Nurture Your Emotional Health by Keeping a Quiet Heart
What does it mean to "keep a quiet heart" from the perspective of acupuncture and Oriental medicine?   The energy of the heart organ system is related to the element of fire. Fires can burn out of control, just as emotions can. Unchecked emotions and stress directly affect the heart. Common signs relating to disharmony of the heart include palpitations, insomnia and general anxiety. When the heart is in balance, joy is the natural state, and intimate relationships happen with ease. A person with a balanced, quiet heart can live a longer life than one whose heart is in a state of disharmony.

How can acupuncture and Oriental medicine help you achieve a "quiet heart" for improved health and longer life?  The point Pericardium 6, known as Neiguan or Inner Pass, can provide relief from anxiety, sea sickness, nausea and light-headedness.   You can use acupressure by pressing on this point to calm anxiety and reduce nausea.  Turn your wrist palm-side up and starting at the wrist crease, find the two tendons in the center of your arm. Once you find them, place three fingers down starting from the wrist crease. At the other end of your three fingers lies the point. Press firmly with the thumb until you feel relief.

Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Awareness by Sitting Like a Tortoise
Meditation is of primary importance to health and longevity.  Sitting and meditating as a daily practice is, effectively, sitting like a tortoise. A quiet, yet active practice, meditation requires mental stamina and strong will power and cultivates self-awareness.

By sitting for daily meditation practice, you can better let go of fears and accept the inevitable changes which occur internally as you age, and also in the outside world. The acceptance you gain through meditation includes the acceptance of your own mortality.

The kidney organ system is associated with will power and the emotion of fear. Through meditation you can cultivate the will power required to sit still, and also develop the personal strength of will necessary to confront the ceaseless thoughts and emotions of the mind. Because the kidney system relates to fear, one of the best ways to strengthen it is to successfully confront your fears and work through them.

As we grow older we see signs of declining kidney energy or deficient kidney Qi. In Oriental medicine, Qi refers to the life energy that flows through your body. Sometimes this life energy, or Qi, can become stuck or deficient in certain areas. Some of the more common signs of deficient kidney Qi include weak lower back muscles and knees, deafness, incontinence and forgetfulness--conditions that are often associated with aging. 

Increase Vitality by Walking Spritely like a Pigeon
What does it mean to "walk spritely like a pigeon"? The spirited gait of a pigeon gives the impression of vitality. The pigeon is very aware of its environment and ready to move or fly at a moment's notice. The spritely quality of the pigeon's mobility represents the energy of the liver organ system.  The force a seed needs to sprout and break through the earth as it grows in the spring is a great analogy for the energy of the liver system as spring brings about new growth and new life.

From an acupuncture and Oriental medicine perspective, for greater vitality you need a healthy liver system.  It is believed that any situation that constrains or frustrates a person will consequently injure the person's liver.  In order for an aging person to remain healthy and creative, the body and mind must stay active. You must engage in new activities so that creativity and curiosity can flow freely and easily as you move through life.