How to "cover" in spring

"Don't take off your cotton clothes in February, there will still be pear blossoms and snow in March." This ancient proverb, which contains folk wisdom, vividly explains the necessity of "covering up in spring."

As winter turns to spring, the weather is getting warmer and colder, and "spring cover" has become the secret for many people to stay healthy. However, many people only understand "spring cover" as wearing an extra piece of clothing.

Is it really that simple to “cover up the spring”?

Liu Ying, deputy director of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Xuzhou Third People's Hospital, said that in spring, Yang energy is generated and gradually radiates outward. However, the temperature fluctuates greatly at this time, and taking off thick clothes too early can easily cause the body to catch a cold, thereby inducing colds, tracheitis, arthritis and other diseases. "'Spring cover' means gradually adding or removing clothes according to temperature changes, which can protect the body's Yang energy, enhance resistance and avoid disease invasion."

Han Guojing, deputy director of the respiratory department of the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, compared the human body to a sophisticated "intelligent air conditioning system". The "temperature regulation center" of the hypothalamus needs 7-14 days to adapt to the temperature changes brought about by the change of seasons. "Suddenly reducing clothing in the chilly spring is equivalent to forcibly shutting down the "temperature control program" that is being activated, which is difficult for the body to bear."

Modern medical research has found that when the temperature difference between day and night exceeds 8°C, human immunity will drop by 30%, which is also a key factor in the high incidence of respiratory diseases.

The importance of "covering up in spring" to health is self-evident. How should we "cover up"?

Liu Ying emphasized that the key to "covering up in spring" is to protect the five "temperature valves" of the head, neck, abdomen, wrists and feet. She explained that Chinese medicine believes that "the head is the meeting point of all yang", and yang energy is easily lost from the head, so wearing a hat when going out can help retain yang energy; the neck is the "crossroads" where yang energy flows, and being cold will affect the flow of yang energy, so wearing a scarf can provide protection for the neck; there are many important organs in the abdomen, especially the spleen and stomach, which like warmth and fear cold, so wearing a vest to protect the abdomen is good for the spleen and stomach health; the subcutaneous fat in the wrist area is weak, so you need to keep warm; the feet should not be ignored either, and keeping the feet warm helps keep the whole body warm.

After covering the right place, how do you control the degree and duration of covering?

The "1515 Rule" of the Health Meteorology Laboratory of the China Meteorological Administration points out that when the temperature difference between day and night exceeds 15°C for three consecutive days in winter and spring, the "spring cover" mode needs to be activated; when the maximum temperature stably exceeds 15°C and lasts for more than 7 days, you can gradually reduce your clothes.

Liu Ying suggested that the "sandwich dressing method" should be adopted when "covering up in spring", that is, the inner layer is quick-drying and sweat-wicking, the middle layer is fleece for warmth, and the outer layer is windproof and waterproof. The elderly can adopt the "onion-style" layered dressing method, wearing more thin clothes so that they can add or remove them appropriately according to their body sensations; children should follow the principle of "one less piece than adults" and avoid over-wrapping to avoid causing heat syndrome; for people who exercise, the "spring cover-up" of sweating is not advisable, and they should choose breathable and quick-drying clothes and change them in time after exercise.

"Spring cover" is not just about wearing more clothes, but more about following the weather. As the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine says, "There is a time to avoid evil spirits and thieves." When we learn to dance with the rhythm of nature, we can easily keep our bodies stable through this "changeable" season.