A Long-Term Taoist Retreat Health Plan for Patients with Three Highs (Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, Hyperlipidemia) at Wudang Mountain

As a sacred place of Taoism, Wudang Mountain embodies the health preservation wisdom of “following the way of nature and achieving harmony between man and heaven”. Its systems of qigong practice, breath regulation, Taoist medicine, and dietary therapy are deeply integrated with TCM theories and the essence of *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic). Tailored for patients with three highs (hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia), this plan adheres to the principles of “gentle regulation, gradual progression, and addressing both symptoms and root causes”. It formulates a 1-3 year long-term retreat health plan, which aims to gradually improve metabolic disorders, vascular conditions, and zang-fu organ functions through integrating diverse Taoist health preservation methods. Ultimately, it achieves qi-blood harmony, yin-yang balance, and longevity. The plan emphasizes “personalized health preservation based on syndrome differentiation” throughout, requiring joint adjustment by Taoist doctors and TCM practitioners according to the patient’s specific condition and constitution. Blind practice without medical monitoring is strictly prohibited.

I. Preliminary Preparation: Syndrome Differentiation and Foundation Building Stage (Months 1-3)

The core of this stage is to complete constitution identification, condition assessment, and establish an adaptive health foundation. It avoids physical burden caused by blind practice and lays the groundwork for subsequent long-term regulation.

1. Joint Syndrome Differentiation by Taoist Doctors and TCM Practitioners

Settle in a compliant Taoist medical center at Wudang Mountain, where senior Taoist doctors conduct a comprehensive assessment together with TCM practitioners. Through observation, listening, inquiry, pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, combined with Western medical examination reports (blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipids, liver and kidney functions, etc.), the patient’s constitution type as categorized in *Huangdi Neijing* (such as phlegm-damp constitution, yin-deficiency constitution, qi-deficiency constitution) is identified. The zang-fu organ roots of the three highs are determined (e.g., hypertension is mostly associated with hyperactivity of liver yang and kidney yin deficiency; diabetes is mostly linked to spleen-stomach weakness and kidney essence deficiency). Meanwhile, contraindications such as cardio-cerebrovascular complications and liver-kidney function damage are screened to formulate a personalized health and physical therapy benchmark.

2. Establishment of Medical Monitoring System

Monitor blood pressure and blood glucose (fasting + 2-hour postprandial) twice a week, recheck blood lipids, liver and kidney functions once a month, and conduct special cardio-cerebrovascular examinations (electrocardiogram, carotid artery ultrasound, etc.) every three months. Taoist doctors and Western doctors jointly record data to dynamically adjust the health plan. For patients taking medications, self-discontinuation is strictly prohibited. The medication dosage shall be gradually adjusted upon physician evaluation to avoid conflicts between health preservation and drugs.

3. Basic Lifestyle and Mental Adjustment

Follow the Taoist work-rest rule of “rising with the sun and resting with the sunset”. Go to bed before 10 PM (to nourish liver yin) and get up between 6-7 AM (to conform to yang qi ascension). Avoid staying up late and overthinking. Mentally regulate emotions through Taoist meditation methods (such as visualization and sitting meditation), and abandon anxiety and irritability (the liver governs emotions; adverse emotions easily cause sudden increases in blood pressure and blood glucose fluctuations). Establish a health preservation mentality of “letting nature take its course” and avoid pursuing short-term effects.

II. Mid-Term Regulation: Qi-Blood Harmony Stage (Months 4-18)

This is the core regulation stage, integrating qigong practice, breath regulation, acupuncture, Taoist medical physical therapy, dietary therapy and other methods to specifically improve the core symptoms of the three highs, repair zang-fu organ functions, and gradually enhance the body’s self-healing ability.

1. Wudang Qigong Practice: Gradual Progression and Overcoming Hardness with Softness

Adhere to the principle of “from easy to difficult, according to one’s ability”, practice under the guidance of Wudang inheritors, avoid strenuous exercise, and focus on dredging meridians and harmonizing qi and blood.

– Basic Qigong (Months 4-6): Practice the simplified version of Wudang Tai Chi Thirteen Forms and Baduanjin (Eight-Section Brocade) for 30-40 minutes every morning from 7-8 AM (when yang qi is rising) in a quiet place at Wudang Mountain (such as around Zixiao Palace and Taizi Slope). The slow and smooth movements of Tai Chi Thirteen Forms can relax blood vessels, regulate heart rate, and improve vascular elasticity in hypertensive patients. Movements in Baduanjin such as “Holding the Heavens with Both Hands to Regulate the Triple Burner” and “Drawing the Bow Left and Right Like Shooting an Eagle” can invigorate the spleen and replenish qi, soothe the liver and regulate qi, assist in regulating blood lipid and blood glucose metabolism, and enhance limb coordination to avoid metabolic slowing caused by prolonged sitting.

