Chinese Medical Perspectives on Longevity: Bridging Ancient Insights on Lifespan and Healthspan with Modern Research into IL-11

Abstract

This article examines the Chinese medical perspectives on longevity through the lens of jīng, the vital essence central to health and ageing, and connects these ancient insights with emerging biomedical research on Interleukin-11 (IL-11). jīng, a foundational concept in Chinese medicine, is viewed as the source of life’s vitality, governing growth, reproduction, and the ageing process. Recent studies identify IL-11 as a biomolecular factor linked to age-related disease and degeneration, suggesting that elevated IL-11 contributes to senescence, fibrosis, and chronic illnesses in mature adults. By correlating IL-11’s biological roles with the functions of jīng, this article proposes that managing IL-11 levels could enhance both healthspan and lifespan. Traditional Chinese practices—such as dietary therapy, acupuncture, qìgōng, tàijíquán, and botanical supplementation—are explored for their potential to inhibit IL-11 activity, thereby preserving jīng and mitigating age-related decline. The article ultimately advocates for an integrative model, where modern biomedical findings on IL-11 enhance the practice of Chinese medicine to offer more comprehensive longevity strategies.

Keywords

Jing, essence, longevity, Chinese medicine, Interleukin-11, IL-11, acupuncture, herbal medicine, Yang Sheng, healthspan, lifespan

“When life begins, we are tender and weak. When life ends, we are stiff and rigid. All things, including the grass and trees, are soft and pliable in life, dry and brittle in death. So the soft and supple are the companions of life, while the stiff and unyielding are the companions of death.” dàodéjīng (道德经, The Classic of the Virtue of the Tao), verse 76 [74]

Introduction

Longevity, encompassing both lifespan and healthspan, is a central concern in Chinese medicine, which offers a holistic framework rooted in harmony, balance, and the preservation of vitality. At the heart of this framework is the concept of jīng (精), often described as the “vital essence” that underpins growth, reproduction, and the ageing process. This article examines how traditional insights into jīng align with modern biomedical research, particularly on Interleukin-11 (IL-11), a cytokine implicated in age-related degeneration and chronic diseases.

While jīng represents the foundation of vitality in Chinese medicine, modern science has identified IL-11 as a biomolecular driver of processes such as fibrosis, sclerosis, and cellular ageing. This dual perspective allows for a fascinating integration: ancient practices aimed at preserving jīng—including diet, acupuncture, qìgōng, and botanical supplementation—may also serve to regulate IL-11 activity. This article explores how managing IL-11 levels through both traditional and emerging approaches can enhance healthspan and lifespan, offering a synergistic model that bridges ancient wisdom and contemporary science in the pursuit of longevity.

The Concept of jīng

jīng is considered the most fundamental substance of life. As the basis for all the physiological functions and structures in the body, jīng is responsible for growth, development, repair, reproduction, and overall vitality. It is considered finite and is said to be stored in the kidney system, acting as a reservoir of energy that gives and sustains life. When depleted, illness and death occur.

The functions of jīng, its fundamental importance and the effects of its depletion are discussed at length in classical medical texts such as the Huángdì Nèijīng Sùwèn (黄帝内经素問, Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic of Simple Questions) and its commentaries. Chapter one, in describing the relationship between jīng, longevity and lifestyle, states that  “the people of high antiquity, those who knew the way … their lifespan exceeded one hundred years before they departed. The fact that people today are different is because … (through their desires) they exhaust their jīng … hence, it is [only] one half of a hundred [years] and they weaken” [70].

The chapter goes on to describe the natural ageing process of the “people today”, including a late stage phase of aging for men, which explains “With seven times eight (56 years), the qi in the liver weakens; the sinews can no longer move. The heaven guǐ is exhausted {the [remaining] jīng is diminished} the kidney depot is weak and the physical body is completely exhausted” [71].

The Tang dynasty scholar, Wáng Bīng, commenting on the discussion regarding longevity and its relationship to lifestyle, concludes: “If one follows the way in all honesty and if, therefore, the essence is kept inside, no evil qi is able to cause harm” [72].

The Nèijīng therefore identifies jīng as a vital internal substance which can confer health and long life if preserved; however once jīng is exhausted, individuals become susceptible to illness, functional decline, and a shortened lifespan.

