Introduction
Author's Preface
The Millennia-Old Practice of Internal Cleansing
As a child, our family followed two key practices: daily bowel movements and a "full gut detox" performed weekly or monthly. We understood that retained waste in the colon could lead to many health issues, particularly for seniors over 60, whose digestive systems slow with age.
The "full gut detox," much like cleaning our home before the Lunar New Year to welcome good fortune, cleanses the body, promoting longevity and vitality. These practices have been passed down through four generations in our family.
The inspiration for this book came in 2023 after the publication of Following the Recipes of Ancient Practitioners. This work transformed 50 medical formulas from the classic Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders (Shang Han Lun) by Zhang Zhongjing into easy-to-make recipes. As I revisited the text, I was particularly struck by the 248th formula, "Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang," a digestive-cleansing prescription. It made me realize that, alongside promoting healthy eating, I
also needed to share the "Inner Cleansing" method my mother, Dr. Chuang Shu Chi, and I have developed. By addressing both nourishment and detoxification, we hope to help others achieve true, optimal health.