In ancient times, King Wei Wenhou once asked the famed physician Bian Que, amongst him and his two physician brothers, which one of them possessed the greatest medical skill. Bian Que responded that his eldest brother was the most skilled, followed by the second brother, and then himself. Curious, Wei Wenhou asked for an explanation.

Bian Que explained: “My eldest brother excels in preventing illnesses before they manifest, ensuring people remain unaware of the dangers they have escaped. Consequently, his reputation does not spread widely. My second brother intervenes early at the onset of illness, often treating minor ailments. As for me, I specialize in curing severe illnesses using dramatic treatments like acupuncture or potent remedies. This has garnered me great renown worldwide.”

King Wei Wenhou nodded in understanding and remarked, “Impressive!”

This tale, extracted from the historical text Heguanzi, beautifully illustrates the principle that prevention of illness is the mark of the finest physician. As stated in the ancient Suwen: The Great Treatise on the Four Qi and the Regulating Spirit：“The wise do not treat the disease that has already manifested, but rather the one that has not yet occurred. They do not correct the chaos that has already formed but prevent it from arising. Treating an illness after its onset is like digging a well when one is thirsty or forging weapons when already at war. Is it not too late?”

This wisdom remains relevant today, emphasizing the importance of prevention and early intervention in modern healthcare. Seeking medical attention only after a disease has progressed to an advanced stage is too late. Therefore, I frequently conduct seminars introducing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) methods of disease prevention. I teach patients ways to reduce reliance on medical visits by encouraging them to learn how to maintain a balanced diet, apply self-massage, and practice regular exercise like Tai Chi.