China is a nation known for its longevity. The ancient Chinese believed that there are five things that need to be done to enjoy longevity. These practices may seem cumbersome, but they are beneficial to the body and soul and can help one thoroughly relax. They can also improve the quality of sleep and enable one to work energetically.
Walking
It is said that calmly walking 10 to 20 minutes a day can bring the blood circulation to the surface of the body and thus help our skin maintain itself after falling asleep.Before sleep, be sure to avoid reading news and avoid thinking about big issues once we lie down because it’s necessary to reduce the activity of the brain. Doing so will enable a person to fall asleep rapidly.
Rubbing the Feet
There are Chinese sayings about the benefits of caring for the feet: “Washing your feet with hot water is much more effective than taking sleeping pills when you are ready for bed.” “If you want to protect a tree, you should protect its roots; if you want to protect a person, you should protect his or her feet.”Many Western medical scientists regard the feet as “the second heart of the human body” or “the pump of the heart.” They all praise the role of foot care.
Chinese medical science believes there are more than 60 acupuncture points on the feet that have strong ties with the internal organs. If we use warm water (104 F–122 F) to wash our feet and rub the soles and toes of our feet, we can promote blood circulation, relax the muscles, and balance the yin and yang of the body. This can also help heal wounds and maintain fitness for older people.
Room Ventilation
It is important to keep the bedroom air fresh, even on windy or cold days. We can still open the windows for a while, especially before going to bed, as fresh air is helpful for sleeping well during the night. Do not to cover the head when sleeping.Cleaning the Teeth and Body
It is more important for us to brush our teeth before going to bed than to do it in the morning, as this not only helps us clean away oral sediments, but it protects our teeth so we can sleep well during the night.It is also very helpful to wash the face and clean the body before getting ready for bed. This will keep the skin clean and help us relax and sleep comfortably.
Brushing the Hair
Ancient Chinese medical scientists found that there are many acupuncture points on the head, so while brushing the hair, we can massage and stimulate them to open those acupuncture points, relieve pain, and brighten the eyes.It is said that rubbing the scalp with our hands until it is warm and rosy two times a day, in the morning and again at night, is beneficial. Massaging the scalp may clear the blood flow to the head, improve the thought and memory capacity of the brain, promote nutrition to the hair follicles, reduce the loss of hair, eliminate brain fatigue, and make it easier to fall asleep.
Source: Kan Zhong Guo
