Longevity Therapy

For thousands of years, the desire to live a long life has driven people to investigate a host of ways to achieve optimal well being and fight the aging process. In ancient China, the pursuit of longevity resulted in the development of the five branches of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM. In modern times, research into the mechanisms of aging continue to reveal new insights into what you can do to maximize longevity and feel your best.

Types

In TCM, longevity therapy takes five different forms: acupuncture, herbology, medical massage, energy exercises like tai chi and qigong, and food therapy, according to the website of Five Branches University, a school offering graduate education in traditional Chinese medicine. All of these practices work together to help you preserve your qi, or vital life energy---a holistic approach to longevity. In modern longevity therapy, the focus tends to be more targeted, fighting specific aspects of the aging process through diet and the use of vitamin and nutrient supplements.

Ancient Longevity Science

The ultimate goal of ancient longevity practices like qigong is to achieve a state of complete relaxation and tranquility while remaining alert and focused, according to Ken Cohen, qigong master and author of "The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing." Because of their physical and mental openness, those who master these techniques are able to draw qi more abundantly than most people, which in turn keeps their bodies healthy and extends their lives.

Maximizing Qi Today

One of the most powerful ways to engage with ancient longevity therapy is to get outside more often, advises meditation teacher and ecologist John Milton, author of "Sky Above, Earth Below: Spiritual Practice in Nature." Milton recommends early morning walks in wild places or your local park, since the energies available between predawn and 8 a.m. help to regenerate your physical, mental and emotional qi.

Longevity Diet

Modern longevity research points to the benefits of pursuing a diet style called CRON, or caloric restriction with optimal nutrition, notes Dr. Barbara Berkeley, director of weight management services for Lake Hospital Systems in Cleveland, Ohio, and author of "Refuse to Regain!: Twelve Tough Rules to Maintain the Body You've Earned." Animal studies of CRON show promising results in stalling the aging process. Berkeley notes that human CRON practitioners might benefit not from calorie restriction, but the emphasis on extremely nutritious foods in the CRON diet. Long-term studies on the safety of CRON are not available as of 2010, but choosing foods that are naturally nutritious is always a good idea.

Blood Sugar Regulation

The CRON diet might work to support health and extend longevity by limiting the body's production of insulin, according to an October 2010 article published in "Discover" magazine by renowned science writer Gary Taubes. The more food you eat, especially if you're consuming starches and sugar, the more insulin and insulin-like growth factor your body produces, which in turn encourages growth and reproduction. When insulin and insulin-like growth factor are limited---as, for example, when you eat less---the body shifts into a long-term maintenance mode that might result in greater longevity. Limiting the amount of refined starches and sugars in your diet is a very safe, healthful way to avoid excess insulin production without pursuing harsh calorie restriction.