Myth has it that the Chinese Emperor Huangdi wrote The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine (aka The Huangdi Neijing) around 2600 BC. The reality is that this Chinese Medicine (CM) reference book was more likely to have been written many centuries later, around 300 BC.
Either way, that's a long time ago, and you might well be wondering why on earth you should care about a book that’s at least 2500 years old. Stay with me.
Huangdi offers a framework for studying women’s reproductive lives, where bodies and minds go through a distinct phase of development every 7 years. This is a fundamental concept that can help us better understand ourselves and our health - and there are some surprising consistencies with contemporary experiences.
One quick note though: some things have changed—the average age of first menstruation is closer to 12 than 14 these days and life expectancy has increased dramatically.
Here’s an overview of the cycles:
The 7 Year Cycles
Ages 0-7: Laying a strong foundation
This phase is characterised by growth, exploration and learning, with children developing physically, emotionally and mentally. Of course, a female’s reproductive organs start to develop at this age. In these younger years, it’s all about establishing strong roots. It’s important to eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet to help prepare the body for the journey ahead.
Ages 7-14: Menarche
Menstruation begins! The adolescence '“fire” phase is a time to encourage physical activity to help move energy smoothly throughout the body—and there’s a lot of energy around this phase of life. These years are characterised by emotions (don’t we know it!). There are big feelings and big changes happening. You’re learning to understand your body and the world around you.
Ages 14-21: Finding balance
Things start to even out around 21, energy-wise. This is a great time to shift from the physical focus of the previous cycle and begin to cultivate spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga or qigong. These years are about feeling secure in oneself, forming platonic and romantic relationships, exploring sexuality and supporting hormonal health.
Ages 21-28: Peak condition
These years are your reproductive system’s pinnacle. It’s important to maintain bodily strength during these child-rearing years with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
These “metal” years are the years of peak vitality, according to Huangdi.
Ages 28-35: Gradual decline in fertility
This cycle is the beginning of a gradual decline of the reproductive system (it’s not a cliff!). Activities and foods that support your health, such as a daily bone broth, can really help to enrich the body’s vital substances of qi/energy.
Ages 35-41: Perimenopause
Fertility continues to decline through this cycle. It’s important to continue or develop a movement routine such as yoga or tai chi that helps to keep the body strong and flexible. The knowledge and experiences you’ve gained may lead you to become a leader or teacher in your community (again, sounds familiar, right?).
Ages 41-49: Menopause
By age 49, fertility has usually ceased (although in today’s world, this is not a given). This cycle is beautifully described as a ‘second spring’, as with the end of menstruation, you enter a new period of wisdom and understanding. A rebirth of sorts.
How you can support the cycles
While there are specific foods or movements that are beneficial to each cycle, there are also general rules that will improve conditions for everyone, regardless of age. Women, listen up!
Things like:
Stress reduction
Try developing a meditation or mindfulness practice
Nourishing foods
Soups
Fresh herbs
Whole grains
Organic chicken
Root vegetables
Squash
Dates
Garlic
Gentle exercise (overexertion drains energy–the absolute opposite of what we’re going for)
Yoga
Tai chi
Qigong
Acupuncture and herbs (of course!)
The important thing to remember is that these cycles are just guidelines—they offer a framework to study women’s reproductive rules, but they aren’t hard rules. Always listen to your body.
If you’d like to talk more about how CM can help, whichever cycle you’re in, I’d love to help. At all stages of women’s health, from periods, trying to conceive, to perimenopause or beyond, You’re not alone on this journey. x
Sources:
1. Maciocia, G. (2015). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. Churchill Livingstone.
2. Kaptchuk, T. J. (2000). The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. McGraw-Hill.
3. Unschuld, P. U. (2016). Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: An Annotated Translation of Huang Di's Inner Classic - Basic Questions. University of California Press.
4. Wu, J., & Fischer, W. (1996). Chinese Medicine. Basic Books.
5. Flaws, B. (2011). Chinese Medical Psychiatry: A Textbook and Clinical Manual. Blue Poppy Press.