Cooling the head and warming the feet (寒头暖足) is an age-old method for preserving good health. People who live in cold climates know that when they go out, the first things to get cold are the hands and feet. And they're the first things they try to warm up when they come in. The ancient Chinese offered an excellent explanation for this phenomenon in the Neijing:
Huang Di asked: "The head is closely connected with the other parts of the body through the bones and tendons. All parts of the body are nourished by the same qi and blood. When the weather is cold and the earth is frozen, one's hands and feet become cold, but the face does not feel cold even though it is uncovered. What is the reason?"
Qi Bo answered: "All the qi and blood of the twelve regular meridians and three hundred sixty-five collaterals ascends to the face and orifices. Qi vaporizes the body fluid to warm the face, and the face itself has thick skin and is rich in muscles. Therefore, the face is cold-resistant and one does not feel cold on the face even if the weather is very cold." (Chapter 4:11 of the Lingshu)
The Nanjing(Classic of Difficulties, c. prior to 25 AD), a classic attributed to Bian Que that deals with difficult issues raised in the Neijing, gives a further explanation:
"Why is only the face cold-resistant? The reason is that all Yang Meridians converge at the head. All Yin Meridians turn back from the neck and chest, but the Yang Meridians arrive at the head." (Chapter 47:26 of the Nanjing)
According to the principle of Yin and Yang, the upper part of the body (especially the head) is yang and rich in yang qi, while the lower part of the body (especially the ends of the extremities) is yin and rich in yin qi. In other words, yang qi is abundant in the upper portion of the body, but limited in the lower body. This becomes even more apparent when the body's yang qi is insufficient. Cold limbs are usually the first signal of yang deficiency.
In accordance with the principle that deficiencies should be supplemented and excesses should be reduced, the ancients believed that adding yang qi is beneficial to the lower part of the body, because this supplements a deficiency, but harmful to the upper part of the body, because this would be supplementing an excess. They therefore suggested cooling the head and warming the feet and hands to maintain good health, in this way reducing excess and supplementing deficiency. (Ancient Medical Relics of Mawangdui, p. 279)
No specific methods for cooling the head are mentioned in the ancient literature. The reason might be that the head is already in an exposed position, even in the winter and at night. However, many methods for keeping the extremities warm are discussed, including submerging the feet with hot water, warm clothing, moxibustion, fomentation, and massage. Modern studies show that the feet and hands, like the auricle, are miniatures of the body. Warming the feet and hands can therefore promote peripheral blood circulation, and influence the functions of the entire body.
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