Fifty is not a stopwatch

As the somewhat congested name suggests, "50" is not a "stop sign", which can be loosely translated as a recommendation to slow down our pace of life, but not to quit everything overnight. If you make a healthy assessment of what you have the strength for and what does your body good, then you can get back on track and continue to enjoy life to the full.

The 19th century French writer Victor Hugo said that "forty is the age of youth and fifty the age of old age". I think that's doubly true today. Around the age of fifty, parents often become grandparents in addition, who are still of working age, but grandchildren and their children are no longer a daily commitment for them, so they can explore the new possibilities life brings them with gusto and joy.

 

Health in the second half of life

There is only a slight disadvantage to be reckoned with. Over the years, our bodies and souls have had a lot of valuable experiences that have taken a toll on them. And even those who have thought about their health and tried to keep their bodies and minds in good shape over the course of their lives are showing subtle signs of wear and tear. This can manifest itself in subtle or even dramatic slowing of memory and thinking, hormonal fluctuations and mood changes, lower immune system resistance, deterioration of hearing and vision, weakening of bones, faster muscle wasting, degeneration of joints, deterioration of the heart and blood vessels, hair loss and poorer skin quality accompanied by pigmented 'age spots'. However, the good news is that all these aspects of ageing can be mitigated by diet, exercise and a balanced lifestyle. So take advantage of the time around 50 to steer your life in the best direction.

How we take care of our essence is what our menopause/andropause will look like

And don't worry, even this time we won't forget to look at the specifics of menopause and andropause through the lens of traditional Chinese medicine. The symptoms of both menopause and andropause are caused by a decrease in Kidney essence. Here is just a short digression about the mentioned essence of Kidney, which according to TCM determines how long and how well we live. The essence is partly innate and everyone is given a slightly different amount of it, and we can over-exhaust or replenish it during our lives. So everyone has a different starting point, but at the same time the opportunity to influence their life through a harmonious lifestyle.

According to the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor, which is the imaginary Bible of traditional Chinese medicine, this transition period occurs for women at the age of 49 (7x7), while for men at the age of 56 (7x8). Although this is primarily a decline in the yin and yang aspects of the Kidney essence, often the natural symptoms due to a capricious lifestyle or, on the contrary, excessive overwork and stress, or better still, a combination of both, are accompanied by a host of other bothersome symptoms that can result in serious problems. These include hot flushes, insomnia, irritability, forgetfulness, tinnitus, exhaustion, palpitations, dry skin and mucous membranes, hair loss, weakness and pain in the loins, night sweats, fear, weakness of will, urinary disorders.

 

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But nothing is lost

As mentioned at the beginning, 50 is not a stop sign, and this gives us hope that we can get back up to a comfortable speed where we can enjoy the journey for a long time to come. In addition to being more mindful of a balanced diet, which is the subject of many other articles, incorporating more adequate exercise into our lives (running a marathon is not ideal), getting rid of what stresses us out excessively, and adopting good sleep habits (which ideally combine with putting our smart digital friends away for the night), we can benefit our bodies and minds with herbs. Below, we've listed a few herbal blends and vital mushrooms that can support us in our quest for a comfortable journey through the next life.

 

Supporting the body and mind with herbs and mushrooms

Mycocholest - blended according to Ling Dong Jue Jing San's recipe, this blend contains phytoestrogens that contribute to hormonal balance in menopausal women. The product contains, among other things, the mushroom reishi which supports the normal function of the immune system. In addition, the following ingredients are included: red clover, bee pollen, lemon balm, Chinese angelica, muira puama, green tea, royal jelly and grape thistle.

Staying in the world of mushrooms for a while, reishi is good to combine with Cordyceps, which TCM says is the greatest "recharger" of energy, while strengthening Yang and essence of Ledvin and Yin Plic. And if we add the Mycostress blend to the third, we can help harmonize our psyche with the help of the Hericium mushroom and other medicines.

For mental exhaustion, overwork, forgetfulness, insomnia and night sweats, when the Heart and Kidneys need to be strengthened, it is good to reach for the Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan blend also known as Heavenly Empress.

Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, or Fresh Breeze, has a similar effect, and in addition to hot flashes and heavy night sweats, it also targets urinary dysfunction, hot bones and dry mucous membranes, especially in the lower body.

For dryness problems, one can also reach for Kun Bao Tang, or Blooming Garden, which, in addition to mucous membranes, also targets dryness of the skin, eyes and throat, plus mood swings, irritability, headaches and tinnitus.

As for traditional menopause, there is also a blend called Geng Nian An Pian, which, according to the hint contained in the English equivalent of the name Hot Waves, can be used to support hot flashes, sweating, tinnitus, restlessness, anxiety and insomnia.

As menopause does not only affect women in their fifties, but can also occur prematurely, formulas have been developed to help these women. These include Er Xian Tang for Energy Balancing, which is designed to help harmonise hormonal imbalances that manifest as coldness in the lower body and heat on top. For manifestations such as weakness and pain in the loins, feeling of increased temperature, restless legs, weak will and fear, the Zuo Gui Wan blend poetically nicknamed Left Bean may come in handy.

Not forgetting men, a special blend has been developed for them too - Mycoprosten. This is intended as a prevention to support the proper functioning of the prostate gland. It contains a mixture of vital mushrooms and herbs that is suitable for every man who has passed the age of fifty. At the same time, we also recommend a regular check-up of the prostate by a doctor.

Mycoprosten benefits from the positive effects of vital mushroom Maitake, stinging nettle, serenoi creeper, zinc, selenium and vitamin E. Their synergistic action helps natural immunity, protection of cells from oxidative stress, normal functioning of the urinary system and contributes to the maintenance of adequate testosterone levels in the blood.

If there are already specific difficulties with insomnia, irritability, mental instability, heart palpitations and dry mucous membranes, then the herbal blend Suan Zao Ren Tang Jia Wei is suitable. It is sometimes known in the country as Kindly Grandfather, which is not to say that this grandfather cannot be a vital and charismatic gentleman in his prime.