Natural therapy to get good "yang" energy

Author: Huang Zijuan Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University

Gao Lin, Associate Chief Physician, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University

Reviewer: Li Xiaohong, Professor of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University

Did you know that the treasures of natural healing are all around us: sunlight, sea water, mineral springs, forests and landscapes are all physical and chemical factors in nature that have medical and health-care effects. Among them, sunlight, also known as sunlight, not only gives life to all things, but also provides health to humans. It is one of the important natural healing factors.

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Recently, "back sunbathing" during the dog days of summer has become popular on the Internet, and the health-preserving and health-preserving effects of sunlight have attracted everyone's attention. In fact, humans have a long history of using sunlight for health care or treatment of diseases, and it is not a recent phenomenon. In ancient times, this method of using sunlight to irradiate the whole body or part of the body was called "sun therapy", which was an important method for fitness and disease prevention.

In his book Qianjin Yifang, Tang Dynasty physician Sun Simiao proposed: "When the weather is warm and windless, let the mother and child play in the sun", and pointed out that sunbathing can boost positive energy, resist the invasion of evil spirits, and enhance the body's ability to adapt to the environment. In his book Bencao Gangmu Shiyi, Qing Dynasty physician Zhao Xuemin discussed in a special section that sunlight can relax the meridians and activate the collaterals, and strengthen the spleen and stomach. In his poem "Winter Day", Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi said: "Sitting with eyes closed in the sun, the warm air nourishes the skin", praising the winter sunbathing as like drinking mellow wine, which can revive the qi and blood, and make the whole body feel comfortable, which is an excellent enjoyment.

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So, why does sunlight have such magical effects?

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine says: "Yang Qi is like the sun and the sky. If it loses its place, life will be shortened and not obvious." Yang Qi has a warming and promoting effect on the human body. It is the driving force to maintain the normal gasification of the human organs. If Yang Qi cannot function normally, people will shorten their lifespan or die young. Sunlight therapy can adjust the Yang Qi of the human body with the Yang Qi of the sky, so that the blood and qi of the human body can flow smoothly, so it has the effect of curing diseases and prolonging life. As it is said in Lao Lao Heng Yan: "The sun is the essence of the sun, and its light strengthens people's Yang Qi and is extremely beneficial." There is even a saying among the people that "Sunbathing in winter is better than drinking ginseng soup." Modern medicine has confirmed that infrared, visible light and ultraviolet light in the solar spectrum have different effects on the body: infrared is mainly a warming effect, promoting blood circulation and metabolism; ultraviolet light has the effects of sterilization, promoting tissue regeneration, and enhancing immunity; visible light affects the central nervous and endocrine systems through visual and skin receptors.

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Solarium therapy is becoming increasingly popular among natural therapies. So, how can we make use of nature’s gift to get a good tan?

The correct way to open sunbathing (sun therapy):

1. In summer, the best time is 8-10 am; in winter, the best time is 11-13 noon; in spring and autumn, the best time is 9-12 am and 14-16 pm. It is not suitable to sunbathe when the temperature is too high (above 30℃) or when the angle between the sun and the horizon is less than 30°.

2. The time should not be too long. The exposure time can be gradually increased from the initial 10 minutes to 1 to 2 hours.

3. Sunbathing is best done in open areas outdoors, such as the seaside, lakeside, woods, balcony, etc.

4. Expose your body as appropriate to allow your skin to be exposed to the sun. Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your head and eyes and avoid direct sunlight on your head. Avoid catching a cold in winter and don’t expose your body too much like in summer.

5. To irradiate all parts of the body, it is advisable to change body parts constantly. For example: first lie prone, then lie on the left side, lie on your back, lie on your right side, etc.

6. Avoid sunbathing within 1 hour before or after meals to prevent hypoglycemia or affect digestive function.

7. People with severe heart disease, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis, and bleeding tendency should not sunbathe.

8. Do not fall asleep while sunbathing, and use sunscreen ointment on the skin to prevent B-segment ultraviolet rays from penetrating.

References

[1] Chen Jingzao. Convalescent Science[M]. Xi'an: Fourth Military Medical University Press, 2002: 28-37.

[2] Ma Lieguang, Jiang Lisheng. Chinese Medicine Health Preservation[M]. Beijing: China Traditional Chinese Medicine Press, 2016.7.

[3] Qing Dynasty, Cao Tingdong, Lao Lao Heng Yan, Volume 1: Don’t forget to sunbathe your back in winter to nourish yang [J]. Family Medicine (First Half of the Month), 2018(12):1.

[4] Fan Lijuan. A brief discussion on the effects of sunbathing on human health[J]. Chinese Ethnomedicine, 2009, 18(24): 73, 75.