🌿 Folk Prescriptions

It is recorded that when Hua Tuo was old, his complexion still resembled that of a young man, and people at the time believed he was a celestial being. So what exactly was Hua Tuo's approach to health preservation?
First, he remained indifferent to fame and fortune, with noble character. At that time, years of warfare, floods, droughts, and widespread epidemics plagued the land. Some enlightened officials admired Hua Tuo’s moral integrity and scholarly knowledge, recommending him for an official post, but he politely declined. This clearly demonstrated his firm dedication to medicine and his high moral standards.
Second, he placed great emphasis on physical exercise for health. He believed everyone should engage in regular physical activity to strengthen their constitution, prevent illness, and extend life. Using the principle “a door hinge never rots, and flowing water never stinks,” Hua Tuo illustrated the vital importance of movement for mental and physical well-being. Based on this principle, he created the “Five Animals Exercise.”
The “Five Animals Exercise” is a form of physical practice similar to Tai Chi, stretching muscles and joints throughout the body. Its movements imitate the actions of a tiger lunging forward, a deer turning its neck, a bear lying down and standing up, a monkey leaping on tiptoes, and a bird spreading its wings to fly. Because the “Five Animals Exercise” promotes mental calmness and physical relaxation, combining stillness and motion, while integrating bodily movement with breathing regulation, it facilitates smooth flow of qi and blood. Regular practice can thus strengthen the body, eliminate illness, and promote longevity. Hua Tuo practiced this exercise until old age, maintaining a copper-like complexion, full black hair, strong teeth, and steady gait—remarkably healthy. His student Wu Pu practiced the “Five Animals Exercise” daily and, even at over ninety, retained sharp hearing, clear vision, and strong, intact teeth.