Functions of jīng

jīng plays several vital roles in maintaining health and well-being:

jīng therefore determines both our lifespan and healthspan. When jīng is weak, fertility and growth are disturbed, healthspan decreases, and lifespan is shortened. When jīng is strong, individuals not only live longer but also enjoy more years of fertility and good health, which is why it is associated with longevity.

Interleukin-11 : A Biomolecular Component of jīng?

Chinese medicine, with its holistic emphasis on recovery, balance and prevention, offers valuable insights into health and wellness. However, it can be beneficial to adopt new medical discoveries and integrate the advances of modern medicine when appropriate. In the context of longevity, adapting the results of clinical trials and molecular studies to the Chinese medical paradigm allows us to potentially improve our understanding of jīng and develop new therapeutic strategies that bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary science.

In December of 2023, a research paper published in Biochemical Journal provided insights into the essential role that Interleukin-11 (IL-11) played in almost every age-related and degenerative illness, including cancer [1].

IL-11 is a fibrogenic (fibrous tissue producing) molecule, called a cytokine, which is produced by the body. In fertility and childhood, IL-11 plays a vital role in growth and development, but in mature adults, its fibrogenic properties become detrimental; it triggers sclerosis (hardening), fibrosis (scarring), and senescence (functional decline of tissues and organs) [1].

IL-11 production increases consistently and at an accelerated rate as humans age, spiking sharply in conditions of inflammation, stress, injury, cell damage, infection and disease. IL-11 triggers significant health issues in mature adults when levels remain high for long periods of time.

The effects of elevated IL-11 levels is of interest when we compare it to further commentaries of the Nèijīng. Scholar Hú TiānXióng, in his commentary on Chapter 43, states “When the jīng Qì of the five depots (viscera) wastes away and perishes, evil Qì takes advantage of this depletion and enters (the five depots). Hence, this results in blocks in the five depots” [73].

Depletion of jīng, therefore, not only brings exhaustion and functional decline—characteristic of senescence—but also causes blockages in the organs and tissues, which are characteristic of biomedical conditions such as fibrosis and sclerosis.

The Detrimental Effects of IL-11

Although IL-11 has a proven critical role in many diseases, its role varies depending on whether or not the disease is one of fertility, childhood development, or longevity.

Although IL-11’s role in gamete fertility and childhood development is different compared to its role in ageing, IL-11’s pivotal role in all three health categories correlates strongly to the quality of jīng and its functions as described by Chinese medicine.

Since a robust jīng is said to allow for healthy growth, reproduction, efficient healing and a slowing of the ageing process, IL-11 levels that are high in childhood and reproduction but low or absent in adulthood correspond to a strong, sustained jīng [1, 13, 76]. Similarly, low levels of IL-11 in childhood and reproduction, and high levels of IL-11 in mature adults correspond to a damaged, weakened jīng [1, 13, 76].

Therefore, in the context of ageing, minimizing IL-11 levels in adulthood is a reasonable goal to include in a holistic medical strategy of maximizing jīng & longevity.

The “SuperModel Granny Drug”

On July 17th, 2024, a paper came out in the journal Nature in which researchers described how they were able to increase both the lifespan and healthspan of mice by 20-25% through the outright inhibition of IL-11, with the potential for even greater extension of both [2].

By injecting 75 week old mice (equivalent to 58 year old humans) with X203 (an IL-11 antibody) for 25 weeks, researchers were able to improve, restore and rejuvenate their physiology. Muscle mass improved, metabolism improved, white adipose tissue diminished, nerve function and cognition improved, and there was improved organ function across the board. At the end of treatment, the mice had biomarkers equivalent to or even BETTER than they had at the start of the study, including ample, lustrous, shiny fur [2]. This prompted the research team to call their IL-11 inhibitor the “Supermodel Granny Drug”. 

At the very end of the study, researchers found that the mice that had received the IL-11 inhibitor had significantly extended lifespans and healthspans. Whereas the control group lived to an average of 121 weeks (94 year equivalent), the anti-IL-11 treated mice lived to an average of 155.6 weeks (121 year equivalent). Furthermore, in the control group, 61% of the mice had tumors at the time of their death, while in the anti-IL11 treated group, only 16% of mice had tumors [2].

Overall, the research demonstrated the pivotal role of elevated IL-11 in major disease categories and age-related system wide degeneration, as well as its complete inhibition seemingly causing no detrimental side effects in mature mammals [1, 2], thus enhancing its usefulness as a target in therapies designed to extend longevity.

