Teacher and philosopher Dr. Mao Ni, a 38th generation doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, talks about his latest book, Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100.

You have one of the most important centers for traditional Chinese medicine in the country, Tao of Wellness. How did you begin your career? You can say that I was born into it. My father sat my brother and me down, and said, “We come from a long line of medical doctors, and one of you will carry on this tradition.”

My brother, Dao [now the co-founder of the center and a fertility specialist], was the older one. He began his training, and I was a tag-along.

The turning point came for me at 6 years old, when I fell from the roof of our three-story house. I was in a coma for about a month. It was from my father’s daily care that I gradually regained my health.

How did this change you? I really tasted the firsthand value of Chinese medicine. I, too, got acupuncture treatments every day. I too, took those really bad tasting herbs.

I had to study and train in martial arts, tai qi, qi gong, the meditations, and all of that. It was through personal experience I decided I was going to become a doctor of Chinese medicine.

What was the inspiration behind your book? As a post-graduate student in Shanghai, I met several centenarians. They were so impressively vital and healthy that I decided to follow and interview them.

From there, I began my 20-year research, which culminated in my book, Secrets of Longevity. I pored through all the archives of Chinese medicine – which has a rich tradition in how to maintain health and vitality, and how to live a long life. [source: C Style]