– Advanced Qigong (Months 7-18): After physical constitution improvement, add Wudang Taiyi Five-Element Boxing, practice for 40-60 minutes daily in coordination with breath regulation rhythm. Integrating the principles of mutual generation and restriction of the five elements, Taiyi Five-Element Boxing corresponds to the regulation of the five zang-organs. It can strengthen spleen-stomach transportation and transformation functions (improving blood glucose metabolism), nourish kidney yin (alleviating liver-kidney yin deficiency symptoms in hypertension), and dredge meridians through limb stretching to reduce blood lipid deposition. Maintain natural breathing throughout practice, do not hold breath or exert excessive force, and stop immediately to rest if dizziness, palpitations or other discomfort occur.

2. Taoist Breath Regulation: Nourishing Qi and Consolidating Essence, Harmonizing Zang-Fu Organs

Breath regulation is the core of Taoist health preservation. It guides the operation of qi and blood by regulating breathing, improves internal qi disorder, and assists in controlling the three highs. Practice twice a day for 15-20 minutes each time, choose a mountainous area with fresh air (such as under Tianzhu Peak and beside Nanyan Palace at Wudang Mountain), and avoid windy, rainy and hazy weather.

– Basic Breath Regulation (Months 4-12): Practice the “Wudang Qi-Inhalation Method” using abdominal breathing. When inhaling, bulge the abdomen, imagine qi being inhaled through the nasal cavity, passing through the throat and lungs, and sinking to the dantian (three inches below the navel), then hold for 3-5 seconds. When exhaling, contract the abdomen, imagine qi rising from the dantian, passing through the lungs and throat, and exhaled through the nasal cavity to expel turbid qi from the body. Practice once every morning and evening to improve cardiopulmonary function, reduce blood pressure fluctuations, promote spleen-stomach transportation and transformation, and reduce phlegm-damp accumulation (assisting in lowering blood lipids).

– Advanced Breath Regulation (Months 13-18): Add introductory practice of the “Embryonic Breathing Method”. On the basis of qi-inhalation, gradually extend the breathing interval to achieve a state of “continuous inhalation and subtle exhalation”, imagine qi circulating in the body to nourish the five zang-organs and six fu-organs. The Embryonic Breathing Method can strengthen kidney essence (*Huangdi Neijing* emphasizes that “the kidney is the foundation of innate constitution”), improve kidney essence deficiency symptoms in diabetic patients, harmonize qi and blood, and enhance the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure and blood glucose. Practice must be conducted under the guidance of a Taoist doctor to avoid qi disorder caused by improper breathing.

3. Taoist Medical Physical Therapy and Acupuncture: Targeted Regulation and Dredging Meridians

Based on the *Huangdi Neijing* theory that “blocked meridians cause all diseases”, acupuncture and characteristic Taoist medical physical therapy are used to specifically dredge meridians, regulate zang-fu yin-yang, and assist in controlling the three highs.

– Acupuncture Regulation: Performed by professional Taoist acupuncturists, 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes each time. For hypertension: select acupoints such as Baihui (GV20), Fengchi (GB20), Taichong (LR3), Ganshu (BL18), Shenshu (BL23) to pacify liver yang and nourish kidney yin. For hyperglycemia: select acupoints such as Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), Yishu (EX-B3) to invigorate the spleen and kidney, and regulate islet function. For hyperlipidemia: select acupoints such as Fenglong (ST40), Xuehai (SP10), Zusanli (ST36), Quchi (LI11) to resolve phlegm and dampness, activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Avoid acupuncture on an empty stomach or when fatigued. If the patient has bleeding tendencies (such as taking anticoagulants), inform the physician in advance to adjust the physical therapy plan.

