《上古天真论》曰∶女子之数七，丈夫之数八。女子七七四十九，任脉虚，冲脉衰，天
癸竭，地道不通。丈夫八八六十四，五脏皆衰，筋骨解堕，天癸尽，脉弱形枯。女子过六十
之期，丈夫逾七十之年，越天常数。上寿之人，若衣食丰备，子孙勤养，承顺慈亲，参行孝
礼，能调其饮食，适其寒温，上合神灵，下契人理，此顺天之道也!
高年之人，形羸气弱，理自当然。其有丈夫、女子，年逾七十，面色红润，形气康强，
饮食不退，尚多秘热者，此理何哉?且年老之人，痿瘁为常，今反此者，非真阳血海气壮也
。但诊左右手脉，须大紧数，此老人延永之兆也。老人真气已衰，此得虚阳气盛，充于肌体
，则两手脉大，饮食倍进，双脸常红，精神康健，此皆虚阳气所助也。须时，有烦渴膈热，
大腑秘结。但随时以平常汤药，微微消解，三五日间自然平复。常得虚阳气存，自然饮食得
进，此天假其寿也。切不得为有小热，频用转泻之药通利，苦冷之药疏解。若虚阳气退，还复
真体，则形气 羸，脏腑衰弱，多生冷痰，无由补复。
若是从来无虚阳之气，一向惫乏之人，全在斟量汤剂，常加温补，调停 粥，以为养治，此养老之先也!
常见世人治高年之人疾患，将同年少，乱投汤药，妄行针灸，以攻其疾，务欲速愈。殊
不知上寿之人，血气已衰，精神减耗，危若风烛，百疾易攻。至于视听不至聪明，手足举动
不随；其身体劳倦，头目昏眩，风气不顺，宿疾时发；或秘或泄，或冷或热，此皆老人之常
态也。不顺治之，紧用针药，务求痊瘥，往往因此别致危殆。
且攻病之药，或吐或汗，或解、或利。缘衰老之人，不同年少真气壮盛，虽汗吐转利，
未至危困。其老弱之人，若汗之，则阳气泄。吐之，则胃气逆；泻之，则元气脱，立致不虞
。此养老之大忌也。
大体老人药饵，止是扶持之法。只可用温平顺气，进食补虚、中和之药治之，不可用市
肆、赎买、他人惠送、不知方味及野狼虎之药与之服饵，切宜审详。若身有宿疾，或时发动，
则随其疾状，用中和汤药顺，三朝五日，自然无事。然后调停饮食，根据食医之法，随食性
变馔治之。此最为良也!
《上古天真论》中说：女子的生理节律以七为基数，男子的生理节律以八为基数。女子到了四十九岁（七七），任脉气血虚弱，冲脉衰退，天癸枯竭，月经停止。男子到了六十四岁（八八），五脏功能衰退，筋骨松弛无力，天癸耗尽，脉象微弱，形体枯槁。女子过了六十岁，男子过了七十岁，就超越了正常的寿数极限。长寿之人，如果衣食丰足备齐，子孙勤勉奉养，顺从孝敬父母，参酌实行孝礼，能够调节饮食，适应寒温变化，上合天地神灵之理，下契人间伦理之道，这就是顺应天道！
年老的人，形体消瘦，元气虚弱，这是理所当然的。那些有男子、女子，年龄超过七十岁，面色红润，形体气力康强，饮食没有减退，还常有便秘内热的情况，这是什么道理呢？况且年老的人，身体衰弱是常态，现在反而出现这种情况，如果不是真阳充沛、血海充盈、气力壮盛的话，就是诊察左右手脉象，必须是大而紧数的脉象，这是老人延寿的征兆。老人的真气已经衰退，这里得到的是虚阳之气旺盛，充塞于肌体，所以两手脉象大，饮食加倍增加，两颊常红，精神康健，这都是虚阳之气所助益的结果。时常会有烦渴、膈部发热，大便干结不通。只需随时用平常的汤药，微微消解症状，三五天后自然平复。常常保持虚阳之气存在，自然饮食能进，这是上天假借给他寿命。切不要因为有一点小热，频繁使用泻下药通利，或用苦寒药疏解。如果虚阳之气消退，回归到真元本体，那么形体气力就会更加羸弱，脏腑衰弱，产生很多生冷痰湿，无法再补益恢复。
如果是从来就没有虚阳之气，一向疲惫乏力的人，完全在于斟酌剂量汤剂，经常加入温补药物，调理粥食，作为养护治疗，这是养老的首要原则！
常见世人治疗老年人的疾病，把他们当作年轻人看待，乱投汤药，妄行针灸，来攻伐疾病，务必求速愈。殊不知长寿之人，血气已经衰退，精神减耗，危险得像风中残烛，各种疾病容易侵袭。至于视力听力不再聪明，手足举动不随心意；身体劳倦，头目昏眩，风气不顺，旧疾时常发作；或者便秘或者泄泻，或者怕冷或者发热，这些都是老年人的常态。如果不顺着这些特点治疗，紧用针药，务必求得痊愈，往往因此导致新的危殆。
况且攻病的药物，有的催吐，有的发汗，有的解表，有的利尿。因为衰老的人，不同于年轻人真气壮盛，虽然经过汗、吐、下、利等法，还未至危困。那些老弱的人，如果用发汗法，则阳气外泄；用催吐法，则胃气上逆；用泻下法，则元气脱失，立刻导致意外事故。这是养老的大忌。
大体上老年人的用药，只是扶持的方法。只可用温和平顺气机、增进食欲、补虚、中和的药物来治疗，不可使用市肆买卖、他人赠送、不知方味以及像野狼虎一样猛烈伤人的药物给他们服用，务必仔细审察详辨。如果身上有旧疾，或时常发作，则根据疾病状况，用中和的汤药顺势调理，三朝五日，自然无事。然后调理饮食，根据食医的方法，随着食物的性味变化来制作菜肴。这最为良好！
The *Tianzhen Lun* (Treatise on the True Nature of Antiquity) states: The physiological cycle for women is based on the number seven, and for men, on the number eight. When a woman reaches forty-nine years old (7 x 7), the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) becomes deficient, the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) declines, Tian Gui (essence related to reproductive maturity) is exhausted, and menstruation ceases. When a man reaches sixty-four years old (8 x 8), the Zang-Fu organs all decline, sinews and bones become loose and weak, Tian Gui is depleted, the pulse is weak, and the form is withered. If a woman exceeds sixty years or a man exceeds seventy years, they have surpassed their natural constant lifespan. For those who reach an advanced age, if food and clothing are abundant and prepared, descendants diligently provide care, obeying and respecting their elders, practicing filial piety, regulating their diet, adapting to cold and warmth, aligning with the spirit of heaven above, and conforming to human ethics below, this is following the Way of Heaven!
