In Chinese Medicine, men and women age differently. We age in cycles of Jing.
Anatomically born males age in 10 year cycles.
Anatomically born females age in 7 year cycles.
Jing is the Chinese word that means life force or essence. Some Jing is inherited from our parents/ancestors, some is influenced by how we live and the choices we make. In Chinese Medicine, Jing is a major influence in growth, development, reproduction, aging, and our overall vitality.
If we are comparing to Western medicine, we might liken Jing to our telomeres, which are a type of protein that cap the end of your chromosomes (kind of like the plastic on the end of a shoelace).
When you are young, you have plenty of Jing and your telomeres are long. Because of that, your body and mind are able to withstand massive amounts of stress both physically and energetically.
As you age, your cells replicate, but they cannot replicate the telomeres. The longer you live, the shorter your telomeres get, and at the same time, your Jing starts to naturally decline.
This is the aging process and it begins the moment you are conceived.
In the United States, we have cultivated a belief that our 30s are our “prime” and everything after 40 is over-the-hill.
Men begin their “decline” at age 40, at the end of their fourth cycle of Jing. As they age, a slow gradual decline of testosterone can cause symptoms of aging, a process called andropause.
Meanwhile, women begin their “decline” at age 35, at the end of their fourth cycle. Their transition into perimenopause, then menopause is much faster than that of men, a marked period after which they can no longer have children.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I like to challenge popular notions. This is largely due to my experience with hundreds and thousands of individuals that bluntly defy what is espoused as “normal”.
People are capable of incredible, life-long vitality.
Vitality that doesn’t just end because you’ve passed age 35 or 40.
Chinese medicine has been concerned with longevity, prevention of disease and quality of life for thousands of years. In recent decades, Western medicine is starting to do the same, shifting from rough repair with pharmaceuticals and surgery, to preventative and regenerative medicine.
I like to live where these two powerful modalities converge. Utilizing the best of the East and the best of the West, my approach with patients and clients is truly holistic.
In this case, we’re talking about menopause and andropause, and how “decline” doesn’t have to mean a decline in your quality of life. Instead, I’ll share how an integrative approach can support the body through this natural shift in telomeres and Jing, so you can maintain vitality as you age.
What are Menopause and Andropause?
Menopause and andropause are biomedical terms for a phase of human life where signs of aging start to appear.
With the stresses of modern life, some symptoms during this time are unavoidable. UNLESS these changes are navigated with some key things in mind.
Menopause begins in women when their estrogen/Yin levels drop and they lose their ability to conceive and birth children. Fluctuating hormones can result in muscle loss and softer bones, increasing susceptibility to osteoporosis. Some develop uterine and cardiovascular issues. Many experience symptoms like weight gain, insomnia, and hot flashes, which can make this transition especially miserable.
Andropause regards men, when their naturally-high testosterone/Yang levels drop and give way to degenerative processes. While men continue to be fertile throughout the remainder of their lives (THIS GUY fathered a child at age 96), testosterone decline can lead to other issues. The biggest fear is erectile dysfunction (TOTALLY treatable with Chinese herbs, and most ED has emotional, NOT physical causes). Weight gain, loss of energy, depression, irritability, and inflammatory disease processes may be common.
Even though some people find this transition challenging, this is also a time when wisdom begins to emerge from life lived and lessons learned. There’s a lot to celebrate- for instance, “give-a-f**k” factor tends to significantly decline, and people tend to be less reactive and more patient and discerning.
For both men and women, the symptoms and root causes of these transitionary times can be greatly mitigated with the right treatment. At Kai Wellness, we rely on a blend of functional medicine, acupuncture, herbal remedies, and lifestyle shifts to support Jing and vitality from age 35 and beyond.
Did You Know?
The majority of age-related decline can be greatly minimized with proper nutritional and lifestyle modifications.
Integrative Medicine Approach to Anti-Aging
Taking the best of what East-West has to offer, I like to invoke the image of Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray. Not his grandiose narcissism, but rather the aging reversal he is able to achieve by looking at a picture of himself. The picture ages – he does not. (Highly recommend this book if you haven’t read it already!)
Just because your body ages, doesn’t mean you have to “feel old.”
You can be 50 years old but feel like you’re living in a 35 year old body.
Anti-aging medicine has come a long way. We know now that natural compounds, including certain herbs and peptides, and other naturally-occurring molecules like CoQ10, PQQ, QR, NAD, BPC157, and countless others – hold the key to vitality, regeneration, and longevity.
Together, we can determine which compounds will support you, your body, and your JING as you pass into your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.
With the help of ancient wisdom and modern science, we can extend the length of telomeres, repair damaged DNA, prolong life, and more importantly – increase vitality and support your natural ability to stay active, joyful, and strong.
Did You Know?
One of the oldest women to give birth to a healthy baby did so at age 66!!
Kai Wellness Recommended Practices for Increased Vitality
At Kai Wellness, we always recommend a personalized assessment and prescription for wellness from an integrative practitioner. Someone who understands the body as a whole, and not just as a random group of symptoms.
There are no “one-size-fits-all” treatments at Kai Wellness. We work with you as you are and treat you as an individual.
Not every remedy, solution, treatment is appropriate or even safe for every person. However, there are a few things everyone can do as they age to maintain vitality and health:
Get Good Sleep
When you sleep, your body regenerates. The focus shifts from activity to maintenance. Deep sleep, in particular, is essential for tissue regeneration, cell and DNA repair, removal of metabolic waste, and immune system strengthening.