– Characteristic Taoist Medical Physical Therapy: Receive Wudang Taoist medical massage, moxibustion, and medicinal bath 1-2 times a month. Massage focuses on relaxing meridians and harmonizing qi and blood, with emphasis on massaging meridian nodes of the neck, shoulders, waist, back, and limbs to relieve limb numbness, lumbago and fatigue caused by the three highs. Moxibustion selects acupoints such as Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), Zusanli (ST36), Shenshu (BL23) to warm and tonify primordial qi, invigorate the spleen and kidney, which is suitable for patients with qi-deficiency or yang-deficiency constitution (avoid excessive moxibustion for patients with yin-deficiency constitution). Medicinal baths are boiled with local Chinese herbal medicines from Wudang Mountain (such as Eucommia ulmoides, Gastrodia elata, Pueraria lobata, Lonicera japonica, etc.), once a week. It regulates zang-fu organs through skin penetration and assists in lowering blood pressure and blood lipids. Control the water temperature at 38-40℃ and the time within 20 minutes to avoid sudden increases in blood pressure.

4. Dietary Therapy: Medicinal and Edible Homology, Seasonal Health Preservation

Follow the *Huangdi Neijing* principles of “moderation in diet and drinking” and “eating in accordance with the seasons”, combined with the Taoist concept of “medicinal and edible homology”. Focus on light, mild, and easily digestible foods, avoid high-oil, high-salt, and high-sugar foods, and specifically regulate the three highs.

– Daily Dietary Guidelines: Have three regular meals a day, eat until 70-80% full, and avoid overeating (which damages the spleen and stomach). Take coarse grains (millet, corn, oats, buckwheat) as the main staple food instead of refined rice and flour to slow down blood glucose rise. Eat more vegetables such as winter melon, celery, spinach, bitter gourd, and cucumber to clear heat and dampness, soothe the liver and lower blood pressure. Consume an appropriate amount of lean meat, fish, and black-bone chicken, avoid fatty meat and animal offal (to reduce blood lipid intake). Choose low-sugar fruits (grapefruit, kiwi, strawberry), with a daily intake not exceeding 200g, and avoid eating immediately after meals.

– Constitution-Targeted Dietary Therapy: For phlegm-damp constitution (hyperlipidemia, hypertension with obesity): eat more coix seed, adzuki bean, winter melon, and Chinese yam, cook coix seed and adzuki bean porridge to invigorate the spleen and resolve dampness. For yin-deficiency constitution (hypertension, diabetes with dry mouth and tongue): eat more tremella, lily bulb, wolfberry, and mulberry, stew tremella and lily soup to nourish yin fluid. For qi-deficiency constitution (diabetes with fatigue and shortness of breath): eat more astragalus root, codonopsis root, Chinese yam, and red dates, make tea with astragalus and codonopsis to replenish qi and invigorate the spleen. Meanwhile, drink Wudang Mountain spring water daily, drink less strong tea and coffee, and avoid alcohol.

– Seasonal Dietary Adjustment: In spring (nourishing the liver), eat more spinach, celery, and chrysanthemum to soothe the liver and regulate qi. In summer (nourishing the heart), eat more mung beans, lotus seeds, and watermelon (in moderation) to clear heat and nourish the heart. In autumn (nourishing the lungs), eat more pears, lily bulbs, and tremella to nourish yin and moisten the lungs. In winter (nourishing the kidneys), eat more radishes, Chinese cabbage, and a small amount of mutton to warm and tonify the kidneys, conforming to the seasonal changes of yin and yang.

5. Theoretical Guidance from *Huangdi Neijing*: Following Nature, Nourishing Zang-Fu Organs

With the core theories of *Huangdi Neijing* such as “nourishing yang in spring and summer, nourishing yin in autumn and winter” and “five zang-organs corresponding to the five elements”, integrate into daily health preservation. In spring, go to bed early and get up early, walk more in the mountains and forests to conform to liver qi ascension, and avoid emotional depression. In summer, go to bed late and get up early (no later than 11 PM), take an appropriate nap (within 30 minutes) to nourish the heart and soothe the nerves, avoid excessive cold (eat less cold drinks, use air conditioning less to prevent damaging spleen-stomach yang qi). In autumn, go to bed early and get up early, astringe lung qi, and avoid overwork and sorrow. In winter, go to bed early and get up late (after sunrise), keep warm, reduce the intensity of outdoor activities, nourish kidney essence, and avoid consuming yang qi. Meanwhile, follow the emotional nourishment principle of “anger harms the liver, joy harms the heart, overthinking harms the spleen, sorrow harms the lungs, fear harms the kidneys”, maintain a peaceful mind, and reduce zang-fu organ damage.

III. Late-Stage Consolidation: Harmony Between Man and Heaven Stage (Months 19-36)

At this stage, the symptoms of the three highs have been effectively controlled, and physical functions have been significantly improved. The core is to internalize health preservation methods into living habits, achieve a state of “harmony between man and the way, harmony between man and nature”, consolidate the regulation effect, and realize longevity.

