The 14 secrets of longevity of the Qing Dynasty Emperor, Qian Long, cover all aspects of living a long and healthy life. This book offers Qian Long's sage advice on the role of diet, exercise, relaxation, emotions, sex, and environment in achieving long life and good health. This traditional Chinese medical theory includes self-massage, stretching, and qi gong exercise as well as how to use Chinese tonic herbs. "This book reveals the fourteen secrets of longevity written by Qian Long, the fourth Manchu emperor, who reigned for sixty years Qian Long's secrets are surprisingly simple. Many resemble the advise of our doctors, alternative health practitioners, parents, and grandparents. They are about restraint and moderation with a special Chinese twist." -- Whole Earth Review, Spring, 1995, p. 84 I wrote this book to try and bring some common sense to the Western arena of health and longevity. Every few months someone discovers a new diet or regimen that is supposed to be the panacea for everyone's ills. However, Chinese medicine is the oldest, continuously professionally practiced, literate, secular medicine in the world today. The wisdom of Chinese medicine has been honed and tested by more than 100 generations of highly educated professional practitioners. What is called nourishing life or longevity practices have always been a very important aspect of Chinese medicine, and I wanted to present what I have found to be the core essence of those teachings and practices, without undue mysticism or naive romanticism. This book discusses the 14 secrets of longevity of the Qing dynasty emperor, Qian Long, who held one of the longest reigns of any monarch in Chinese history. Qian Long ruled for 60 years and only stepped down from the throne so as not to surpass his grandfather Kang Xi's 61 year reign. When understood properly, these 14 secrets cover all aspects of a healthy life. Now Western readers can share Qian Long's pragmatic and common sense wisdom on how to live a long and healthy life. Topics covered include: a regular lifestyle; a healthy, moderate diet; regular rest and exercise; choosing a healthy place to live; pacing one's sexual activity; self-massage and stretching; special qi gong exercises; using Chinese tonic herbs; and treating disease early and without side effects. Bob Flaws, Dipl. Ac. & C.H., is one of the most famous Western doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the world today. An internationally known author and lecturer on Chinese medicine, Bob Flaws has been practicing and teaching qi gong and Asian longevity practices for 25 years. His other credits include writing, translating, and editing more than 75 books and scores of articles on all aspects of Chinese medicine, being a Governor & Fellow of the National Academy of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, a founder, past president, and Lifetime Fellow of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado, a Fellow of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (UK), and a founder of the Council of Oriental Medical Publishers and the National Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Alliance. In the Lao Lao Heng Yan (Perennial Saying in Gerontology), it is said, "Sexual desire of men and women is like the dao of yin and yang in nature." This means that sexual desire in men and women is perfectly natural and of itself neither good nor bad. According to Chinese medical theory, either too much or too little sex can be harmful to the health. Ge Hong (281-341 AD), a famous Jin dynasty doctor and Daoist adept, summed this up nicely in his Nei Pian (Inner Writing): It is not all right for humans to sever their sexual desire. Yin and Yang (can then) not communicate. This will lead to diseases due to accumulation and stagnation. Those who suffer from diseases due to bitterness hidden in their mind (in turn) due to protracted suppression of their sexual desire will experience short life. (However,) indulgence in sex will (also) result in failure to enjoy longevity. Only temperance in sexual activities can keep humans healthy in body and mind. Used Book in Good Condition