Assessing the role of Chinese medical Longevity practices on IL-11 Levels in Mature Adults

The IL-11 inhibiting drug that the researchers used in the Nature article is not yet suitable for human use. It may be decades before a drug approved for human use becomes available, and it will probably be very costly.

However, Chinese medicine’s diverse and holistic longevity practices encompass a wide range of accessible approaches and disciplines aimed at preserving jīng, improving healthspan and maximizing lifespan.

Armed with the knowledge of IL-11’s role in lifespan and healthspan degeneration, and its strong correlation to jīng, it is worth examining the traditional Chinese medical longevity practices of jīng preservation to see whether or not they may have an impact on IL-11 levels. In order to do so, we must first examine the factors that increase IL-11.

Traditional jīng-centric Practices that enhance longevity

Strategies intended to minimize the loss of jīng can be divided into two categories: preventative lifestyle strategies and medical strategies. By comparing these practices to the IL-11 producing factors outlined above, we can begin to assess the effect of jīng retention strategies on IL-11 levels and possibly identify new strategies.   

yǎngshēngfǎ: Preventative Lifestyle Strategies

Preventative lifestyle strategies, known as yǎngshēngfǎ (养生法, life nourishing methods), feature prominently in Chinese medicine. They encompass a diverse group of practices that are meant to be followed and adhered to by the individual in order to protect their healthspan and lifespan.

Interventional Medical Strategies

Occasionally, preventative practices are not enough to avoid external illness or injury. In cases where an injury occurs or an illness appears, it is important to medically tend to the condition immediately. Seeking medical care as soon as possible for a sudden illness or injury ensures that the medical problem, with its associated IL-11 producing variables such as stress and inflammation, will be as brief as possible. This ensures that IL-11 levels will increase as little as possible and have as minimal an impact on jīng, healthspan and lifespan as possible.

For those already living with chronic diseases, effective management is key. This includes adherence to treatment plans, regular monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments to minimize the both the impact of these conditions on daily life and on levels of IL-11.

Overall, by viewing the Chinese medical longevity practices through the lens of their impact on IL-11 production, it becomes apparent that the practices all contribute to reducing lifestyle and disease variables which promote increased levels of IL-11. Based on the ability of these practices to minimize the production of IL-11 alone, it appears that individuals who adhere to the longevity practices of Chinese medicine will experience a longer lifespan and healthspan than individuals who do not.

That said, none of the recommended practices address the consistent increase of IL-11 with age. The goal, then, is to find ways that the age-related increase in IL-11 production can be inhibited within the scope of practice of Chinese medicine.

Securing jīng by Inhibiting IL-11 through wàidān: Botanical supplements

wàidān (外丹, external alchemy) is an ancient Chinese practice aimed at achieving longevity and immortality through the consumption of elixirs made from herbs, minerals, and metals. The practice was rooted in the belief that ingesting these substances could extend life, enhance vitality, and even grant eternal life. However, the practice was fraught with dangers, as exemplified by the case of Emperor Qín Shǐ Huáng, who sought eternal life through cinnabar-based elixirs, only to die prematurely from mercury poisoning [69].

Despite its risks, the underlying goal of wàidān—to preserve life by fortifying jīng through external supplementation — has remained central to Chinese medicine, though it has evolved to focus on yǎngshēngfǎ and the ingestion of safer substances.

In this spirit, the contemporary exploration of botanical supplements through the lens of IL-11 inhibition represents a unique and previously unexplored extension of the wàidān philosophy, offering a novel way to protect jīng and promote both healthspan and lifespan.

The following natural compounds are emerging as powerful inhibitors of IL-11. Some are found primarily in herbs, whilst others are also abundant in certain foods. Examining the main herbal sources of each compound through a Chinese medical therapeutic lens can provide insights into whether or not the IL-11 inhibiting effects of the compounds were noticed in antiquity. However, regardless of their traditional usage, the herbs and foods listed below contain compounds that definitively inhibit IL-11 and can therefore be considered to enhance jīng and slow the ageing process.

These botanical compounds mark an exciting development in Chinese medical longevity cultivation. By specifically targeting IL-11, these natural substances offer a safe, innovative extension of the wàidān tradition, presenting a practical, scientifically-backed strategy for enhancing jīng, prolonging healthspan, and mitigating the effects of ageing.

