By prevention is meant taking certain measures to avoid the occurrence and progress of diseases. TCM has always attached great importance to prevention. As early as in Huangdi's Classic on Medicine, the preventive thought of "preventive treatment of diseascs" was advanced. This theory involves two aspects: preventive treatment before the occurrence of diseases and preventing deterioration after the occurrence of diseases. Basic Questions states: "Wise men always give the preventive treatment before a disease occurs and prevent adisturbance before it starts". Not taking medicine until a disease comes on or not preventing adisturbance until it starts is no different from not digging 8 well until one is thirsty or not making weapons until a batte starts. Isn't that be too late?" After liberation, our government put forward: "put prevention first". It is one of the four great policies of the medical and health work of China. And it is also a principle of preventing the occurrence and the progression of & disease in TCM.

1. Preventive Treatment o{ Disease

It refers to taking various measures to prevent diseases from occurring. The occurrence of a disease is related to both pathogenic factors and vital qi. The former is the important condition for the occurrence of a disease, while the deficiency of the latter is the intrinsic factor for the occurrence of a disease. Therefore preventive treatment of a disease must start with both strengthening the resistance inside the body and preventing pathogens from invading the human body. Basic Questions States:"The body with vital qi is never attacked by pathogenic factors." To prevent the disease from occurring the following preventive measures must be taken.

(1) Strengtbening Vital Qi's Capacity to Reslst Pathogens

a. Regulating Mental Activities to Maintain the Health

b. Keeping regular hours

с. Keeping proper diet

d. Doing regular physical exercises

e. Using drug prophylaxis and providing artificial immunization

(2) Defcoding the body ggainst pathogens

a. Keeping away from six exogenous pathogens and pestilence

b. Avoiding various infectious discases and trauma

c. Developing hygienic babits and preventing environmental pollution, as well as water and food contamination

2. Preventing the deterioration of disease

Though prevention prior to the occurrence of a disease is the best policy, timely diagnosis and effective treatment to control the deterioration of disease is also important. Therefore, once a disease occurs, it should be early treated so as to cure it in its initial stage. Ye Tianshi, a farnous practitioner of the Qing Dynasty, advised: "Be sure to treat the parts which the pathogens have not involved yet." This is also an important method of preventing the disease from further deteriorating.

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