Light snow: a chill at the turn of autumn and winter

Xiao Yixuan, First Clinical College of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Wang Qingrui, Affiliated Hospital of Jianghan University, Wuhan Sixth Hospital

Yang Shengli, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Photo: Wei Jingyi, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Minor Snow is the 20th solar term in the 24 solar terms and the second solar term in winter. It usually occurs on November 22 or 23 of the Gregorian calendar every year. At this time, astronomical observations show that the sun has reached 240° of the ecliptic longitude. The "Collection of Explanations of the Seventy-two Solar Terms in the Lunar Calendar" records: "During the Minor Snow, water begins to freeze." During this period, the temperature gradually drops, and some areas in the north have seen the first snow. However, because the ground is not cold, the snow is small and there is no accumulation of snow, so it is called Minor Snow. "In the first period, the rainbow disappears; in the second period, the weather rises and the ground falls; in the third period, the sky is closed and winter comes." The yang energy in the sky rises, the yin energy in the ground falls, and the sky and the earth are closed, ushering in the cold winter. Minor Snow is the first chill of winter and the signal of the first snow.

Everything is hidden in the Minor Snow, and agricultural production is no exception. There is a folk proverb that goes: "Harvest onions in the Minor Snow, otherwise there will be nothing left." At this time, agricultural production has come to an end, and people begin to store winter grains. "Winter is salted and stored for the cold winter." At this time, the temperature drops sharply and the weather becomes dry. It is a good time for people to process bacon and dry fish. They store the excess meat in traditional ways and enjoy it during the Spring Festival. In addition, before and after the Minor Snow, the Tujia people will start the annual folk activity of "killing the New Year pig and welcoming the New Year", and carefully cook the fresh and hot pork into the special food "Piaotang", which adds a warm atmosphere to the cold winter.

"The cold snow is coming in the Minor Snow, but the ground is not too cold yet until the snow is heavy." As the temperature drops, the impact of the cold on people begins to show. At this time, the air humidity is low, and the skin and respiratory system are susceptible to cold and dryness. Due to decreased resistance and other reasons, symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection such as cough, nasal congestion, and fever are prone to occur. "Minor Snow and Cold Dew, put on more clothes early." During this period, Chinese medicine emphasizes "nourishing yin" and "protecting yang". Winter is the season for storage. People should not only prepare for cold and warmth in advance, but also adjust their health strategies to restrain yin and protect yang. The following are some health tips, please sign for them!

1. Get some sun often to boost your yang energy. When the weather is cold, will you experience symptoms such as "pale complexion, cold limbs, fatigue and weakness"? These are all yin syndromes in the Yin-Yang theory of traditional Chinese medicine, and are related to insufficient yang energy. Although the sunlight in winter is relatively soft, it is still an important way to replenish the body's yang energy. More "photosynthesis" can not only promote the circulation of qi and blood, and harmonize yin and yang, but also help promote the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin, promote calcium absorption and utilization, help maintain bone health, and enhance immune function.

It is generally recommended to choose a time period with mild sunlight between 7 and 9 in the morning or after 4 in the afternoon, go outside or open the window, bask in the sun in a quiet, open place, and do some stretching exercises to relax your body and mind. If your body is cold, you can expose your forehead, back, palms, and calves to the sun, which will help generate yang energy in your body.

2. Foot bath with Chinese medicine in Minor Snow. When night falls, especially in the gradually colder Minor Snow season, foot bath with Chinese medicine becomes an activity with great health value. This ancient health custom can not only effectively promote blood circulation, but also help relieve fatigue and tension of the day. In addition, you can choose to add some Chinese medicine such as ginger and mugwort, which are famous for their body-warming properties. Not only can they effectively dispel the coldness on the body surface, but they can also activate the body's self-repair mechanism and make the body recover faster.

3. Diet therapy to warm and nourish the kidney: According to the theory of the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine, the kidney is the foundation of storage and the storage room of the human body's essence. Sufficient kidney qi can not only protect the yang qi and resist the severe cold, but also lay the foundation for the spring of the following year, achieving twice the result with half the effort. Therefore, foods that nourish the kidney qi are indispensable during the light snow season. Black enters the kidney, and black foods such as black beans, black sesame seeds, black dates, and black rice can be boiled into porridge and then added with chestnuts, walnuts, etc., which can not only store the kidney essence, but also nourish the yin and benefit the stomach. In addition to eating some black foods, we should also increase the intake of warm and nourishing foods in cold seasons, such as beef and mutton soup, hairtail soup, crucian carp soup, etc. You can also drink some Chinese herbal teas appropriately, such as longan ginger and jujube tea, dendrobium and wolfberry tea, etc. These Chinese medicines help to enhance the body's resistance and improve the function of the immune system, thereby effectively preventing colds and other diseases.

4. Maintain a positive attitude to stay healthy. During this period, the days are shorter and the nights are longer. Most people have to go out before the sun rises and can only go home after dark, so the sunshine time is insufficient. The gloomy sky is wrapped in damp cold air, which can easily affect the mood and lead to low mood, psychological sadness, and even depression. At this time, we should learn to identify and regulate our emotions, make good use of the five-tone therapy, listen to gentle music, and relax our emotions; participate in social or group entertainment activities, increase outdoor activities appropriately, and make the body warm and comfortable, so as to effectively relieve emotional pressure, maintain a positive attitude, and rejuvenate the inner vitality.

5. Take a proper rest during the Minor Snow. During this period, there is a potential disturbance of Yang in the body. We must also calm our minds, clear our internal heat, and prevent the Yang from leaking out. First of all, exercise should be moderate. Although kinetic energy can generate Yang, we should also pay attention to the combination of movement and stillness, and just sweat a little. Excessive exercise will disturb the Yang, which will in turn affect the body's resistance and the normal function of the immune system. Secondly, in daily life, we should pay attention to going to bed early and getting up late, giving ourselves enough rest time to allow the body to recover and adjust, and to protect the Yang, so as to better face the challenges of winter and the arrival of spring next year.

Light snow, as the beginning of winter, is not only a change in nature, but also a critical period for health preservation. Follow the principles of Chinese medicine, adjust your diet in time, develop a habit of keeping warm and resting, and improve your body's adaptability to maintain good health in the cold winter. I hope everyone can be full of yang energy during this solar term, accumulate the power of life in silence, and wait for a new beginning.