Discussion

In exploring the overlap between Chinese medical approaches to longevity and contemporary insights into Interleukin-11 (IL-11), this analysis illuminates how traditional practices aimed at preserving jīng align with the modern discovery of IL-11’s detrimental effects. While both yǎngshēngfǎ and Chinese medical intervention can reduce the sclerotic and fibrogenic effects of IL-11 related to unhealthy lifestyles, accidents and diseases, they unfortunately do not address the heightened increase of IL-11 production that is associated with ageing. However, Adopting a wàidān approach to IL-11 inhibition allows us to overcome this difficulty.

Contemporary wàidān longevity practices designed to inhibit IL-11 resemble a supplementation regimen. The daily combined administration of compounds such as lutein, osthole, and omega-3 fatty acids in doses that are both safe and therapeutically appropriate allows us to expand and refine the longevity practices of wàidān. By inhibiting IL-11, these compounds can work synergistically toward protecting jīng by reducing sclerosis, fibrosis, and other age-related degenerative processes attributed to IL-11. Furthermore, their routine consumption aligns with the idea of maintaining healthspan as an ongoing practice rather than as an intervention for acute conditions. In this way, the daily use of IL-11 inhibitors complements the preventative, holistic nature of Chinese medicine, which emphasizes consistent prevention and care over time to cultivate longevity.

Traditional literature [58, 59] on some of the herbs listed in table 6 warns against long-term usage due to their toxicity. While we could find no definitive toxicity profiles for the herbs, toxicity profiles and recommended therapeutically effective doses of the botanical compounds listed in table 6 do exist. This is fortuitous, since the thrust of this article is to advocate for the daily supplementation of the table 6 compounds, not necessarily the herbs themselves.

Thus, by acquiring and applying refined extracts of the above botanicals at the recommended daily  therapeutic dosages, we can both benefit from their effects whilst eliminating much of the risk associated with the herbs that contain them. Refined extracts have the advantage of precisely calculable dosage, overcoming one of the challenges that raw herbs face with regards to safe consumption. Botanical compound concentrations in raw herbs can vary widely, even from plant to plant. Moreover, the raw herbs listed in table 6 contain multiple other compounds whose toxicity profiles may also render the herb unsuitable for long term consumption.

Nevertheless, even with knowledge of safe, long-term dosage, the suitability of these IL-11-inhibiting compounds varies according to individual needs. Chinese medicine recognizes that each individual possesses a unique constitution, influenced by factors such as age, health status, and even environmental conditions. For instance, individuals with weak kidney yáng or cold patterns may benefit from higher doses of warming herbs, whilst individuals exhibiting signs of heat or weak Kidney yīn may benefit from higher doses of cooling herbs. Although the botanical compounds themselves have no Chinese medical classification with regards to yīn, yáng, hot or cold, it is worth noting that the nature of the herbs containing the compounds can help us understand the compound nature. Lutein is found in herbs that are cold, as well as in most green dark leafy vegetables, which are generally cool or cold in nature; OM3FAs are found in food sources that are generally neutral in nature; and Osthole, Micheliolide and Allicin are found in Herbs that are warm or hot. We can therefore use these associations as an entry point to help us adjust dosages as needed, depending on the constitution of the individual.

This personalized approach underscores the adaptability of wàidān practices, where selecting botanical compounds with IL-11-inhibiting properties is not a one-size-fits-all method but rather a tailored strategy that takes into account an individual’s specific constitution and health goals. From this perspective, IL-11 inhibiting wàidān practices can do more than merely inhibit IL-11; they can integrate with each individual’s overall health profile to promote optimal longevity in a balanced manner.

Conclusion

Chinese medicine’s holistic approach to longevity through the preservation of jīng, the vital essence that influences both lifespan and healthspan, is complemented by modern research on Interleukin-11 (IL-11), which is linked to ageing and disease. In addition to showing that traditional practices like diet, qìgōng, and acupuncture are able to limit the effects of disease and lifestyle on IL-11 production and jīng depletion, we have also shown how accessible natural inhibitors like Lutein and Omega-3 provide a compelling model to support longevity through safe, individualized modern wàidān supplementation, directly targeting IL-11 and its effects. By combining ancient wisdom with scientific advances, Chinese medicine can offer meaningful contributions to modern longevity science and provide ever more effective strategies for extending healthy, vibrant life.

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