puberty, its weight is 40 grams, and in old age - only 10 grams), production slows down and, as a result, the number of T-lymphocytes decreases. The usual protective reaction of B-lymphocytes is reduced, increasing the risk of malignant tumors and other age-related diseases. There is reason to believe that in middle and old age, the immune system somewhat loses its ability to fight only against foreign substances and begins to produce antibodies and form lymphocytes against its own antigens. Such aggression directed at the normal components of the body is called immune aggression, or autoimmunity. This leads to diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, accelerating the aging process.
Theory related to the central nervous system. Under normal conditions, the human brain continues to gain weight from birth until about fifty years of age. This process proceeds most rapidly between the ages of 6 and 10, slowing down noticeably from 21 to 30, and after 60 there are very few changes. Since the cerebral cortex maintains the normal functioning of the human body with the assistance of the spinal cord and the autonomic nervous system, their condition plays an extremely important role in the aging process. Experiments have shown that tensions in the cerebral cortex and an imbalance of the inner world with the external environment of a person undermine the normal functioning of internal organs. There is also a connection between the development of the brain and life expectancy. Deterioration in the functioning of the brain affects early aging.
Theory of autointoxication. As the excretory organs weaken, metabolic products such as phenol, indole and pigments tend to be deposited in the body and poison the cells. As these substances accumulate and the cells are poisoned by them, the condition of the latter worsens and they die. As a result, the internal organs of a person grow old and weaken.
Cause of old age according to traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine links longevity and health to kidney function. The kidneys are the "base of the innate life force" and the "commander in chief". They command reproduction and spirit. The kidneys perform part of the work of the reproductive, endocrine, central nervous and immune systems. A person whose kidneys are strong is not only full of vitality and maintains clarity of mind - he also enjoys good health and a long life. The sages of antiquity believed that aging is largely due to living conditions and habits. For example, The Yellow Emperor's Treatise on Medicine says that people who live in the cold conditions of the highlands live longer than those who inhabit the humid, hot lowlands. And also: “People of antiquity followed the principles of yin and yang, lived according to calculations and predictions, controlled their diet and lifestyle. They did not exhaust themselves, because their body and mind were strong and healthy, and they could live up to a hundred years. Now people are doing the opposite. They drink wine like water, behave wildly, copulate drunk and thereby exhaust their energy and exhaust their vitality. These people have no idea how to find contentment and maintain their strength. Instead, they are preoccupied with seeking sensory impressions. Since they neglect the norms of a decent life and live in incontinence, they can die even at fifty years old. This passage reveals the connection between aging and lifestyle, showing that if you are moderate in your eating and drinking, regularize your life and do not overexert yourself, then your life will be healthy and long. Otherwise, old age and infirmity will become relevant for you at the age of fifty.
Chapter I
Harmony with the seasons
Human life and health depend on its natural environment. Good natural conditions affect peace of mind, good health and long life.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the human body is seen as a "small world" (microcosm), which is inextricably linked with the big world (macrocosm). In other words, changes in the surrounding world, whether it be the movements of celestial bodies, activity in the sun, weather changes and seasons, or moving to another geographical point, are reflected in the human body. For example, the physiological activity of a person is directly related to changes occurring in space. If the body can adapt to changes in the environment, then its functioning will be healthy.
Otherwise, he will become susceptible to disease and his very existence will be threatened.
In the natural environment, the habitat and climate can be distinguished. In general, we can say that the inhabitants of cold mountainous regions, where the air is fresh, live longer than the inhabitants of hot regions with polluted air. In cold climates, the growth period is longer, and therefore the overall life span is longer. In hot climates, the growth period is somewhat shorter, as is life.
Understanding this, a person can contribute to the protection of the environment, on which the duration of his life depends, adapting to the natural changes taking place in nature. The change of seasons is continuous, as is the change of morning in the evening, and nights in the afternoon. How to learn to take into account these changes in order to maintain good health?

1. Spring

Warming comes with spring, ice melts and snow melts, the earth returns to life and greenery breaks through everywhere. Animals wake up after hibernation, willow blossoms and flowers bloom. Nature comes to life again, and the movement of energy is noticeable in everything. With warming, the skin becomes more elastic, the work of internal organs increases, blood and energy are added to the body. What is the best way to take care of your health during this time?
This season must be followed. When the surrounding world is filled with life, a person should also fill his body with it, so that both worlds, big and small, are full of spring forces, harmonizing with each other. Get up early in the morning and just take a walk in the yard, park or even in a forest plantation along the road, stretch all your limbs and body well, try to unfold your soul, give it freedom.
Spring out-of-town trips are quite useful from time to time. Enjoy the gentle spring sun, the chirping of birds, the scent of flowers, the flowering of trees and young foliage, the fresh greenery of the fields. Beautiful views of nature enchant and intoxicate a little. If you manage to get to one of these wonderful places, it will not only give you mood and open your soul, but also broaden your horizons, speed up blood flow, strengthen your nervous system, and give you physical and mental health.
How to protect yourself from the spring cold. There is There is an old Chinese proverb: “Wear more in spring, wear less in autumn.” In other words, do not rush to throw off your winter things. Let you be a little warmer than a little cool. It is necessary to get rid of things gradually, as it gets warmer, in order to allow the body to get used to the heat. And vice versa: do not try to wrap up hastily with the onset of autumn, in this season coolness is better than overheating. This will allow the body to prepare for the onset of cold weather. This reduces the likelihood of disease. Spring is a time of weather change, a bridge between winter cold and summer heat. If you do not take care of keeping warm and hastily abandon winter clothes, the cold will easily enter the body, causing a cold, and for people with high blood pressure, the risk of cerebral hemorrhage increases. Therefore, when changing seasons, care should be taken to avoid cold and keep warm.
Cold protection. Many people get colds three times a year. Middle-aged and elderly people whose health is poor may get sick more often. In the spring, the danger of colds is greatest. Cause? There are two of them. The first is a sharp change in temperature, when with a sudden warming, many tend to quickly get rid of their winter clothes. Cold penetrates the body, weakened immunity fails, and a person catches a cold. The second is a strong spring wind that carries pathogenic factors that enter the body through the respiratory system. Some representatives of middle and old age, if they are physically weakened and have not taken into account changes in the weather, are subject at this time to diseases of the upper respiratory tract. They should be especially careful, protecting themselves from the cold and keeping warm. In addition, you need to train the body's ability to withstand the cold. For example, you can wipe your face with a cold, damp towel and gargle with cold water to increase their resistance to cold. You should regularly massage the points of Ying-Xiang, He-Gu, Qu-Chi and Feng-Chi (see Appendix). This will help maintain good health and wellness. If a cold is rampant, boil table vinegar, the vapors of which will sterilize the air in the room. Or prepare a decoction of fern rhizomes (15 g) and honeysuckle (20 g) for a single dose for three days. This will help prevent the aggravation of old diseases. With sudden changes in spring weather, the yang (male) energy of the liver increases. If there is an excess of heat in the body, then old diseases will appear in people of middle and old age, such as chronic and acute bronchitis, pressure in hypertensive patients can jump, which will lead to mental excitation, a feeling of heaviness and unpleasant sensations in the limbs, insomnia and dizziness. Therefore, it is worth taking care of well-being and preventing relapses by adjusting your life in accordance with the