For elderly people, emaciated form and weak Qi are naturally so. However, for men and women over seventy who have ruddy complexions, strong physical form and Qi, undiminished appetite, yet often suffer from constipation and internal heat, what is the reason? Generally, frailty is common in the elderly; those who reverse this trend either possess robust True Yang, full Blood Sea, and strong Qi, or, upon palpation of the pulses at both wrists, exhibit a large, tight, and rapid pulse, which is a sign of longevity in the elderly. Since the True Qi of the elderly has declined, this condition arises from an excess of Deficient Yang Qi filling the body tissues, resulting in large pulses in both hands, doubled food intake, persistent redness of the cheeks, and healthy spirit—all assisted by Deficient Yang Qi. They may frequently experience irritability, thirst, chest-heat, and dry stool. One should simply use ordinary herbal decoctions at any time to gently resolve symptoms, which will naturally stabilize within three to five days. As long as Deficient Yang Qi is maintained, food intake remains normal, which is Heaven granting them extra life. One must absolutely not, due to slight heat, frequently use purgatives to promote drainage, or bitter-cold herbs to dissipate heat. If Deficient Yang Qi retreats and returns to the True Essence, the form and Qi will become even more emaciated, Zang-Fu organs will weaken, producing much cold-damp phlegm, making recovery impossible.
For those who never had Deficient Yang Qi and are always fatigued, treatment relies entirely on carefully measuring herbal decoctions, frequently adding warming and tonifying herbs, and adjusting congee, as the primary method of nourishment and treatment!
It is common to see people treating diseases in the elderly as if they were young adults, indiscriminately prescribing herbal decoctions and recklessly applying acupuncture to attack the disease, seeking rapid cure. Little do they know that for those of advanced age, Blood and Qi have already declined, Spirit and Essence are diminished, danger looms like a candle in the wind, and myriad diseases easily attack. Vision and hearing may no longer be sharp, limbs may not move freely; the body feels weary, head and eyes dizzy, Wind-Qi unsmooth, and chronic diseases flare up intermittently; there may be constipation or diarrhea, cold or heat sensations. These are all normal states for the elderly. Failing to treat according to these patterns, and tightly using needles and drugs to insist on complete recovery, often leads to new perils because of this.
Moreover, drugs used to attack pathogens may induce vomiting, sweating, release the exterior, or promote urination. Because the elderly differ from the young whose True Qi is robust, even after sweating, vomiting, or purging, they may not immediately face critical danger. However, for frail elderly persons, sweating causes Yang Qi to leak; vomiting causes Stomach Qi to rebel upward; purging causes Yuan Qi (Original Qi) to collapse, leading immediately to unexpected accidents. This is a major taboo in caring for the elderly.
Generally, medication for the elderly is merely a supportive method. Only mild, smooth, Qi-regulating, appetite-enhancing, tonifying, and harmonizing herbs should be used. One must not administer drugs bought in markets, gifted by others, whose formulas and flavors are unknown, or harsh "wild wolf-tiger" type drugs. Careful scrutiny is essential. If chronic diseases exist or flare up occasionally, one should follow the disease manifestations and use harmonizing herbal decoctions to regulate smoothly; within three to five days, matters will naturally settle. Then, adjust the diet, following the methods of dietary therapy, preparing dishes according to the nature of the foods. This is the best approach!