Health wisdom of the Autumnal Equinox: a combination of tradition and modernity

Author: Li Lin, Yang Tong, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Reviewer: Yu Chunquan, Professor of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Since ancient times, people have been committed to seeking various methods from traditional culture to preserve their body shape and form correct health concepts, so as to make the human body function strong and resist the invasion of external evils, and truly achieve the purpose of health preservation and anti-aging. With the development of modern society, residents' health problems are becoming increasingly prominent. Seeking health preservation methods that are more in line with the needs of modern society and combining tradition with modernity are becoming more and more popular.

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"Keeping in good health in accordance with the seasons" is an important rule of keeping in good health. Only by following the four seasons can the physiological activities of the body adapt to the seasonal changes of hot, cold, warm and cool, and thus maintain a balance with the external environment. It coincides with the Autumnal Equinox, when the sun's direct point moves to 23.5 degrees south of the equator, and the day and night are equal in length, marking the official arrival of autumn. People's bodies also need to make corresponding adjustments and maintenance. This article will explore the core concepts of traditional health preservation and think about how to integrate traditional wisdom into modern life during the Autumnal Equinox to achieve physical and mental health.

1. The core concept of traditional health preservation

1. Follow the laws of nature and have a regular routine

Traditional Chinese medicine theory advocates the holistic view of "harmony between man and nature" and "harmony between form and spirit". It means that human activities must adapt to the changes in nature and correspond to its cyclical laws. Only by having a regular daily routine and adapting to the alternation of seasons, weather changes, day and night changes, and regional differences can the human body be harmonious inside and out and maintain a healthy state.

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2. Eat a healthy diet to nourish your body and strengthen your spleen

Essence is an important substance that constitutes the human body and maintains human growth and development. One part comes from the innate essence given by parents, and the other part comes from the nutrients obtained from food intake. Maintaining the robust function of the spleen and stomach and maintaining the fullness of essence can often reduce the occurrence of diseases and maintain the vigorous vitality of the human body.

3. Exercise guidance, combining work and rest

Life lies in movement as well as stillness. Traditional health-preserving concepts advocate the combination of movement and stillness, and the maintenance of a high degree of unity between the body and the mind. Reasonable health-preserving exercise means finding a way of exercise that suits you and developing regular exercise habits. You can achieve the purpose of physical exercise and prevention and treatment of diseases by breathing in essence, unblocking blood vessels, strengthening muscles and bones, and concentrating your mind.

4. Tailor-made for each individual, develop their personality

The prerequisite for seeking a good way to maintain health is to have a clear understanding of yourself, be able to identify your own physical type, develop your own health plan, and embark on a unique, personalized and safe health path.

5. Soothe your mind and cultivate your character, regulate your emotions

Abnormal changes in mental emotions have a significant impact on health. Traditional medicine believes that the seven emotions of joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear and shock are closely related to the functions of the five internal organs. Therefore, in daily life and work, we need to learn to regulate our emotions, be calm and empty, and keep our spirits within.

2. Application of the wisdom of health preservation in the autumnal equinox in modern life

1. Diet and health

During the autumnal equinox, the weather is dry, which can easily damage the lungs. The lungs govern the skin and fur, so people are prone to symptoms such as chapped skin, dry mouth and throat, dry stools, dry coughs and less phlegm. In terms of diet, in addition to drinking more water and eating more fresh vegetables and fruits, you should also eat more foods that have the effects of moistening the lungs and promoting fluid production, nourishing yin and moistening dryness, such as sesame, pears, lotus roots, lilies, water chestnuts, white fungus, honey, etc. You can drink Fritillaria pear jar (1 duck pear, 10g large Fritillaria, 15g red beans, steamed at high temperature for 40 minutes), water chestnut Fritillaria pear water (8-10 water chestnuts, 15g large Fritillaria, 1 pear boiled in water for drinking) to nourish yin and moisten the lungs, remove phlegm and relieve cough; or eat yam, lily and jujube porridge (90g yam, 40g lily, 15 jujubes, 30g coix seeds, appropriate amount of rice, wash and cook porridge) to nourish the spleen and stomach.

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2. Exercise and health

During the autumnal equinox, the temperature is low and the human body's immunity is reduced. It is necessary to exercise and strengthen the body, but the following points should be noted: Go out for exercise at dawn and avoid going out after dinner to prevent autumn evil; the amount of exercise should not be too large, and the form of exercise should not be intense. It is necessary to combine the principle of "keeping quiet". When there is plenty of sunshine, choose "quiet exercises" such as Ruyi Shougong, Neiyanggong, Tai Chi, Wuqinxi, and Jingsuo Meditation to absorb the sun of heaven and earth, invigorate the spirit, strengthen the body and soul, and calm the mind.

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3. Emotional health

During the autumnal equinox, people tend to feel sad because of the austere scenes of autumn, which can be called "autumn sadness". The emotional changes caused by "autumn sadness" can easily induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. At this time, we should pay attention to the storage of Yin essence to nourish the five internal organs, resist diseases and prolong life; protect Yang energy to avoid the cold air that harms the human body; keep an optimistic mood, calm and peaceful, and reduce the impact of autumn's austere air on the body and mind through emotional regulation and comfort. You can try more relaxing activities such as meditation, yoga, reading, etc. to relieve tension, or you can relax your body and mind by gathering and communicating with relatives and friends.

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The combination of traditional health wisdom and modern science can help us better understand and continue the wisdom of the ancients. By combining our own characteristics, adapting to nature, reasonably adjusting our daily life and diet, relaxing our emotions, and choosing the most appropriate health-preserving methods, it will help us maintain good health. During the autumnal equinox, we can embrace the freshness and harvest of autumn and comprehensively improve our quality of life.