1. Integrated Advancement of Qigong and Breath Regulation

Deeply integrate Wudang qigong with breath regulation, practice Wudang Tai Chi Sword once a day for 40 minutes. Guide qi with the sword and control the body with qi to further dredge meridians, harmonize qi and blood, and enhance physical coordination and immunity. For breath regulation, practice “Zhou Tian Breath Regulation” to guide qi circulation along the Conception Vessel and Governor Vessel, nourishing the whole body’s zang-fu organs, once a day for 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust the practice time according to seasonal changes: focus on morning practice in spring, morning and evening practice in summer, morning practice in autumn, and afternoon practice (when the sun is sufficient) in winter, conforming to the changes of natural yang qi.

2. Simplified Consolidation of Physical Therapy and Dietary Therapy

Adjust the frequency of acupuncture, massage and other physical therapies to once a month, as an auxiliary means of physical regulation, focusing on physical discomfort caused by seasonal changes (such as increased acupuncture once when blood pressure is prone to fluctuation in winter). In terms of dietary therapy, gradually get rid of the restriction of fixed recipes, adjust the diet according to personal taste under the principles of “light, mild, and seasonal”, maintain nutritional balance, and retain the health preservation habit of medicinal and edible homology (such as making tea with wolfberry and chrysanthemum daily, stewing Chinese yam and spareribs in winter), avoid returning to a high-oil, high-salt, and high-sugar diet.

3. Cultivating Temperament with Wudang Taoist Spirit: Unity of Body and Mind

Integrate the Wudang Taoist temperament cultivation concept of “governing by non-action”, reduce the obsession with deliberate health preservation. Achieve a state of “no distractions, clear body and mind” by copying Taoist classics (such as *Tao Te Ching* and *Huangdi Neijing*), tasting Wudang Taoist tea, and enjoying mountain scenery. Reserve 1 hour of alone time every day for sitting meditation and visualization, feel the integration of natural breath and physical qi and blood, and gradually achieve “harmony between man and heaven” — the body conforms to natural laws, qi and blood are harmonious, yin and yang are balanced, the three highs indicators are stably within the normal range, and zang-fu organs are strong, thus realizing longevity.

4. Long-Term Monitoring and Plan Fine-Tuning

Recheck the three highs indicators, liver and kidney functions every three months, and conduct a comprehensive physical examination every six months. Taoist doctors and TCM practitioners jointly evaluate the physical condition and fine-tune the health plan (such as adjusting qigong intensity and dietary direction after constitution changes). Even if the indicators are stable, retain basic monitoring habits to avoid condition recurrence caused by lifestyle fluctuations. Meanwhile, appropriately reduce qigong intensity, increase rest time, and focus on nourishing kidney essence and qi and blood according to age growth (such as elderly patients).

IV. Taboos and Precautions

1. This plan is only applicable to patients with stable three highs and no severe complications (such as acute myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, renal failure). Patients in critical condition should first receive Western medical treatment and consider this plan after the condition stabilizes.

2. All health preservation methods must be carried out under the guidance of professional Taoist doctors, TCM practitioners, and Wudang qigong inheritors. Blind practice by self-imitation is strictly prohibited to avoid risks such as qi disorder, joint injury, and sudden increase in blood pressure.

3. Strictly abide by work-rest and dietary guidelines, avoid bad habits such as smoking, drinking, staying up late, and overwork, otherwise, the regulation effect will be offset and the condition will worsen.

4. If dizziness, palpitations, chest tightness, sudden increase in blood glucose/blood pressure or other discomfort occur during health preservation, immediately stop practicing, seek medical attention in time, and resume after adjusting the plan.

5. Maintain patience. The three highs are chronic diseases, and Taoist health preservation regulation is a gradual process. It takes more than one year to see significant effects. Do not rush for success or give up halfway.

The core of Wudang Mountain’s health preservation wisdom is “following nature and nourishing the true self”. By long-term practice of this plan, patients with the three highs can nourish the body through qigong, nourish qi through breath regulation, nourish zang-fu organs through dietary therapy, regulate meridians through Taoist medicine, and nourish peace through temperament cultivation. Gradually achieve qi-blood harmony and yin-yang balance, not only effectively control the symptoms of the three highs, but also reach the life state of “harmony between man and heaven”, realizing longevity and physical and mental health.