Notes on Aging: TCM herbs and local community resources
In this post find top herbs for healthy aging and longevity, look at aging broadly and culturally, then consider Positive Aging and community resources for mental health in aging.
I’m in my 50s and I’m training myself to be curious and gentle as I learn and grow. And even though I have access to all the acupuncture and herbs in the world, it’s still a big challenge not to operate with a little fear when I think “aging” might be behind an ache, or a memory lapse. I feel so fortunate to be in a medicine where the tools I have at hand for someones asthma or IBS are laying right next to the tools that can be used to address how we flow in middle age and beyond.
In the office, most patients see me off and on over the years. So when aging comes up, often they express some pretty deep fear that they will not only feel physically miserable, but that they will become invisible to the world and unrecognizable to themselves. I get it. And I want to be able to offer support in my capacity as their TCM practitioner. Herbal medicine is one such tool, and it’s a great one!
I feel that aging is actually a success problem, since I see it simply - the process of staying alive after being born. It’s important to be a little kinder to ourselves when it comes to how we think about aging. We can be scared and still thrive. Aging is success, not failure - even though the success is complex and full of challenges. So let’s get into some of the most common single herbs used to support healthy aging, and some of the conditions that can accompany it.
Ginseng is used for longevity, and Wisconsin is a top world producer of American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolius
Astragalus and Ginseng both support energy stores and the ability to stay active and motivated. They can help cells live longer and function better.
Fungi and mushrooms are generally protective of nerve health and support the immune system, and help the body handle problems of accumulation (such as phlegm, bloating, edema, cysts and tumors).
Coptis and Scutellaria are 2 herbs that can help with common illnesses, inflammation and the degeneration of nerve and brain tissue.
Don’t forget that herbs should be cross checked for safety with ones’ medications or allergies.
These herbs fuel our ability to acclimate to the constant changes that bodies experience, recover from illness and find equilibrium. I describe their effects in ways that are general, since their specific actions in each person vary based on health patterns. Additionally, they have more effects than I listed. If you are going to spend the money on herbs and supplements, getting individualized recommendations from an herbalist will ensure safety as well as optimal function. Here are some of the top TCM herbs that are known to support us as our body stays on the exciting path of being alive!
My birthday cake set up on a table at Mother Lion
Aging is a success problem
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Aging is a success problem 〰️
It is understandable that we fall into the immediate fear of frailty and decline when we think about getting old. Which is logical, our bodies are programmed to respond to fear and danger much faster than they do to safety. But that is why it is important to challenge ourselves to be more accurate and pro-active in how we define the aging process. Positive Aging is a field that may help us do so. Check out this article that shares definitions of Positive Aging around the world. It’s quite telling! I would combine the Japanese and Eastern European, myself. I like the idea of supporting people with our systems (eg affordable healthcare and access to housing) plus cultivating a cultural milieu that presents older people as Elders.
How do we value aging and elders more, in this country? I really struggle to visualize that, here. It does seem to happen on Instagram and Tik Tok, though. Maybe that’s one way the internet can be beautiful. (Do you have any sites you would like to share with us? Send them to me here!) I do think we need help knowing how to care for ourselves and others as we age. Plus, there are such simple things that we can do.
The May issue of MKELifestyle magazine has a special section on Aging Well, exploring some of the challenges facing our retirement and aging population, such as housing options, caregiving and grandparenting, and community resources. These are practical and important topics. I particularly enjoyed the section on how important lighting can be when folks are “aging in place.” The article expert is Cindy Mathwig of StaffElectric, and she mentions things like the importance of dimmers, light color and types of light in different areas of the home. These are real quality of life factors - can a person can continue reading comfortably, or moving safely through their spaces, as vision changes? Since aging can take its toll on all our senses, I appreciate this type of care in the engineering, remodeling and design industries.
Thank you for reading my densely linked post on aging. I have a lot to say, but they say it better. If you would like to consider TCM to support your own aging, give us a shout, however you like to communicate.
CRISES RESOURCES: It is Mental Health Awareness Month #MHAM2024
Adult Protective Services has a helpline to address suspected abuse (physical, emotional,sexual, financial etc), neglect and self neglect. For depression and mental health crises, one can call 988. Also, the Institute on Aging has a 24 Friendship line.
Healthy aging poses challenges, particularly for people who are vulnerable economically and socially. Check here for further resources.
