Lu You’s Health Preservation: Emphasizing the Two Ends
Lu You was a renowned patriotic poet of the Song Dynasty and also highly valued health preservation. Amid war and chaos, he lived to 86, with no hunched back, unshaken legs, no deafness, no blindness, and robust health—sometimes even carrying firewood uphill. His longevity was inseparable from his wise health practices. Lu You always paid close attention to hygiene and health in daily diet and lifestyle, especially valuing hair-combing and foot-washing, evident in his surviving poems.
"Awakening suddenly, I see the sky bright through the window; my short, thinning hair rises as I comb it myself." Daily hair-combing was his essential routine. "Few guests, doors closed; I still comb my hair again," showing he cherished hair-combing even when alone.
Regular hair-combing improves cerebral cortex excitation and inhibition balance, regulates head nerves, promotes blood circulation and sebum secretion, and stimulates hair growth. Due to consistent hair-combing, Lu You developed new black hairs (baby hairs) among his sparse white hair in old age—clear evidence that hair-combing indeed enhances vitality and hair health.
At age 82, Lu You wrote a poem about washing feet before bed: "Old man no longer tends farm or field, but still counts chickens and pigs. Washing feet and climbing into bed is truly delightful; my young grandchild already knows how to prepare hot water for washing feet." Clearly, washing feet before bed was a great pleasure for Lu You, even his grandchildren knew the benefits.
Foot problems are common among the elderly. Due to varying degrees of arterial hardening, metabolic disorders, elevated lipids, or endocrine diseases like diabetes, vascular damage worsens, peripheral circulation deteriorates, nerve sensation dulls, and resistance declines. Foot condition reflects overall health. To prevent foot ailments, wash feet with hot water before bed, wear spacious, soft shoes and socks, ensuring good foot circulation.
Combing hair and washing feet are increasingly recognized today—simple gestures with great benefits. Thus, learning from Lu You’s approach to health preservation, focusing on the two ends (head and feet), is undoubtedly necessary. (Xiao Wei)