Kung-fu for the Heart

While performing the exercise must first rest the mind, cease from all thought, banish all grief, anger and suchlike and give up all the animal propensities, in order to keep and not disperse the vital essence.*

For the Body, 1. - At the time of sitting crosslegged, the heel of one foot must block up the perinaeum and not allow the vital spirits to leak out. 2. - Sit evenly, the kness must be level with the body, the "sons of the kidney" must not rest on the seat but hang down. Note. Sitting high and level refers to sitting on chairs and beds. 3. - After finishing the exercise and rising, the limbs must be slowly extended, and on no account be done hastily. 4. - In sitting, the body must be level and straight, the spinal column must be perpendicular and not bent, and not lean against anything on the right or left.

For the Head. 1. - Close the ears with the hands, let the second (fore) finger fold itself on the middle one and thrum the two bones at the back of the skull with the second finger to make them sound. This is called sounding the "heavenly drum." Note, This is to remove the vicious air from the "wind pool" acupuncture opening in the region of the mastoid. 2. - Twist the neck with the hands and glance back to the right and left and at the sametime rotate the shoulders and arms, each 24 times. - To remove the obstructed air in the stomach and spleen. 3. - Interlock the hands and grasp the back of the neck, then look upwards and let the hands wrestle with the neck. To remove pain of the shoulders and indistinctness of vision.

* One author recommends, with the view of prolonging life, to employ one's self in such thoughts and designs as lead to virtue - to reflect often on the happiness of our lot, to seek to know the value of health and study to preserve it. Once in bed, lull the heart (mind) to sleep by composing it throwing aside thoughts that would banish sleep. The heart will be kept in good condition and the dissipation of the vital and animal spirits prevented, if, while in bed, we lie on either side with the knees bent a little.

Face. Rub the hands until hot, then rub the face with them, high and low, all over, no spot to be left unrubbed; then spit on the palms and rub them warm and apply them several times to the face. While rubbing, the breath, by the mouth and nose is to be closed. The aim of this exercise is to brighten the countenance. The more you rub the better the colour. This is the cure for wrinkles; with this action you will have none.

Ear

1. - Place the hands over the ears, then rub them right and left and up and down several times. This is to hear distinctly and prevent deafness. 2. - Sit level on the ground with one leg bent and the other extended. Stretch forth the arms horizontally with the hands perpendicularly towards the front as if pushing a door, and twist the head 7 times to each, side to cure ringing in the ears.

Eye

1. - When you awake, do not open the eyes, but rub the back of the thumbs until they become hot, then with them wipe the eyes 14 times; still keeping the eyes shut, rotate the eyeballs to each side 7 times. Then shut them tightly for a little while and then suddenly open them wide. This is to protect the "divine light" and to remove for ever disease from the eye. Rubbing the thumbs hot on the palm of the hand will also do. 2. - Use the bent bone of the thumb (ungual phalanx) and press heavily on the little apertures at the sides of the eyebrows (temples) 3 x 9 = 27 times. Again with the two hands rub above the malar bones and round the pinna of the ear 30 times. Again let the hands press upon the frontal region, beginning between the two eyebrows and proceeding backwards to the margin of the hair at the back of the head 27 times, and swallow the saliva times without number. To give clearness and brightness to the eyes and ears. 3. - Place the hands on the inner canthi of the eyes near the root of the nose; shut up the breath, and when the air has become pervious then stop. By doing this constantly objects will be seen very distinctly, obstructions in the nose will be removed, and coryza may also be cured in this way. 4. - When kneeling or sitting let the hands touch the ground and turn the head in order to take a backward glance 5 times. This is termed the "Tiger's glance." To remove the vicious wind of the thorax and kidneys. This exercise can be carried out in bed; the hands need not necessarily be placed on the ground.

Mouth. 1. - When performing the exercise, the mouth must be closed. 2. - When there is great dryness and bitterness of the mouth, the tongue rough, swallowing without saliva; pain in the pharynax, whether in swallowing or expectorating, inability to eat, this is owing to inflammation (heat). The mouth must be opened wide, the air blown (hemmed) over a dozen times, the "heavenly drum" sounded 9 times, and the tongue must excite the saliva, blow again and then swallow. Wait till the "pure water" (saliva) is produced, and the heat will be driven back and the viscera become cooled. Again if the saliva in the mouth be cold and without taste, the heart feeling as if it contained water - this is owing to cold, one must take the air and warm it, Wait till the mouth has recovered its taste, the cold is disarmed and the viscera become warm. 3. Every morning breathe out gently the foul air from the mouth and at the sametime take in the pure air by the nose and swallow it. 4. - In sleeping shut the mouth, do not let the original constitutional air come out and the corrupt air enter.

Tongue

Place the tongue against the roof of the mouth in order to excite the saliva and fill the mouth, then rinse the mouth 36 times and swallow it in three mouthfuls, making the gurgling sound ku ku in the pharynx. The saliva entering the abdomen will moisten the viscera.

Teeth

1. - Knock the teeth 30 times to collect the spirits. 2. - During micturition shut the mouth, press the teeth firmly, to remove toothache.