Say "no" to respiratory diseases during the Frost Descent season! You must read this practical guide!

Frost Descent is the eighteenth solar term in the twenty-four solar terms and the last solar term in autumn, marking the transition from autumn to winter.

During the Frost Descent season, the climate is dry and the human body is susceptible to the invasion of dryness, which can easily damage the lung fluid, leading to symptoms such as dry cough, little sputum, dry throat, and dry mouth. In order to effectively deal with the frequent occurrence of respiratory diseases during this period, experts from the Second Department of Respiratory Medicine of Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine remind you that you can take the following measures:

1. Moisturizing and nourishing Yin

Eat more foods that have the effect of nourishing yin and moistening dryness, such as whole wheat noodles, wheat kernels, bean sprouts, soy milk, peanuts, sesame seeds, sweet potatoes, yam, pumpkin, radish, cabbage, onion, lotus root, lily, fungus, pears, apples, grapes, etc.

2. Keep warm

Keep warm: As the temperature gradually drops, the human body is vulnerable to cold. According to TCM theory, cold can easily damage the yang energy, leading to a decrease in the body's immunity and making it more susceptible to respiratory diseases such as colds. Therefore, you should pay attention to keeping warm, especially the neck, waist, abdomen and lower limb joints.

3. Exercise moderately

During the Frost Descent season, the weather turns cooler, but moderate exercise is still necessary. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that exercise can give the body a benign stimulus, improve people's ability to adapt to environmental changes, and enhance the function of the cardiovascular system.

At this time, you can choose to do some exercises such as climbing, playing football, radio gymnastics, aerobics, Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, etc., but be careful to avoid overwork and excessive sweating.

4. Acupoint massage

(1) Fengchi Point

At the back of the neck, below the occipital bone, in the depression between the trapezius and the upper end of the sternocleidomastoid muscles. Use the index fingers or thumbs of both hands to squeeze and press the Fengchi point inward and upward, with enough force to produce a noticeable sore and swollen feeling that can be tolerated, and do it for about 5 minutes. Fengchi is an important point for dispelling wind from the whole body. It can dispel wind, dredge the meridians, and relieve the exterior and dispel cold.

(2) Yongquan Point

Located on the sole of the foot, at the intersection of the upper 1/3 and lower 2/3 of the line connecting the 2nd and 3rd toe webs and the heel. After soaking your feet in hot water, bend your index finger and press the opposite Yongquan point with your knuckles, using a degree of strength that you can tolerate, alternating between your feet. This point can nourish the kidneys and strengthen the body, nourish yin and reduce internal heat, and can also relieve headaches caused by colds.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Tang Furong, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine II, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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(Edited by YT)