow in our favour and while we imagine our goals, we are filled with positivity and happiness. Practicing breathing techniques, meditation, spending time in nature also helps to maintain a balanced spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being, as these make our personality whole.
The five animals of Shaolin kung-fu: crane, ape, bear, deer, tiger.
Living life in the quest for optimal health and wellness according to the principals of Holistic medicine helps to lengthen and raise the quality of our lifespan. Prefering prevention to treatment and embracing positive emotions only be letting go of the negative all help achieving a balanced and healhy life.
“Reach out, feel the Force around you” (Master Yoda)
Being grateful for what you have is also of key importance in achieving balance in my life. I am just writing a blog about this, you can read it here when it is ready.
Picture sources:
Tony Jaa meditation: http://www.desimartini.com/
Circle Walking Qigong: whitetigerqigong.com
Meditating boy: http://www.tomvmorris.com/blog/
I originally published this writing of mine on my previous, now inactive website on 6th December, 2015. Its title was: ”Holistic medicine and Qigong: The secrets of 256 year-old Li Ching Yuen”. I readited and improved it, hopefully you agree and enjoed it. J