While some men and women find it difficult to get regular deep sleep due to some of the hormonal disruptions, we find a combination of herbal remedies, acupuncture, and a regular sleep routine can all make a difference to the amount and quality of your sleep!
Check out Kai Wellness’ comprehensive guide to get good sleep!
Practice Mind-Body Exercises like Yoga, Qi Gong, and Tai Chi
Research shows that Yoga, Qi Gong and Tai Chi support longevity by promoting lymphatic, blood and energetic circulation. Circulation helps distribute nutrients throughout the body, while also shifting emotions and relieving tension. All life-enhancing benefits no matter what phase of life you’re in.
Support your mitochondria
You may remember the mitochondria as the energy source within your cells. Supporting these essential structures can help regulate your energy levels, reduce oxidative stress, and protect against muscle loss as you age. Check out these broad-application anti-aging molecules to support mitochondrial health longevity (for more targeted prescriptions including peptide therapy, contact Kai Wellness for a consultation!)
Limit stress and alcohol
This goes for men and women, however, testosterone is especially depleted with stress and alcohol consumption. Intentional relaxation and imbibing in moderation can support healthy testosterone levels and a balanced body.
Exercise
Exercise and movement are essential for both men and women to prevent age-related muscle loss and a decrease in bone density. Check out these awesome general supplements for energy, natural pain relief, and joint/ligament/tendon support. If you have specific goals or concerns, schedule a consultation about which supplements and herbs may best support your movement!
Balance your hormones
Menopause and andropause are both conditions wherein the hormones fall out of balance. Typically, bringing those hormones back into balance requires individual assessment and a strategic treatment plan.
For women, we typically recommend Chinese herbs like Shu Di Huang and western herbs which support estrogen production. Hormone replacement therapy may be an option, including options that use bio-identical hormones or plant-based hormone supports.
Sign up for therapy
It’s never a bad time, or too late, to have therapy! Not all therapy is made equal. We recommend a practitioner who utilizes some form of somatic mindfulness technique, and voice dialogue/internal family systems. Metabolizing life can be one of the greatest ways to preserve Jing…not metabolizing it leaves us inflamed, stressed, and leaking our life force daily.
Check out the counseling/coaching approach of Dr. Karina Menali at Kai Wellness. And if this doesn’t resonate for you, we are happy to make referrals.
Take care of your brain
The brain also changes as you age. The overall volume of your brain decreases as you age, which can slow down thinking and affect your memory. A gradual decrease in dopamine and serotonin levels is also common. But just because things are slowing down does not mean there’s nothing you can do to support your brain! Here are a few herbal supports that we love to support your cognitive health.
Get regular wellness treatments
Acupuncture, chiropractic, and other holistic medicines that you are drawn to make a HUGE difference in how we age.
Acupuncture and herbs are the ORIGINAL anti-aging modalities. Acupuncture ensures smooth and balanced energy flow throughout the body. When our energy is right, deep healing and self-regeneration occurs. Chinese herbs, together with peptides and other nutraceuticals, can significantly decrease your biological age.
Prioritize a healthy gut
How do you know your body is absorbing the nutrition you are giving it? Digestive issues underlie EVERY other process in the human body. Just because something is “good for you”, doesn’t mean you’re absorbing it. Proper testing and assessment is essential, as a starting point.
For women who are experiencing weight gain during perimenopause/menopause, reducing grains, daily, alcohol, and sugar can help. Though of course, everybody is different and we are happy to discuss your unique goals in a consultation!
HERE are some gut basics…and, more comprehensive microbiome testing and targeted treatment takes the guesswork out of optimizing this most important system in the body.
The Energetic Piece
A combination of lifestyle, nutrition, herbs and supplements is the beginning.
Don’t get me wrong, they are important building blocks, but what about the energetic piece?
Some of us have specific cultural and ancestral conditioning that points us in particular directions that have nothing to do with our potential.
Is there a part of you that doesn’t WANT you to be well? That stands to GAIN something from being ill? Or fears going against the grain by thriving? Is there something IN THE WAY of you being vibrant and active, even as you “age”?
All of these questions are important to ask yourself as you transition into mid-life.
Did You Know?
The oldest person to summit Mt. Everest was 80 years old!!
Can we transform aging into wisdom?
Aging is inevitable – and entirely appropriate. We are NOT supposed to be consuming from the Earth indefinitely!
To borrow a quote from Ayn Rand:
The only true form of altruism may be death.
However, the point here is to learn to navigate the transition with grace. I always invite people to examine their inner elder. Our inner elder is a wise person who has been with us from the beginning of time. It is an archetypal force that comes with being human.
Do you ever hear children speaking with incredible wisdom? That’s because their inner elder is in there! He/She/They haven’t been silenced by the various discouraging voices that every child ends up encountering throughout their life. Only when we are coming into true wisdom does the Inner Elder powerfully emerge.
Your invitation is to allow your Inner Elder to come through..
Allow the wild one to surface. Allow the one to come out who is SO SELF SECURE that he/she doesn’t need the approval of society, doesn’t care about what some magazine or media post considers “attractive”… values him/her self based on THEIR own value system, not someone else’s.
I invite you to this conversation and welcome you to journal about it and share your thoughts and feelings and insights by hitting “Reply”.
This is a PROCESS…
Embrace it with patience.
And Cheers to your vitality – at any age. May your life force shine through!!!
Regeneration, longevity, quality of life, prevention and treatment of age-related concerns are one of my many specialties. So, if what I said here has resonated with you, feel free to schedule an appointment.
I look forward to working with you.
Dr. Karina Menali
