The cool breeze blows, and the cold dew falls - TCM health care suggestions for the cold dew season

Author: Ma Dan Hubei University of Chinese Medicine

Reviewer: Song Enfeng, Chief Physician, Wuhan University People's Hospital

"The empty courtyard feels the long autumn, the cold dew comes in the evening, and I worry about my thin clothes." More than 900 years ago, Wang Anshi, a poet of the Song Dynasty, looked at the courtyard with all its branches and leaves fallen, and felt that the autumn was long and empty. At that time, the cold dew had arrived, and the water vapor condensed in the evening, and he worried about being alone and thin. Cold Dew is the 17th solar term of the 24 solar terms, the fifth solar term of autumn, and the first solar term in which the word "cold" appears.

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In late autumn, the dew is heavy, and the Cold Dew season is strong. During the Cold Dew season, the weather turns from cool to cold, and the flowers, plants and trees begin to wither. At this time, most of the Yang energy is gathered underground, and the Yin energy gradually becomes heavier. The Yin energy in nature gradually becomes heavier, and the Yang energy is hidden. The human body is also very susceptible to the invasion of Yin evil. At this time, we should follow the season to maintain health, pay attention to keeping warm, nourishing Yin and body fluids, and protecting Yang energy. Collect the precious Yang energy, seize this key period of health preservation in the year, do a good job in daily life, diet, and emotional health, and keep healthy.

1. Daily life and health care

First, ventilate frequently. Entering the Cold Dew season, the temperature drops, the air becomes dry, and the incidence of colds increases. You should pay attention to indoor ventilation on a daily basis. The ventilation time should be more than 30 minutes a day to keep the indoor air fresh, and at the same time pay attention to maintaining a certain humidity.

Second, keep warm. After the Cold Dew, the temperature gradually drops and the weather becomes cold. The elderly, children and people with weak constitutions should pay attention to keep warm and gradually add more clothes. But be careful not to change clothes too quickly. It is best to match thick and thin clothes to keep warm. "Not wearing single clothes" is also an important point of health preservation during the Cold Dew.

Third, it is advisable to soak your feet in hot water, with the water temperature at about 42℃. As the saying goes: "If you are not careful during the Cold Dew, the cold will come from your feet - soak your feet in hot water to warm your feet", "Don't expose your body during the White Dew, and don't expose your feet during the Cold Dew", "Soaking your feet in hot water is better than taking tonic medicine". The feet are the farthest from the human heart, but they bear the heaviest burden. Soaking your feet in hot water can promote blood circulation in the feet, improve local skin and tissue metabolism, reduce lower limb pain, and relieve fatigue.

Fourth, it is advisable to go to bed early and get up early. After the Cold Dew, the days are short and the nights are long, and the Yang Qi in nature begins to converge and settle. Going to bed early can conform to the convergence of Yang Qi, and getting up early can stretch the lung Qi. Therefore, health preservation requires going to bed early and getting up early. At the same time, choose different sports according to personal circumstances, such as walking, climbing, etc., which can both adjust the spirit and strengthen the body. However, outdoor activities should be avoided on foggy days, as autumn fog can irritate people's eyes and mucous membranes, and easily induce chronic respiratory diseases.

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2. Emotional Health

During the Cold Dew season, the autumn wind is bleak and everything withers, which often makes people sad. The weather is getting colder, the sunshine is decreasing, the wind blows and the leaves fall, which often makes people emotionally unstable and prone to sadness. Sadness is most likely to hurt the lungs. Therefore, we should maintain a good attitude, take advantage of the situation, vent the depression, and cultivate an optimistic and open-minded heart, which is one of the indispensable contents of health care. Cultivate more hobbies to divert attention. You can also choose appropriate exercise methods according to your personal preferences and physical condition, such as playing ball, skipping rope, cycling, Tai Chi, yoga, etc.

3. Diet and Health

Cold Dew season is the golden autumn, when dry air is in season. The autumn dry air is most likely to damage the lungs, and it is easy to have dry cough without sputum, dry throat, dry mouth and nose, chapped skin, dry lips, constipation and other discomforts. In daily diet, you should choose foods that nourish yin fluid, strengthen the spleen and stomach, such as chestnuts, lotus roots, yam, white fungus, lily, red dates, rice, lotus seeds, wolfberry, sesame, honey, pears, persimmons, bananas, etc., and reduce the intake of spicy foods such as peppers, onions and ginger. In order to prevent dry skin, you can apply various skin creams. However, you should pay attention to not applying glycerin when your lips are chapped, and you should not lick your lips frequently with your tongue, otherwise it will make the dry and chapped lips worse. In addition, you should drink warm water in time to replenish water.

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Autumn is also the peak season for the spread of respiratory diseases such as influenza. In addition to preventing colds, insisting on exercise, and strengthening physical fitness, personal protection should not be relaxed. We must continue to adhere to good personal hygiene habits such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and gathering less, and be the first person responsible for our own health.

Have you memorized these health tips for the Cold Dew season? The autumn wind is just right, welcoming the cold winter. Let us not be impatient, keep moving, and rush to the next distant place!