[Health Preservation in the 24 Solar Terms] Stay in hibernation at the beginning of winter, keep warm and protect the yang energy

Around November 7th in the Gregorian calendar, when the sun reaches 225 degrees of the ecliptic longitude, the 19th solar term of the year, Lidong, arrives. “Li means the beginning; Dong means the end, when all things are stored.” We usually regard this day as the beginning of winter.

In ancient my country, the Beginning of Winter was divided into three stages: "The first stage is when the water begins to freeze; the second stage is when the ground begins to freeze; the third stage is when pheasants enter the water and become clams." During this solar term, the water has frozen and the ground has begun to freeze. Large birds such as pheasants have disappeared, replaced by large clams on the seashore whose shells are similar in color to pheasants.

"The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine" records: "The three months of winter are called the time of hibernation. The water freezes and the ground cracks, so do not disturb the yang. Go to bed early and get up late, and wait for the sunlight. Keep your mind as if hidden, as if you have private thoughts or have achieved something. Get rid of the cold and seek warmth, without leaking the skin or otherwise losing your qi. This is the response of the winter qi, and the way to nourish and store. Going against it will hurt the kidneys, and in the spring you will suffer from paralysis and cold, and few people will be able to live." After the beginning of winter, all things are hidden, and the human body's yang energy is also hidden inside as nature transforms. Therefore, winter health care should conform to the laws of nature's hibernation to keep out the cold, keep warm and protect the primordial yang.

Mental care

In winter, people are in a state of retreat, and both Yin and Yang are in hiding. At this time, some people are prone to depression, low will, and lack of energy. As the saying goes, "When you are calm and empty, your true energy will follow. When you keep your spirit inside, you will never get sick." After the beginning of winter, you should be more restrained in your spirit. Growing flowers and practicing calligraphy can make your heart peaceful and tranquil, your life simple and unpretentious, your mind peaceful and tranquil, and you can be open-minded and calm when encountering things. You can spend the winter with a calm mind and let the Yang in your body hide better.

Daily life care

Winter is a good time for the human body to rest and recuperate. During this period, it is necessary to "go to bed early and get up late, and wait for the sun to come out". Working after the sun comes out and ensuring adequate sleep can help the human body preserve yang energy, conserve energy, and harmonize yin and yang qi. At the same time, winter is cold, and cold protection and warmth preservation should be done appropriately according to the principle of "not disturbing yang": too few or too thin clothes can easily consume yang energy and catch a cold; too many or too thick clothes will open the pores, yang energy cannot be hidden, and cold air can easily invade the human body. As recorded in "Baosheng Yaolu": "Don't wear too thick cotton clothes in winter. If it's cold, you will add more clothes frequently, so that people will not get cold or hot suddenly." In addition, cold evil is also an important cause of many gynecological diseases. Women need to pay special attention to cold protection and warmth preservation during menstruation in winter. Don't stay in cold places for a long time and don't eat cold food or cold drinks. If the body is not properly regulated at this time and is affected by wind and cold, the cold evil will invade the uterus, causing cold stagnation of qi and stagnation of blood, which can easily lead to dysmenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, or even amenorrhea, uterine cold and infertility.

Diet

Winter is a good season for nourishing and strengthening the body. In terms of diet, you can increase the intake of high-quality protein and fat in moderation, which is very beneficial for resisting severe cold. "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that mutton can replenish qi, stimulate appetite and strengthen strength; Li Dongyuan, one of the four great masters of the Jin and Yuan dynasties, also pointed out: "Ginseng can replenish qi, and mutton can replenish the body." For women, the elderly, people with insufficient qi and blood, weak bodies, and people with physical weakness after illness, you can eat more mutton in winter to nourish qi and blood, replenish primordial yang, benefit kidney qi, resist cold, and strengthen the body.

Exercise and conditioning

The Record of Health Preservation and Prolonging Life says: "In winter, the sky and the earth are closed, and the yang energy is hidden. People do not want to sweat from exertion, which will harm the body." At this time, exercise should be gentle. Ba Duan Jin, Tai Chi, walking, and jogging are all good choices. It is appropriate to sweat slightly, and heavy sweating should be avoided to damage the body's yang energy. Winter is cold, and the human body's limbs are stiffer than usual. At this time, you should do sufficient warm-up activities before exercising, and add clothes in time after exercise to avoid catching a cold.

Moxibustion therapy

As a traditional external treatment method of Chinese medicine, moxibustion has the effects of dredging meridians and collaterals, warming the middle and dispelling cold, strengthening the body and nourishing the essence, and removing evil and preventing diseases. Regular moxibustion during the beginning of winter can play a role in nourishing yang, removing diseases and maintaining health. Each time can be 30-60 minutes. You can choose the following acupoints:

Shenque: The center of the navel. Moxibustion on Shenque can warm the yang and dispel cold, and support the yang and nourish the essence.

Guanyuan: Lower abdomen, on the anterior midline, 3 inches below the umbilicus. Moxibustion on Guanyuan can nourish the kidneys, strengthen the body, regulate qi and restore yang.

Mingmen: Located between the spinous processes of the second and third lumbar vertebrae. Mingmen is a key point of the Du channel and one of the major acupoints for longevity in the human body. It contains the "Mingmen fire". Moxibustion on Mingmen can warm the kidneys and strengthen the essence, delaying aging.

Author: Xu Cui, deputy chief physician of gynecology, Oriental Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Yi Sha, resident physician

Scientific Advisor: Yan Yan, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Oriental Hospital