Hua Tuo has a secret that even Cao Cao doesn't know

Wuqinxi is one of the traditional fitness techniques, which is said to have been created by the ancient famous doctor Hua Tuo. After observing many animals, Hua Tuo imitated the shapes and expressions of five animals: tiger, deer, ape, bear and bird, to achieve the purpose of stretching muscles and bones and unblocking meridians. Traditional fitness methods such as Tai Chi that are popular today originated from the Five Animal Exercises created by Hua Tuo.

According to the "Five Elements Theory" of traditional Chinese medicine, imitating the movements of five animals such as a tiger is closely related to the five internal organs of the human body. Modern medical research has also proved that the Five Animal Exercises not only stretches the muscles and joints of the human body, but also helps to improve lung and heart function, improve myocardial oxygen supply, and achieve the purpose of strengthening the body and prolonging life.

[Story origin] Hua Tuo was the first to explain sports health care

According to legend, when Hua Tuo was young, he went up the mountain to collect herbs. When he climbed halfway up the mountain, he found a cave. He was very curious and wanted to go in to take a look. Suddenly, he heard people in the cave talking about medicine and philosophy, and they also mentioned Hua Tuo. He was startled and was about to turn around and leave. At this time, the people in the cave shouted, "Hua Tuo is here, why not come in and have a chat!" Hua Tuo had no choice but to go in, and it turned out that they were two immortals with white hair and long beards. They taught Hua Tuo many wonderful medical skills, and also gave him a set of fitness exercises: imitating the postures of tigers, deer, monkeys, bears, and birds to exercise, which is the famous Five Animal Exercises. After Hua Tuo came down the mountain, he followed the teachings and made the Five Animal Exercises play a huge role in preventing and curing diseases.

Hua Tuo believed that "if one feels unwell in the body, one should get up and do the dance of an animal, which will make one feel happy and sweat...they will feel light and want to eat." This is the earliest theoretical explanation of how humans use medical sports to treat diseases.

Modern medicine has also proven that Wuqinxi is an effective form of exercise that can improve the function of the nervous system, enhance the inhibitory and regulatory functions of the brain, and facilitate the repair and regeneration of nerve cells; it can improve lung and heart function, improve myocardial oxygen supply, and improve cardiac blood discharge function. It can also enhance gastrointestinal activity and secretory function, promote digestion and absorption, and provide nutrients for the body's activities.

[Related Tips] After conducting a serious study and research on Wuqinxi, Swedish sports science scholar Bo Gates pointed out: "China is the first country in the world to use exercise for medical care. This is an honor for Chinese studies and a great contribution of Chinese medicine to the people of the world."

[Action Essentials] "Flutter, Run, Pick and Fly" strengthens the body and cures diseases

Tiger play. Tiger belongs to the water element and governs the kidneys. Imitating the tiger's movements such as glaring, flapping its forelimbs, and agitating its whole body can strengthen the kidneys, expand the lung qi, and have a effect of strengthening the kidneys and waist, strengthening bones and marrow. It can also unclog the Du meridian and remove wind evil. Tiger play consists of two movements: tiger raising and tiger pouncing.

Deer play. Deer belongs to the wood element and governs the liver. Imitating the movement of a deer that always squints when using its eyes can soothe the liver and promote ventilation. Deer are taken advantage of for their longevity and spirituality, and their ability to move the tailbone, which is the meeting point of the Ren and Du meridians. When deer play and focus on the tailbone, they can guide qi to circulate throughout the body, unblocking the meridians, promoting blood circulation, and stretching the muscles and bones. Deer play consists of two movements: deer approaching and deer running.

Bear play. Bear belongs to the earth element and governs the spleen and stomach. Although the bear's body appears clumsy on the surface, it is actually full of steady and strong strength inside. It is quiet on the outside but moving on the inside, and focuses the mind on the central palace (inside the navel) to harmonize Qi and blood. Playing with bears can make the mind empty and quiet, the mind and Qi in harmony, and the true Qi flow through the body, which has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach. The bear act consists of two movements: bear movement and bear shaking.

Monkey show. Monkeys belong to the element of fire and control the heart. Monkeys are alert and flexible, and they are active and restless. Practicing monkey exercises is to train the flexibility of the limbs externally and to suppress the mental activities internally, so as to achieve the goal of clear mind, light body and strong body. Monkey exercises nourish the heart and brain, make people's minds flexible and strengthen memory. Monkey performance consists of two actions: monkey lifting and monkey picking.

Crane play is also called bird play. Crane belongs to the metal element and governs the lungs. The crane's movements are light and stretching. The crane's stretching movements increase lung capacity. The crane's flying movements increase cardiopulmonary function. The crane's plays harmonize breathing, dredge meridians, and enhance the heart, brain and whole body functions. Crane performance consists of two movements: crane stretching and crane flying.

[Related Tips] The Five Animal Exercises have developed into three types during its continuous development: External Kung Fu type, which is performed in the form of gymnastics, mainly imitating the movements of the Five Animal Exercises, and focusing on practicing the "external" aspects. The internal power type is to generate internal Qi circulation during exercise and induce external power. It focuses on practicing "internal Qi" and induces external power based on the circulation of internal Qi. The combination of internal and external skills is to perform exercises based on the movements of the Five Animal Exercises in conjunction with the breathing of Qigong. It emphasizes breathing regulation, and combines movements with breathing in exercises, combining movement and stillness. All three methods have the effects of health care, strengthening the body and curing diseases.

【Application】Promote disease recovery and prolong life

The rehabilitation treatment of stroke patients using Wuqinxi has a good effect and is mainly used for patients in the sequelae period and the recovery period when the condition is relatively stable, with symptoms such as hemiplegia, slow movement, unsteady gait, numbness of the skin, muscle atrophy, etc. Scientific application can improve patients' balance ability, improve the above-mentioned symptoms, and also improve other accompanying symptoms to varying degrees.

It is used for arthritis, which is mainly manifested by bone and joint pain, numbness, and difficulty in movement. It is mainly seen in rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic arthritis, bone hyperplasia, etc.

Used as an auxiliary treatment for certain diseases, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, insomnia, etc.

Of course, the health-preserving effect of the Five Animal Exercises is the most important. People who practice the Five Animal Exercises regularly can feel refreshed, buoyant, flexible, brisk, and have an increased appetite. They can also prevent disease and resist aging, thus achieving the goal of curing disease and prolonging life.

[Related Tips] To maintain health with Wu Qin Xi, you should: relax your whole body, focus on Dantian, breathe evenly, and achieve unity of body and mind.

When practicing tiger exercises, one must display a majestic and brave demeanor, with both softness and hardness; when practicing bear exercises, one must be calm yet light and agile, showing the animal's fierce nature; when practicing deer exercises, one must embody its tranquil and peaceful state; when practicing ape exercises, one must imitate the ape's agility and flexibility; when practicing bird exercises, one must show the animal spreading its wings and soaring into the sky. Only by integrating the body and the spirit can we achieve the purpose of moving the body joints, strengthening the waist and kidneys, nourishing the heart and lungs, maintaining health, and preventing and curing diseases.